Critique of the Role of NGOs in Further Development - Essay Example

The Role of NGOs in Development Table of Contents Introduction 3 Discussion 3 The role of Non-governmental organizations in development 4 The relation of development theory to NGOs 5 Neoliberalism development theory and NGOs 6 The Non-governmental organizations as change agents and service providers 7 NGOs as change agents 8 Conclusion 11 References 12 Introduction At an international level, the Non-governmental organizations have played a pivotal role in the development segment and admired for its assets as grassroots driven and innovative organizations. There have been rapid upsurge of rising prominence and prevalence of NGOs and increased level of funding for non-governmental organizations programs in advocacy work and service transfer. In the era of technological growth and development of world, states which are riddled with limited finances and poor governance have effectively failed to lead improvement of citizens. Since 1980s, an alternative form of development program is followed. The application of non-governmental organizations is advocated to bridge gulf between existing services and needs of citizens. The role of NGOs can be effective as change agents and service providers. The NGOs have reacted consequently and increasingly involved towards the development of tools and skills for strengthening and betterment of the society. The actions of the Non-governmental organizations have capacity to adapt quickly and challenge government initiatives. The early criticism on the Non-governmental organizations continued and their undertakings have been focused in service establishment than that of empowerment and encouragement. The report provides a vivid explanation about wide ranging topics about the importance of NGOs in international development. Furthermore, the paper tries to argue that NGOs remains important performers in development. The different developmental approaches and concepts are being implemented in the paper to maintain and construct an argument about the role of Non-governmental organizations in development. Discussion This part of the essay will critique the role of NGOs in the development. The role of Non-governmental organizations in development Throughout 1970s and 1980s, the state development approaches was perceived as failure. This failure of approaches has fuelled attention in Non-governmental organizations as growing approaches to offer people-cantered and innovative tactic for liberation, advocacy and service delivery. The Non-governmental organizations offers development alternative by cantering their ability and making claim for implementation of effective methods that is beneficial for challenging unequal relationships and addressing poverty. The rise in prominence and prevalence of NGOS has enabled effective program that is cantered on community contribution. Moreover, this plan for programs and services is done by experimental and innovative approaches. The Non-governmental organizations has developed lively in more specialized roles like information provision, research provision, policy exploration, environmental activism, cultural preservation, conflict resolution, democracy construction and emergence reaction. The changing of world in to global village has raised the importance of NGOs on all international, regional and local levels. The role of Non-governmental organizations can be revealed towards increased impact on policy making, contribution towards drafting agendas, the network of communication for involvement of people and eminent part in political and economic alterations (Thomas, 2008, p.77). The credibility of Non-governmental organizations lies on constructive and responsible role played in determining participating democracy and society. The major attribute of NGOS is independence and real participation in society. The Non-governmental organizations possess expertise in fields, diversified and well-established experience that can be important towards review and application of socially and environmentally sound responsible sustainable improvement. At the time of development and advancement of world, the role of Non-governmental organizations towards development of society has increased and became essential service for institutions and governmental agencies. The days are gone when there are few donor nations. The bulk of loans and grants were provided by the World Bank to targeted programs and recipient countries. The Non-governmental organizations are helping to shape the global development in every sector. The role of international Non-governmental organizations towards the betterment of every nation is widely acknowledged. In 2010, the United Nations general Assembly acknowledged that the role of Non-governmental organizations towards the progression of Millennium Development Goals is at highest level. The international NGOs provide longstanding relationships, technical assistance and foreign assistance to local communities. The Non-governmental organizations community embodies desire to promote individual potential and human dignity, and compassion for those with less innovation, self-help and fortunate. Over the last decade of 20th century, the Non-governmental organizations have been strongly connected with the international aid. But looking in to long-term perspective, the phenomenon of NGOs have existed long time before (Wamai, 2002, p.45). The relation of development theory to NGOs In 1990s, there was a rapid upsurge of post-development perspective. This perspective recommended that any form of development was not prime solution towards the reduction of problems such as inequality and global poverty. Within the post-development perspective, the development of Non-governmental organization is observed as irreversibly tainted service that can only towards the benefits of the aid commerce (Prasad, 2000, p.16). According to Dominique Temple, the Non-governmental organizations are viewed as programs developed to transfer Western capitalist values in to societies which are primarily organized around older. The institutionalism is the changing development theory where Non-governmental organizations are seen as something which can be used is optimum circumstances, with right incentives and rules in place. At the time of alternative development theory stage, the empowerment, gender equality, bottom-up contribution, grassroots perceptions are vital towards the equitable and sustainable development procedures. During the time of alternative development, the Non-governmental organizations are considered as crucial actors with ability of challenging mainstream and top-down development. Neoliberalism development theory and NGOs The neoliberalism is the part of development theory where market mechanisms are viewed as key element to unlock potential of countries to development in to economically stable and sustainable. At the time of neoliberalism stage, the Non-governmental organizations are regarded as flexible agents of cost-effective, private service delivery and democratization. The period of neoliberalism was primarily dominated by structural adjustment policies. By 1990s, the neoliberal orthodoxies occupied the influential development agency program. This new aim approach provided Non-governmental organizations higher profile (Osman, 2000, p.8). The Non-governmental organizations have played pivotal part towards explaining how structural adjustment policies have increased the rate of poverty. According to Lyons, the Non-governmental organizations plays critical role towards encouraging civil society engagement and participation. Neoliberalism is regarded as crucial part of development phase and dominant ideology. The prime aspect of this dominant ideology is to minimize the role of states in education and health sectors (Gaist, 2009, p.12). The rise of prominence of Non-governmental organizations is by increase rate of public funding. However, the social impact of neoliberalism theory has created many criticisms. Moreover, many mass protests occurred for demolition of neoliberalism theory. This made Non-governmental organizations to grow in developing and developed countries to nullify issues that are related towards social injustice, globalization and environment. The Non-governmental organizations as change agents and service providers The Non-governmental organizations are viewed as critical change agents that help to promote social progress, human rights and economic growth. The United States Agency of International Development partnered with Non-governmental organizations to deliver help and assistance in every sectors and regions. Furthermore, this would enable to strengthen education, health and promote economic growth. It is believed that Non-governmental organizations offer advantage to be less constrained by targets, be responsive, innovative and flexible towards the local conditions. When government favours Non-governmental organizations initiatives and participatory improvement, but then again lacks technical skills and financial resources, at this point of time NGOs can be beneficial and suitable partners. The community mobilization can be hindered by the skills and attitudes of peripheral change agents (Matthews, 2011, p.19). NGOS, governmental agencies and international agencies can effectively contribute towards the change of attitudes and roles. NGOs act as vehicle for people to contribute in social and development change. This participation towards social change cannot be possible through government programs. The Non-governmental organizations have strong political dimension with welfare provision and service delivery. The Non-governmental organization is an effective service provider. There is a long history of NGOs to provide social service for the benefit of the community. The sector for providing services includes agriculture, specialized health care and early childhood education. NGOs as change agents The Non-governmental organizations are considered as more effective change agents than that of service providers (Hafez, 2009, p.89). The top-bottom pressure from organization can occur as problematic situation for Non-governmental organizations. The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development has evaluated the importance of Non-governmental organizations as service providers (Bhose, 2003, p.81). There have been certain questions rose, which effectively proves that Non-governmental organizations is not good as service providers. The scale of coverage and operations of Non-governmental organizations is regarded as patchy and limited. Furthermore, the NGOs do not have effective service approach to coordinate with states. The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development stated that NGOS are better ate reaching poor than that of states facilities. The lack of broader framework for effective act is one of the major worries that can be raised regarding the effectiveness of Non-governmental organizations as service providers. Furthermore, Non-governmental organizations provide little evidence that they can deliver better quality than that of state. Additionally, there is not enough evidence to prove that Non-governmental organizations are more cost-effective approach than that of strategy implemented by state. Small project can be more easily handled by Non-governmental organizations than that of larger projects (Pederson, 2003, p.34). The comparative study conducted in India proves that the cost of state health services and Non-governmental organizations are almost similar. In case of subsectors and sectors, the Non-governmental organizations can perform better job to eradicate the issues. These non-profit organizations have expertise and experience to provide effective solution towards providing local level facilities. In case of integrated rural development and complex interventions, the Non-governmental organization fails to adapt towards the need and condition. In an increased competitive funding situation, it is vital for Non-governmental organization community to be aware of the questions of legitimacy (Bongartz, 2002, p.28). It is also considered that Non-governmental organizations are not liable towards any constituency. This creates a fear that duties for the establishment of the welfare benefits are eventually accountable to a private organization and citizens. This resembles the fact that the Non-governmental organizations cannot be viewed as effective service providers. The grassroots-based institutions and organizations like Non-governmental organizations are regarded as effective change agents. Furthermore, the Non-governmental organizations are considered important agents that have capability of mounting challenges to the policies and structures of international organizations. The agents of providing change can be in any sector and department (Narasaiah, 2003, p.37). Non-governmental organizations are viewed as effective agent for development assistance, sustainable community, self-reliance, political socialization, child protection, etc. the rapid shift of perception and viewpoint towards Non-governmental organizations participation and people-oriented development programs resembles the decline of large-scale development plans and foreign aid. Some of the major donor communities believe that NGO participation can act as change agent to alter current inferior situation. The Non-governmental organizations are well suited towards the use of new innovative, wide-ranging and flexible strategies to organize people and mobilize resources. This would benefit small scale industry to nullify their problems. The introduction of innovation strategies is crucial for development of institutions and organizations. The cost-effective approach is viewed as critical approach to maintain sustainability in the business. In the era of globalization and advancement, organization can nullify their current issues by introduction of effective cost-effective strategies. The Non-governmental organizations can provide effective support towards introduction of wide-ranging capacity of innovative strategies to bring change (Kikin, 2004, p.17). The NGOs acts as an operational change agents to organize resources and implement in a better way. In Africa, the government lacks resources and markets are inaccessible. This increased the rapid expansion and growth of Non-governmental organizations in Third World countries. The economic and social spaces created by retreating states and weak markets are increasingly filled by Non-governmental organizations. The Non-governmental organizations are hired as new agent to deal with the problems of lack of basic social services and needs (Fonjong, 2007, p.72). At an international level, the Non-governmental organizations are perceived to provide economic growth and democratization in African countries. The Non-governmental organizations act as change agent by prevention income reduction, bringing new income and providing employment opportunities. These developmental strategies such as participatory development, aided self-reliance, poverty lending programs and cost effective approach can act as change agent in the development process (Goel, 2004, p.19). The Non-governmental organizations also act as an agent to hold the democratic deficit. There have been shift towards the Europeanization of civil culture. In the framework of EU policy creation, the attempted alteration in turn performers is required to make Non-governmental organizations as change agents of political socialization for handling of democratic scarcity (Myers, 2000, p.101). The Non-governmental organizations engagement has two facets such as social by means of agents of societal alteration and political by means of advocates in the policy development. This can be established that NGOs focuses on activities for safeguard of human rights and betterment of the community. The activities implemented by NGOs act as catalyst for sustainable development. Conclusion This can be concluded that Non-governmental organizations are viewed as more effective change agents than that of service providers. Then on-governmental organizations are professionally operated organizations directing at contributing towards the improvement of poor countries and lessening of human suffering. The promotion of self-organization, contribution on awareness, capacity building, engaging in service provision and funding projects are various ways that are implemented by NGOs to shed some light regarding issues of sustainable community development and empowerment. Moreover, it is believed that Non-governmental organizations can provide great possibilities towards eradicating ineffectiveness and poverty in third world countries. The multiplication and diversification of NGOs has created more opportunity to act as agents in child protection, economic development and filling gaps of governmental services for the betterment of society. Moreover, the NGOs plays pivotal role towards advocating for alteration in administrative, procedure and policy rules. The government is the only entity that can develop clear regulation and policy to deal with issues on education and health. The projects initiated by NGOs for water supply, education and health can relieve poverty. But these projects do not provide effective solution for eradication poverty. This proves the fact that NGOs cannot be regarded as effective service providers than that of change agents at an international level. References Bhose, J., 2003. NGOs and Development. London: Kogan Page. Bongartz, H., 2002. Foreign AID and role of NGOs. London: Routledge. Fonjong, L., 2007. The Challenges of Nongovernment Organizations. New York: McGraw-Hill. Gaist, P., 2009. Igniting the power of Community. Stamford: Cengage Learning. Goel, O., 2004. Role of NGOs. London: Kogan Page. Hafez, K., 2009. The Role of NGOs in the development. London: Sage. Kikin, K., 2004. Peace and Development. London: Rowman and Littlefield. Matthews, D., 2011. Intellectual Property. London: Routledge. Myers, N., 2000. Sustainable Development. Munich: GRIN Verlag. Narasaiah, M., 2003. The Role of NGOs in the Development. New Jersey: Pearson. Osman, A., 2000. The Role of NGOs. London: Sage. Pederson, P., 2003. AID. New York: Springer. Prasad, K., 2000. NGOs and Socio-economic Development. London: Routledge. Thomas, A., 1998. The Role of NGOs in development. New York: Springer. Wamai, N., 2002. The Role of NGOs. London: Cambridge University Press. Read More