Nongovernmental Organizations and Development

Abstract

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are not normally good at the activities they claim as their merit, but they have virtues that are frequently not proclaimed. In particular, they rarely reach the poorest, they depend in many ways on government support, and they are often not participatory. On the other hand, they are adaptable and suited to promoting self-reliance. Participation has been used more as a slogan than a thought-out strategy. There are many exceptions to the principle that people should have a right to participate in the decisions that affect (importantly?) their lives and work. A more valid question is, Who should take what decisions at which level and in what sequence? There are many links between government and NGOs, not confined to finance. Finally, NGO projects are compared with governmental technical assistance, and the drawbacks of the latter are compared with the merits of the former.