The role played by Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) both at the local and international level cannot be overstated. Intergovernmental organizations have been donned with campaign groups seeking to inject their contribution on important matters of sustainable development such as those revolving around slavery elimination, production and disposal of hazardous wastes as well as setting standards on environmental activities such as land mines.
Nonetheless, NGOs are also focusing on the activities of some major state and multinational corporations whose activities directly or directly impact on people’s lives. Hence, their concern has gone beyond forging ties with government and intergovernmental organizations. This has been occasioned by the fact that most governments across the globe have slightly shifted their interest from active regulatory activities especially with the impact of trade liberalization.
These powerful multinational corporations may even the authority of some governments and hence, NGOs come in handy to bridge the sustainable development gap left by governments.
The environmental and social parameters of most business ventures have received a major boost from NGOs, a phenomenon that has been precipitated by developments made in information and communication technology.
For instance, the working condition of employees across several multinational organizations has been challenged by NGOs particular in cases when the working environment is pathetic. Such pressure from NGOs has indeed aided to improve the overall worker conditions. Besides, the very NGOs have been very instrumental in fighting against human rights abuses even at their places of work.
When businesses are extremely pressured by NGOs to change their bad business habits, they eventually bow down and as a result, they positively contribute to sustainable development.
By using stakeholders to reach out for business organizations that are flouting regulatory laws, it has been possible for these organizations to take care of their externalities over and above preparing environmental or consumer audit reports on their business activities.
Additionally, pressure from NGOs has also enforced multinational and local organizations to not only carry out reporting of their business activities but also institute and tailor down new systems and structures of management. The new designs largely aim at incorporating the process of decision making with sustainable development both for the concerned organization, the environment and the entire population.
On a wider scale though, some NGOs operate beyond the borders of a single nation. They are well staffed in order to carry out their activities in a more professional and vigorous manner bearing in mind that these organizations work through asserting their demands through pressure groups and multiple campaigns.
Internationally, NGOs have been very instrumental in alleviating human suffering especially in less and least developed countries. Although the economies of these poor countries are usually underperforming, governments in these nations have come to the realization that sustainable development can be accelerated through the activities of NGOs. However, some of these NGOs have been on the receiving end following bitter criticisms from host countries.
As part and parcel of establishing sustainable development in poor countries, there are various methodologies used by NGOs in achieving this momentous goal. For example, NGOs do fund both on-going and new projects. Such projects may include building of social amenities such as health centers and schools as well as water projects.
They also contribute towards relevant training and capacity building of the local communities by offering vocational training services at subsidized or free costs. Besides, they also assist targeted communities in understanding disease prevention measures by boosting their awareness. In achieving this, community based organizations are used.
According to Desai (2005), the role of NGOs the entre society has been positively impacted by the activities of NGOs. For instance, men, women and children have been positively impacted by NGOs. In cases whereby counseling is required, there are NGOs which come in handy to offer psychological support to various groups of traumatized individuals such as those traumatized by war who may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Besides counseling groups, NGOs are also instrumental as advocacy groups.
They also ensure sustainable development of the poor populations by availing micro credit fin ace to the masses. In the event that legal aid is required, there are NGOs which have specialized in assisting communities and even individuals who may be in need of justice but are unable to meet associated the legal costs. Some of these services offered by NGOs are meant to boost people’s ability in managing their day-to-day affairs as part of gaining full control of their personal affairs and finally being independent.
Indeed, the position held by most NGOs is that an independent minded individual is a vital human capital resource for both current and future sustainable development.
On the same note, Stromquist (2002) reiterates that NGOs are important drivers in the delivery of the much needed services by the society such as initiating the acquisition of basic skills and knowledge and providing relief to disaster stricken communities.
Secondly, the author observes that NGOs are also crucial architects in the provision of educational services to the less fortunate in the society. At this point, it is pertinent to note that no major sustainable development can be attained in a society marred with high levels of illiteracy. By initiation education programs to the less educated lot, NGOs promote e healthy ground for socio-economic development both at present and the foreseeable future. Similarly, NGOs also play lead role in advocating for environmental protection issues.
Through the advancement of microcredit, Baccaro (2001) observes that women can indeed benefit from NGOs offering such services. By so doing, the population is economically empowered to manage itself without any undue interference. The author defines empowerment as and scenario whereby economic, political, psychological as well as psychological control is within the reach of either individuals or society.
NGOs facilitate empowerment through variety of ways and means. For example, they ensure that people have access to the much needed information for sustainable development. Moreover, NGOs will ensure that individuals who are assisted to obtain credit facilities are well placed in making the right investment decisions. This goes along way in improving self-efficacy of individuals who undergo education and training programs.
Hence, Non-governmental Organizations will work towards setting the right platform for sustainable community development since the long term support eventually leads to self reliance of the community. Langran (2002) emphasizes that the main reason why NGOs are formed is to enhance the capacity of both individuals and the community at large. By the side, sustainable development and community advancement have been considered as two important elements of growth that cannot be separated from each other.
Thus, the roles played by NGOs in fostering community development should be far reaching if they are to bring forth sustainable development in targeted communities. The importance of NGOs towards sustainable development has been emphasized by Hibbard and Tang (2004). According to the authors, NGOs are vital in creating equilibrium among the three important elements of development in the community. These elements are the immediate environment, the economic and social factors.
By creating such a balance, NGOs are well positioned to jumpstart the overall economic and social well being of people. Furthermore, NGOs act as the epicenter of decentralization of government activities that are tailored towards empowering local communities and individuals in particular. In fact, in the event that the local communities do not have adequate knowledge and skills to carry out specific technical projects, NGOs have been found to offer real time solutions to such deficits.
For instance, they can assist by offering professional help in designing sustainable development plans necessary to kick start certain projects. It should be noted that such development plans portfolio are purely under the government docket. Consequently, the emergence of NGOs is indeed momentous in precipitating sustainable development agenda not just within the local level but also on global scale depending on the scale of operation of the given NGO.
Hibbard and Tang (2004) also conclude that the services offered by NGOs toward sustainable community development may not yield the expected results if the targeted community does not fully participate and throw their weight behind the strategies set forth by respective NGOs. In other words, sustainable development through the action plan of NGOs is a process oriented venture that can only succeed if both the community and NGOs work hand in hand.
Needless to say, the broad and specific functions of NGOs in sustainable development are assumed to take five main bearings. These are the fine-tuned roles of NGOs circumnavigating the economic, social and political life of targeted group or groups of people in a given population. The first bearing or dimension that most NGOs have taken is broadening the economic diversity and income generation patterns of a community.
Secondly, NGOs are poetical creators of local markets through their advocacy programs. In turn, individuals are able to be self-reliant and significantly the commonly known dependency syndrome common in most poor economies. Expansion of local markets is also directly responsible for enhanced integration of economic entities situated at the local level.
Third, NGOs through their environmental pressure groups have worked tirelessly hard to reduce energy use that may be detrimental to the environment. For instance, extensive use of fossil fuels when there are other alternative clean sources of energy is being discouraged by NGOs.
Alongside this measure is the initiative put forward by environmentally-based NGOs of emphasizing recycling of used materials as one way of minimizing environmental degradation. Fourth, NGOs are also on the forefront in cautious management of natural resources in addition to enhancing biological diversity.
These are conserved as inevitable considerations that should be borne in mind if sustainable development is to be realized, be it at the local or internal level. The last dimension taken by NGOs in ensuring sustainable development is dedication to social justice. This form of justice touches on the entire society. It is against this backdrop that there are NGOs which deal with social justice throughout their operations.
A case example of such NGOs is Amnesty International (AI). This Non-governmental organisation s radically against all forms of human rights abuses that tend to contravene social justice and the rule of law.
In a nutshell, it can be summed up that NGOs play integral roles within governments and intergovernmental organizations. Their functions toward sustainable economic development are innumerable and cannot be overstated.
References
Desai, V. 2005. NGOs, gender mainstreaming, and urban poor communities in Mumbai. Gender and Development, 13(2): 90-98.
Hibbard, M. & Tang, C. C. 2004. Sustainable Community Development: A Social Approach from Vietnam. Community Development Society, 35(2): 87-105.
Langran, L.V. 2002. Empowerment and the limits of change: NGOs and Health Decentralization in the Philippine, Department of Political
Science. Ph.D. Thesis, Toronto: University of Toronto.
Stromquist, N.P. 2002. NGOs in a New Paradigm of Civil Society. Current Issues in Comparative Education,1(1): 62-67.