The Story Retold Visiting the Role and Mission of Non-Governmental Organizations in the Decision Making and Policy Formulation Process

Abstract

The mission of the present study is to establish a robust and reliable reference framework on the ecosystem of Non-Governmental Organizations and the Third Sector for literature review in scholarly contributions and publications. Two goals are set: first, to re-establish the importance of Nongovernmental Organizations as integral key players on the arena of social welfare in an era that is largely defined by globalized economies, debt-ridden states, limited resources, increased competition for donations and volunteers, and enhanced needs related to poverty and acceptable standards of living. Second, to position NGOs on the sphere of political influence where they negotiate agendas, form coalitions with local and international partners, mobilize constituencies for policy change, and ultimately engage in all stages of the policy process. Finally, the absence of a concrete evaluation system is pointed out: an accountability framework is fundamental to the assessment of NGO performance and impact on their intended beneficiaries.