Making NGOs effective and transparent
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have developed as a new phenomenon in post-independence Bangladesh. There is also a world of difference between these new kinds of voluntary bodies, or NGOs and their classical counterparts. The scope of work of the traditional voluntary bodies were limited to providing some succour to the distressed in times of adversity. But the NGOs remained active throughout the year and did more than just provide succour to the needy during adversities. Apart from their major focus on poverty alleviation, the NGOs' range of activities also included adult literacy, health and sanitation, maternal and child health, reproductive health, advocacy on gender and other rights and so on. The latest inclusion among these activities is micro-credit.
There is no denying that many such NGOs have done a commendable job, contributing to strengthening of poverty alleviation efforts. On their part, foreign donors channelled billions of dollars through these NGOs. The power and influence of these NGOs, especially of the big ones, have grown immensely. Some of these NGOs, or their leaders, to be specific, have even gone so far as to pursue agenda that do not come under the normal operational activities of such organisations. However, the NGOs conducting advocacy activities are very vocal about strengthening democractic processes at the grassroots, defending various rights and ensuring transparency and accountability. There is nothing wrong about such activities. But it is important here that the NGOs or their leaders should not use the platform for their personnel political or other goals or motives. In order to forestall such possibilities, the NGOs do need to practise the principles -- that they advocate -- within their own set-ups.
The government should have proper access to internal working of the NGOs. The laws have also to be adequately equipped or empowered to make these NGOs transparent and answerable to the public. What is being suggested here is proper supervision and accountability of all NGO-related activities, not excessive controls or regulations. Otherwise, regulatory overkill will stifle the good efforts of the NGOs. It is to be noted here that the government body known as the NGO Affairs Bureau has, as of now, little scope to bring all the NGOs under closer scrutiny other than releasing the funds they - the foreign-aided ones -- receive from external donors and giving registration to new NGOs. Thousands of medium and smaller NGOs have sprung up in the country. So, it is practically impossible for the NGO Affairs Bureau alone to closely monitor the activities of all these organisations.
Against this backdrop, as late as last October, the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) came up with findings about not only lack of transparency and accountability in the NGOs, but also of unfair practices within these organisations. In fact, if only for the NGOs' hush-hush attitude about themselves, especially about their internal working, many otherwise well-meaning quarters, despite these voluntary bodies' valuable service to society, were wont to look at their activities with a grain of salt. Even the public at large have many questions about them. The TIB report on the activities of the NGOs has only gone to further validate the suspicions.
What should the government, or its organ, the NGO Affairs Bureau do to ensure transparency, accountability in these organisations? The first thing that has to be made sure is that any entity operating within the country must be amenable to the law of the land and the law here must be clear and transparent, providing no scope for ambiguity or exercise of discretionary power that often leads to abuses and harassment. The NGOs also must not be immune to the provisions of punishment and rewards according to law.
There is no denying that many such NGOs have done a commendable job, contributing to strengthening of poverty alleviation efforts. On their part, foreign donors channelled billions of dollars through these NGOs. The power and influence of these NGOs, especially of the big ones, have grown immensely. Some of these NGOs, or their leaders, to be specific, have even gone so far as to pursue agenda that do not come under the normal operational activities of such organisations. However, the NGOs conducting advocacy activities are very vocal about strengthening democractic processes at the grassroots, defending various rights and ensuring transparency and accountability. There is nothing wrong about such activities. But it is important here that the NGOs or their leaders should not use the platform for their personnel political or other goals or motives. In order to forestall such possibilities, the NGOs do need to practise the principles -- that they advocate -- within their own set-ups.
The government should have proper access to internal working of the NGOs. The laws have also to be adequately equipped or empowered to make these NGOs transparent and answerable to the public. What is being suggested here is proper supervision and accountability of all NGO-related activities, not excessive controls or regulations. Otherwise, regulatory overkill will stifle the good efforts of the NGOs. It is to be noted here that the government body known as the NGO Affairs Bureau has, as of now, little scope to bring all the NGOs under closer scrutiny other than releasing the funds they - the foreign-aided ones -- receive from external donors and giving registration to new NGOs. Thousands of medium and smaller NGOs have sprung up in the country. So, it is practically impossible for the NGO Affairs Bureau alone to closely monitor the activities of all these organisations.
Against this backdrop, as late as last October, the Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) came up with findings about not only lack of transparency and accountability in the NGOs, but also of unfair practices within these organisations. In fact, if only for the NGOs' hush-hush attitude about themselves, especially about their internal working, many otherwise well-meaning quarters, despite these voluntary bodies' valuable service to society, were wont to look at their activities with a grain of salt. Even the public at large have many questions about them. The TIB report on the activities of the NGOs has only gone to further validate the suspicions.
What should the government, or its organ, the NGO Affairs Bureau do to ensure transparency, accountability in these organisations? The first thing that has to be made sure is that any entity operating within the country must be amenable to the law of the land and the law here must be clear and transparent, providing no scope for ambiguity or exercise of discretionary power that often leads to abuses and harassment. The NGOs also must not be immune to the provisions of punishment and rewards according to law.