NGOs in Asia: Issues in development
| Date | 01 April 1990 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/pad.4230100203 |
| Published date | 01 April 1990 |
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT,
VOL.
10,141-152 (1990)
NGOs
in
Asia: issues
in
development
PETER
BOWDEN
Peter Bowden and Associates
SUMMARY
In late 1988 and 1989, the author led a seven country study
of
NGO
activities for the Asian
Development Bank. Almost twenty consultants from eight different organizations were
involved in the project, the purpose
of
which was to identify
NGOs
that were able to contribute
to Bank financed projects, and the ways in which any collaboration could take place. The
willingness of governments to support the projects was an important aspect
of
the assessment.
During the course
of
the study, a number
of
features of
NGO
operations were identified
which are not often reviewed in the literature. These issues, discussed in this paper, relate
to the mutual benefits that would flow from greater levels
of
co-operation between large
donors and
NGOs.
The paper also discusses some of the difficulties that stand in the way.
INTRODUCTION
As one observer has stated, the term non governmental organization ‘offers such
a broad umbrella for a kaleidoscopic collection of organizations that attempts at
simple definitions are quickly rendered meaningless’ (Cernea, 1988, p. 9). Unfortuna-
tely, any analysis of
NGO
functions requires that at least a working categorization
be developed.
The
issues raised in this paper relate to donor and
NGO
effectiveness,
issues that need to be placed in the context of the objectives that an
NGO
is pursuing,
and the approaches that it is adopting in its efforts to achieve those objectives.
A categorization that was developed for the Asian
NGO
study relates principally
to the dominant functions of
NGOs.
These functions, classified by type of
NGO,
are:
-
Consulting
NGOs,
providing consulting services to governments, donor agencies
and major contractors. Although fees are charged, the
NGO
is
a non-profit
organization, usually concentrating on issues relating to the economic and social
aspects of development.
-
Welfare
NGOs,
providing assistance to the needy, including relief services in
times of emergency.
-
Development
NGOs,
working with poorer communities in providing a range
of developmental services and in building self-help capabilities.
-
Advocacy
NGOs,
concentrating principally on environmental issues, land
reform, tenancy issues, and peoples’ rights.
Peter Bowden, formerly Head of the Department of Administrative Studies at the University of Manches-
ter, now combines work in the Australian public sector with consulting and research in developingcountries
as head of Peter Bowden and Associates,
75
Bonnefin Road, Hunters Hill, N.S.W.
21
10,
Australia.
027 1-2075/90/020
141-
12$06.00
0
1990 by John Wiley
&
Sons, Ltd.
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