NGOs in Development

Adam Walker

Laura Williamson

NGOs in Development

Agenda Introduction Overview of NGOs Categories and Types of NGOs Trends and Scale of the NGO sector Reasons for NGO growth The Downside to NGOs Amnesty International Overview A.I Main Practices Amnesty International Analysis

Overview

A non-governmental organization, (NGO), is any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group, which is organized on a local, national or international level.

NGOs provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms, dispense aid, and help monitor and implement international agreements

NGOs are typically value-based organizations, which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service

Categories of NGOs

The term NGO is very broad and encompasses many different types of organizations

The main Categories of NGOs include; i) operational NGOs

whose primary purpose is the design and implementation of development-related projects (Centre for Development & Population Activities)

ii) advocacy NGOs whose primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause and who seek to

influence the policies and practices of countries (Amnesty International) iii) humanitarian NGOs

whose primary purpose is to provide aid in disaster areas, and alleviate suffering from poverty and disease (e.g. red cross)

Types of NGOs

Individual NGOs vary enormously according to their purpose, philosophy, sector expertise and scope of activities

Some are also affiliated with world bodes or companies

E.g. World Bank, UN

NGOs can be classified by whether; they are more relief or development-oriented they are religious or secular they stress service delivery or participation they are more public or private-oriented

Impact of the NGO sector

It is now estimated that over 15 percent of total overseas development aid is channelled through NGOs (World Bank)

Total NGO numbers are hard to pin down for good reason; Current estimates put the number of NGOs around; 6,000 and 30,000 national NGOs in developing countries 29,000 approximate international NGOs Community based organizations across the developing and

developed world that number in the hundreds of thousands (World Bank,

Economist)

Trends in the NGO sector

Over the past several decades, NGOs have become major players in the field of international development

Since the mid-1970s, the NGO sector in both developed and developing countries has experienced exponential growth

According to the World Bank, from 1970 to 1985 total development aid disbursed by international NGOs increased ten-fold

This trend peaked in 1992 with $7.6 billion dollars being distributed by NGOs to developing countries

Reasons for NGO growth

NGO growth has resulted primarily from Governments increasingly using them to dispense their aid

Not a matter of charity, but privatization

(e.g. Between 1990-1994 the EU’s relief aid channelled through NGOs rose from 47% to 67%)

Governments have realized that NGOs provide a number of advantages that government sponsored programs don’t have

Advantages

Can go places and undertake missions in areas where governments can’t go More cost efficient than governments Strong grassroots linksField-based development expertiseThe ability to innovate and adaptParticipatory methodologies and toolsLong-term commitment and emphasis on sustainability

Limitations of NGOs

limited financial and management expertise

limited institutional capacity

low levels of self-sustainability

isolation/lack of inter-organizational communication and/or coordination

small scale interventions

lack of understanding of the broader social or economic context

Some dangerous practices When NGOs can do harm!

If under scrutinized, groups can become wasteful. (Therefore, not necessarily more efficient than government programs)

Some aid groups are used to propagate western values, as Christian missionaries did in the 19th century. ( i.e. disruptive to local cultures/customs)

Some projects may not clearly be in the interests of the countries. (e.g. buying slaves in order to free them)

Dangerous Practices Continued

Can cause resentment among locals if NGOs employees come with western living standards and divert money from local governments

Can complicate foreign policy as NGOs also get involved in situations where their presence may prolong or complicate wars by unintentionally feeding armies, sheltering hostages or serving as cover for warring parties

Amnesty International

Analysis of a Large, International NGO

Organization Structure and History (I)

Amnesty International has around one million members and supporters in 162 countries and territories.

The organization is celebrating its 40th birthday this year

Organization Structure and History (II)

Amnesty International is a democratic movement self-governed by a nine-member International Executive Committee (IEC). eight volunteer members, elected every two

years by an International Council comprising representatives of the worldwide movement

an elected member of the International Secretariat.

Main Practices, Goals and Initiatives (I)

*Statute of Amnesty International:As amended by the 25th International Council, meeting in Dakar, Senegal, 17 to

25 August 2001

VISION AND MISSION:“Amnesty International's vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards. In pursuit of this vision, Amnesty International's mission is to undertake research and action focused on preventing and ending grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination, within the context of its work to promote all human rights”

Main Practices, Goals and Initiatives (II)

CORE VALUES:

“Amnesty International forms a global community of human rights defenders with the principles of international solidarity, effective action for the individual victim, global coverage, the universality and indivisibility of human rights, impartiality and independence, and democracy and mutual respect.”

Main Practices, Goals and Initiatives (III)

METHODS:Public Demonstrations

Letter writing

Human Rights Education

Fundraising

Individual Appeals

International Campaigns

Main Practices, Goals and Initiatives (IV)

CURRENT INITIATIVES:

“Stop the Torture”

“True Cost of Diamonds”

“Child Soldiers”

A.I and ‘Sins of the Secular Missionaries’

NGO and Government Interdependence (I)

THE MONEY:“Amnesty International's funding reflects the movement's independence and its reliance on broad public support. No funds are sought or accepted from governments for Amnesty International's work investigating and campaigning against human rights violations. The hundreds of thousands of donations that sustain this work come from the pockets of it's members and the public and organisations such as trusts, foundations and companies.”

NGO and Government Interdependence (II)

THE MONEY: (continued)

Yearly Audit with detailed accounting of spending

Provision in the AI Statute the prohibits employees or volunteers from receiving dividends, bonuses, etc.

NGO and Forced ‘Help’

June 1999: AI verses the Government of Togo

The case was sparked by a recent Amnesty International report which accused the Togolese government of the disappearance of some 100 people, whose bodies were thrown into the Atlantic Ocean, only to resurface later.

NGO and Forced ‘Help’

Government Reaction:"Mr. Sane, as the head of Amnesty International, has spread

false information with the explicit goal of fomenting unrest, creating a state of permanent insecurity, and creating the general feeling that the government in Togo is illegitimate. It's a sinister plot."

NGO and Forced ‘Help’

Amnesty International’s Reaction:"Amnesty International has no political agenda. We're a

totally impartial and autonomous organization. Our objective in Togo is to ensure better protection for most Togolese and foreigners who live in Togo."

NGO and Forced ‘Help’

Results:The Commission recommended the nomination of a UN Special Rapporteur on

Togo; the nomination of a team of experts to exhume the bodies buried in Togo and

Benin, and financial help from the international community to set up a mechanism to monitor and protect witnesses and the nomination of a judicial commission of enquiry.