In search of NGOs: towards a funding strategy to create NGO research capacity in Eastern and Southern Africa
Year: 1991
Type: article
Abstract: theses on the contribution of NGOs to development.The recent publication of a World Development Issue (Vol.15: Autumn 1987) entirely devoted to NGOs is another indicator of the current attempts to systematically study the work of NGOs.These articles of faith are discussed in more detail in Bridges of Hope: Canadian Voluntary Agencies and the Third World.The book, published by the North-South Institute in 1988 and written by Tim Broadhead and Brent Herben-Copley with the research collaboration of Anne-Mane Lambert, is an excellent review of the Canadian NGO scene.However, the study has several short-comings, the most important ones being (i) It is primarily based on what NGOs had to say about themselves (beliefs) and (ii) the field work was inadequate in that only six field trips were undertaken to Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Jamaica, Mali, Peru and Zimbabwe and in our view the "one month" duration of each trip was too short a period, (iii) the study was conducted by an outsider.Therefore, it is not obvious that they were fully capable of correctly interpreting the extremely complex US$ 100,000.In all, however, the traditional 'matching grant'* programme of support for NGOs stood (in 1986) at 8% of the Canadian International Development Agency's (CIDA) overall budget.Furthermore, 'new channels of CIDA funding over the past five years have boosted the share of Official Development Assistance (ODA) going through NGOs to about 12%.Added to privately raised funds, NGOs account for some 22% of total aid funds, both public and private' 8 .No wonder then the NGO sector has been referred to as the new 'growth sector', a sector which thrives on and indeed celebrates values derived from altruism, charity, development participation, efficiency, co-operation, diversity, pluralism, institutional autonomy, individualism and strength in diversity.The overall philosophy of NGOs is, in turn, supposed to be derived from these values.The philosophical values and the factual expansion of the NGO sector are currently and will in future be used as criteria In 1981, CIDA's matching grant programme was re-organised to include responsibility for the participation of Universities, Colleges, Unions, Professional Associations and Co-operatives; many of the large volunteersending NGOs were transferred to a separate programme, the International Co-operation and Development Services (IC'DS) division.In its first year, the NGO division disbursed some US$ 5 million to 50 development projects carried out by 20 agencics.By the mid 1980s, matching funds were being provided by almost 200 agencies in support of 2,400 projects.Nor is support restricted to NGO division/ACDS channels; development agcncies also received funding from the matching grants programmes of several provincial government.CIDA's International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) division funds relief and recovery projects and increasingly the bilateral division of CIDA offers a number of special arrangements for NGOs.For further details see: Tim Broadhead ct al Bridge of Hope: Canadian Voluntary Agencies and the Third World.North South Institute, (1988) Chapter 1. Tim Broadhead "NGOs: In One Year, Out the Other".World Development Vol. 15.Autumn (1987) page 1. Research Objectives This study had four objectives to; 1 provide on operational definition of NGOs. 2 provide a review of NGOs in the region.3 address the question of Research and Development within NGOs in the region and its relationship to other issues such as the overall contribution of NGOs to development, their The author is a member and has been a discussion leader of the Population Donors NGO Consultative Forum.This is a fairly informal forum hosted roughly every 2 months by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA).Nearly all the major donors and all the major NGOs in Kenya are usually represented.The discussions revolve around a preselected topic and are led by the pre-selected person considered knowledgeable on the topic.Past discussion leaders have included academics, representatives from Ford Foundation, UNESCO, FAO and the World Bank, among others.International Council for Voluntary Agencies, Definitions of Non-Governmental Organisations, Voluntary Agency and Related Terms.Geneva.Mimeo 1983, page 3.As quoted in Alan F.
Author: Njuguna Ng’ethe
Language: English
Subfield: Development
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2104955144