Involvement Of Non-governmental Organizations Research Articles

Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections, Reproductive Tract Infections, and HIV/AIDS in India: Current Status and the Way Forward

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) form an important public health problem with a huge burden of disease and an adverse impact on reproductive health of people worldwide. Caused by a variety of infectious agents and manifesting as different clinical syndromes, STIs/RTIs remain highly prevalent in India too, reportedly up to 6% in general population (and maybe higher in reality due to secrecy maintained by many people around such diseases) and much more in certain vulnerable population groups. The situation has worsened further with the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and resultant acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Similarities of unique host risk behaviors and socio-demographic factors associated with STIs, RTIs and HIV/AIDS call for an integrated approach for their control with multipronged intervention strategies. The National AIDS Control Programme, the National RTI/STI Control Programme, the National Strategy for Elimination of Parent-to-Child Transmission of Syphilis, the National Blood Policy, and other related health programs and policies have set out clear objectives and guiding principles for phased programmatic interventions, with focus on checking the spread of these infections through health education, behavior change, targeted interventions, early diagnosis, and prompt treatment. Freely available and easily accessible services for comprehensive care, support, and treatment of patients with these infections will help reduce the disease burden and improve their reproductive health as well as overall well-being. Increased decentralization of public health services; strengthening institutional capacities; setting up of designated STI/RTI clinics, antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinics and integrated counseling and testing centers; availability of rapid test kits, color-coded drug kits for syndromic treatment and ART treatment; promotion of condoms; integrated counseling and testing; partner notification; involvement of non-governmental organizations; community mobilization; universal precautions and augmentation of voluntary blood donation; robust surveillance; evidence-based planning, and effective program implementation are major components for control of these infections. The present systematic review discusses the current situation, the key programmatic measures, and the way forward for control of STIs/RTIs and HIV/AIDS in India.

The role of nongovernmental organizations in China's climate change governance

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) have been a key player in international climate negotiations. In addition to being UNFCCC observers at the international level, the role of NGOs in domestic climate change governance has differed across countries due to varying political, legislative, and even cultural contexts. As the largest CO2 emitter in the world, China is engaged in the challenging process of low‐carbon development, which may not be achievable through exclusive reliance on top–down management and voluntary actions by the private sector. The participation of NGOs as a civil society actor is important. However, current understanding about the role of NGOs in China's climate change governance has been under‐studied. Climate change is still a relatively new topic for China's NGOs, and it has been difficult to differentiate the involvement of NGOs in climate change issues from their involvement in environmental issues more generally. Overall, the role NGOs play in China's climate change governance has had four main features: government partnership with restricted political space, organization development with inadequate professional capacity, strong international financial reliance but with growing domestic support, and public advocacy with low social recognition. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e483. doi: 10.1002/wcc.483This article is categorized under: Policy and Governance > Private Governance of Climate Change

Power, knowledge and resistance: between co-optation and revolution in global trade

ABSTRACTIt has been recognised that the process of multilateral trade negotiations has been fundamentally altered by the increased involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) since the Uruguay Round. NGOs have helped to increase the voice of the developing world, nullify some of the asymmetries in political power vis-à-vis the rich world, and provide trade analysis to bolster participation. What is less recognised is the growing importance of certain international governmental organisations (IGOs) that provide demand driven advocacy through the provision of knowledge and expertise to developing states that, at times, challenges the dominant neoliberal agenda at the WTO. Unlike NGOs, many of these organisations are able to hold observer status on WTO committees and write member state submissions. Yet, ideologically and in terms of their specific capacity-building functions, these organisations are also distinct from other IGOs operating in the area of global trade. Through everyday actions, ‘insider’ IGOs such as the South Centre and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development undertake work that redresses imbalances of power in global economic governance and transforms the ‘common sense’ underlying trade practices. In this paper, we develop a set of ideal types aimed at unpacking and illuminating the variegated degrees and types of ‘resistance’ exercised within the international trade system.

NGO involvement in zoo management: a myth or reality?

With the sudden deaths of few animals in the Egyptian Giza Zoo (GZ), the debate was launched about zoo management and the limited resources available. In addition, the role of the different stakeholders, especially the non-governmental organizations (NGOs), in zoo management was also put into the forefront. Hence, the purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the extent to which NGOs are involved in the management of the GZ. By conducting seven semi-structured interviews with the GZ director and all the three officially registered NGOs that work in the field of animal rights and protection in Cairo and Giza, the study was able to reach at the following conclusions: First, the GZ is mainly adopting the regulatory and entertainment styles of zoo management offering little room to benefit from the advantages that the NGOs can offer. Second, the role of the NGOs ranges from criticizing, advising, helping when problems arise, to holding training sessions and conferences to increase the awareness of the GZ’s workers and build their capacities. Nevertheless, the NGOs are not involved in planning or fundraising. Finally, as a result of numerous factors including contradictory expectations and characteristics between the GZ and the NGOs, the relationship between the GZ and the NGOs can be described as conflicting as indicated by Onkila (Bus Strategy Environ 20:379–393, 2011).

INVOLVEMENT OF NGOS IN TRAINING TEACHERS IN EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM: A CASE STUDY

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with participatory and experiential approaches have made significant contribution to education for sustainable development (ESD) globally. Examination of five NGO training courses conducted at a Vietnamese teacher education institution reveals that NGOs apply interactive teaching pedagogies that promote student teachers’ sustainability competencies, including systems thinking, future thinking, values thinking and an action-orientation. Students in focus groups saw NGOs as crucial educators in non-formal ESD, contributing to promoting ESD at TEIs by helping to raise funds and to provide research funding, offering the promise of future employment, and reviewing curriculum. Yet weak collaboration between NGOs and universities is among the main challenges to NGO involvement in training student teachers in ESD. Thus some initial steps have been proposed to enhance university-NGO partnerships for further collaboration on teaching ESD. Key words: Education for sustainable development, NGOs, teacher education, sustainability competencies

Determinants of Funding Access for Non-Governmental Organisations: A Case of Moshi Municipality in Tanzania

Access to funds by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) remains a major concern to many NGOs in the globe and developing countries such as Tanzania. NGOs access funds through donations which are unreliable to sustain their great roles. The objectives of this paper were to analyse factors determining access to funds for NGOs and to examine the relationship between the identified factors on access to funds for NGOs. A cross-sectional research design was adopted whereby 48 respondents were interviewed. Descriptive data analysis was done with the aid of IBM SPSS Version 20. Qualitative data were analysed by thematic content analysis. The study found that education level of staff, capabilities and achievements of NGOs, nature of NGO involvement and size and coverage of an NGO had a statistical significant relationship with access to funds for NGOs (p< 0.05). Moreover, diversified networking effects of an NGO were associated with access to funds and an important predictor of access to funds for NGOs. It was concluded that; education level of staff, size and coverage of an NGO, capabilities and achievements of an NGO and nature of an NGO involvement are important predictors of access to funds. The study recommends to NGOs that although there may be other factors which may influence access to funds for NGOs; they should focus on these factors that were found to be important.

Games for groundwater governance: field experiments in Andhra Pradesh, India

Meinzen-Dick, R., R. Chaturvedi, L. Domènech, R. Ghate, M. A. Janssen, N. D. Rollins, and K. Sandeep. 2016. Games for groundwater governance: field experiments in Andhra Pradesh, India. Ecology and Society 21(3):38.http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ES-08416-210338

Exploring Demographic Factors Influencing Acceptance of Family Planning Methods in Aligarh

Introduction: Population of India has jumped to 1,290,974,613 (1.29 billion) on Dec 07, 2015. There are certain demographic factors, which affect the acceptance of family planning methods. Therefore this study was conducted to determine the extent of felt need of family planning methods and to assess the demographic factors influencing the contraceptive acceptance. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in J.N. Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, for a period of two and half year. Only the mothers in the post partum period were interviewed. Those mothers who had already accepted family planning methods were not included in the study. 1383 mothers were interviewed. Data were tabulated and analysed using SPSS version 20. Chi-square test (χ2) was applied to know the statistical significance. Results: Significant number of mothers (39.6%) had planned to adopt family planning methods. Majority of the mothers (71.4%) were in the age group of 21-30 years. In this age group, 39.7% mothers wanted to adopt family methods. As the age of the mothers increased, the acceptance rate also increased. Majority of mothers (52.9%) admitted in the hospital were Hindus. Among Muslims, 40.3 per cent mothers had felt need of family planning methods. Mostly the mothers were illiterate (50.8%). 30.8 per cent of these illiterate mothers wanted to accept family planning methods. Similar felt need (36.4%) was observed in mothers with education up to primary level (V standard). As the birth order increased, felt need also increased. Conclusion: It may be concluded that significant number of mothers had planned to adopt family planning methods. Though the campaign to promote family planning methods in our country is being carried out, the message should be given more vigorously through information, education and communication (IEC) activities and involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGO). Concerted efforts are needed to find out the reasons for unmet need and its solution

ONLINE MEDIA COVERAGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTEST IN ROMANIA. ROŞIA MONTANĂ CASE

Romania, the place where protests never take place, has been facing significant civil disobedience and street demonstrations in the last years. Of them, environmental protests present several particularities and do not convey social problems. The cyanide exploitation in Roşia Montană in Romania has been debated lately due to the fact that the place is part of the Romanian historical heritage and due to the negative environment impact. The project has been delayed several times being subject to political and public environment policies. Moreover, the cyanide exploitation generated protests and street demonstrations against the project. The present study reveals the media coverage of the protest and analyses the way Romanian media referred to the environmental protest related to Roşia Montană through messages. We investigate the media message and implicitly the representation comprised in it. Our analysis includes several predetermined indicators in order to evaluate the media impact regarding the case: environment, economics, and legislative framework, presence of protests, involvement of non-governmental organizations, civil society/community and politicians.

WildlifeNGOs: From Adversaries to Collaborators

Many governments perceive a ‘contested ground’ between Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and governments in multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). Governments have asserted a concern that increasing NGO involvement is an erosion of their sovereignty. The other side of this coin is that wildlife related MEAs including the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) are a low order political priority and government budgets for these environment issues are stretched. Many governments lack even basic implementation budgets, let alone capacity for progressive work. MEA secretariats are funded so minimally that there is insufficient facility to really progress implementation. A recent review of wildlife related NGOs associated with the work of the CMS family has found that NGOs will commit to increase implementation efforts if the right dynamic is created. Moving beyond the impression of ‘contested ground’ to a ‘collaborative governance’ future, where all participants are invested in policy, discourse, negotiation and arbitration could increase human and financial resource and in turn increase implementation for the CMS family.

Educational Activities for Older Adults Development in Lithuanian Social Care Institutions

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em style="text-align: justify;"&gt;The article reviews educational activities for older adults in social care institutions. The growing numbers of older people in the society create an imperative to keep reviewing and adapting for the newly emerging needs societal resources in the areas of social security, economics, education, and health care. Recent discussions about the potential of institutional social care to meet societal needs are gaining momentum in Lithuania and the challenge is to offer alternative, equally agreeable, forms of social care as, for example, social care of the adults at their own homes, involvement of non-governmental organisations into the provision of social and educational service provision. However, it is broadly accepted that social care provided for older adults in the social care institutions plays an important role in the provision of social and educational services and will continue to play this role in future. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

The Role of Non-governmental Organizations in Implementation of Family Policy in Lithuania

The article analyzes the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the implementation of the Lithuanian family policy, focusing on the analysis of activities and problems that NGOs face seeking the family well-being and strengthening of the family institution. Such analysis is relevant because since the much-needed civic initiatives in the field of family welfare are missing, NGOs involvement in implementation of family policies has not been studied enough. In order to investigate the role of NGOs, which they perform participating in the implementation of Lithuanian family policy, the main question of this article has been focused on the activities that NGOs are involved in regarding family welfare and strengthening of the family institution, and problems that NGOs encounter in carrying out such activities. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.ppaa.14.1.11415

Neoliberalism in ecotourism? The new development paradigm of multinational projects in Africa

As a global phenomenon, ecotourism is influenced by numerous stakeholders ranging from local charities to international governments and non-governmental organisations (NGO). Within the continent of Africa, multinational NGO and government involvement is at the forefront of ecotourism development as a strategy for natural resource management, economic gains, and increased quality of life. While many African countries are attempting to create a ‘self-reliant’ society, they still encourage extensive direct foreign investment. This paper asserts that, as the international voice that attempts to link conservation with domestic and foreign audiences, multinational agencies control the power structures that invariantly reinforce the concept of neoliberal conservation. It is argued that there is a need to better understand a multinational agency's role in ecotourism development; therefore, through an analysis of six multinational conservation agencies headquartered in Washington, DC, this paper presents an analysis of prevailing approaches to ecotourism development in Africa. The qualitative findings relay four overarching organisational values: sensitivity to local needs/culture, organisational partnerships, capacity building, and monitoring. Additionally, policies and protocols that encourage the sustainability of these values are presented, along with lessons learnt.

How to house a child: providing homes for Jewish children in interwar Poland

After World War I Jewish community leaders in Poland addressed the increasing number of orphans due to the war and continued violence by placing children in foster care and building orphanages run by local non-governmental organisations. The care of children in private homes was seen as the most practical solution to the crisis and a real alternative to the establishment of institutions. The records of these non-governmental organisations and the writings of Jewish community leaders reveal that the discussion regarding institutions and private care reflected a desire to provide effective and efficient services but was also a sign of the institutional immaturity of the organisations that had emerged to address the needs of children. Proponents of both institutions and private care advocated greater supervision of these services and, if not institutionalisation, more organisation of those working in child welfare and of children's lives. Believing that such supervision would make the children under their care into more productive, responsible adults, the leaders of Jewish children's aid associations in Poland viewed positively the increasing involvement of non-governmental organisations and the state in the intimate lives of families.

Greening the Field? How NGOs Are Shaping Corporate Social Responsibility in China

China's state-led model of corporate social responsibility (CSR) does not seem to present a promising environment for the participation of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Nevertheless, we observe recent examples of NGO involvement in CSR initiatives. Chinese NGOs are using the CSR platform to challenge the environmental practices of firms operating in China. We take a field-theoretical approach that focuses on the agency of actors. We show how an international NGO proposes a new standard and how Chinese NGOs use local environmental information disclosure laws to engage with firms in the textile supply chain. We find that NGOs leverage the power of brands to influence the practices of Chinese suppliers. However, we find differences in the framing and tactics employed by international NGOs versus their Chinese counterparts. Field analysis helps better understand the actors in the field of CSR, along with their motivations and their resources, and it offers a useful perspective on civil society development in China.

Fostering of Civil Society by Muslim Women's NGOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Fostering of civil society is vital in multiethnic, multicultural, multi-religious and post-conflict societies such as that of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Therefore, this paper examines the role of Muslim women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in fostering of civil society in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In this regard, this paper puts in the perspective present role of Muslim women's NGOs by providing the theoretical background and a survey of NGOs in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In order to determine the role and function of Muslim women's NGOs, the author examines main criteria of civil society functions such as control of political power, monitoring of political participation and elections, promoting of anti-corruption awareness, advocating values of human rights, tolerance and understanding, offering civic training, promoting civic education and public issues through media, and promoting conflict resolution and interfaith dialogue. By analyzing civil society functions, this paper answers a question of Muslim women's NGOs involvement in socio-political aspects of a democratic state and fostering of civil society in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The author uses ethnographic methodology, written sources and interviews in analyzing two leading Muslim Women's NGOs such as Nahla Education Center for Women and Kewser-Zehra Association of Muslim Women. The results of this paper indicate that although Muslim women's NGOs in theory do not emphasize on several civil society actors, especially those of political and legal nature, they are significantly involved throughout their various activities in socio-political aspects of the democratic state and as such they have contributed significantly toward fostering of civil society in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Major challenges to scale up of visual inspection-based cervical cancer prevention programs: the experience of Guatemalan NGOs.

Like many other low- and middle-income countries, Guatemala has adopted visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) as a low-resource alternative to the Pap smear for cervical cancer screening. Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) introduced VIA to Guatemala in 2004, and a growing number of NGOs, working both independently and in collaboration with the Guatemalan Ministry of Health, employ VIA in cervical cancer prevention programs today. While much research describes VIA efficacy and feasibility in Latin America, little is known about NGO involvement with VIA programming or experiences with VIA outside the context of clinical trials and pilot projects in the region. To explore challenges faced by NGOs implementing VIA programs in Guatemala, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 NGO staff members involved with 20 VIA programs as direct service providers, program administrators, and training course instructors. Additionally, we collected data through observation at 30 NGO-sponsored cervical cancer screening campaigns, 8 cervical cancer prevention conferences, and 1 week-long NGO-sponsored VIA training course. Frequently highlighted challenges included staff turnover, concerns over training quality, a need for opportunities for continued supervision, and problems with cryotherapy referrals when immediate treatment for VIA-positive women was unavailable. Reducing staff turnover, budgeting to train replacement providers, standardizing training curricula, and offering continued supervision are key strategies to improve VIA service quality and program sustainability. Alternative training methods, such as on-the-job mentoring and course prerequisites of online learning, could help increase training time available for clinical supervision. Efforts should be made to ensure that VIA testing is coupled with immediate cryotherapy, that providers trained in VIA are also trained in cryotherapy, and that cryotherapy supplies and equipment are maintained. Where this is not possible and only VIA screening is available, referral systems must be strengthened.

The Challenge of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Local Level: Become Pragmatic or an Accelerator of a Good Governance?

The Challenge of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Local Level: Become Pragmatic or an Accelerator of a Good Governance?

Governmental Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations Involvement in Managing Drinking Water: Disaster Affected Coastal Rural Area of Bangladesh

Governmental Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations Involvement in Managing Drinking Water: Disaster Affected Coastal Rural Area of Bangladesh

Picking up the Threads: Model Approach Helps Cambodia Design a New Fashion Image

Picking up the Threads:Model Approach Helps Cambodia Design a New Fashion Image Katalin Medvedev (bio) and Britanny Reef (bio) From 1965 to 1975, under the administration of President Lyndon Johnson and then during Richard Nixon's "secret war," Cambodia was bombed as part of an effort to destabilize the Vietnamese National Liberation Front and the rurally based communist Khmer Rouge. However, the U.S. bombing campaign actually strengthened the Khmer Rouge guerrilla movement and weakened King Sihanouk, and later the government of General Lon Nol, a U.S. ally (Shawcross 1979). Lon Nol's government collapsed on April 17, 1975, after a sixteen-year-long civil war against the Khmer Rouge. On that day, victorious Khmer Rouge troops entered the capital city, Phnom Penh, with the goal of rebuilding the country's broken rural economy and creating an immediate "classless" society based on rural life. In Cambodia, Pol Pot's ultra-Maoist peasant-communist government lasted from 1975 to 1979. During this time, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge embarked on a bloody crusade against its own people and the Vietnamese minorities living in the country, dislocating the entire population and moving all urban dwellers to the rural countryside where people's individual identity and many cultural values were stripped away. The murderous rule of the Khmer Rouge resulted in the deaths of a minimum of 1.5 million people (Vickery 2000). Most of the country's intelligentsia and skilled labor force perished. Because Cambodia's entire population was uprooted and displaced around the country, the national agriculture, industry, and service sectors, including textiles and fashion production, were either destroyed or abandoned. Vietnamese troops put an end to the destruction by ousting Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge in 1979. In 1991 the Paris Peace Agreement finally brought a cease-fire in the continuing civil war. [End Page 131] The agreement and the subsequent establishment of the United Nations Transitional Authority in 1992, followed by national elections in 1993, opened Cambodia to international investment and aid, which claimed to rebuild the nation and spur economic growth. As part of this, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) like Blue Mekong, which operates within the Stung Treng Women's Development Center have become important catalysts in creating socially and economically sustainable employment opportunities for Cambodian women in fashion production. NGO Involvement in Fashion Production in Cambodia The Paris Peace Agreement authorized the arrival of many international NGOs, and allowed for the establishment of a few Cambodian NGOs to help rebuild the country. Today, there are close to two thousand NGOs in Cambodia (Rassumen 2010). Many of these were set up by large international donors like the U.N. or UNESCO, while others were created by individuals and small organizations that moved to Cambodia to provide humanitarian aid, or champion a cause or in hopes of fostering economic viability. Because of the prolonged civil war, during which Cambodia's economy collapsed, the country was fertile ground for any investments or causes, including religious ones. The NGOs have been enjoying the support of the international donor community because of their ostensible democratic modus operandi; because they claim to champion strategic social, cultural, environmental, health, gender, and economic causes; and because they were established, at least on paper, to empower local citizens. But Cambodia's autocratic and corrupt government also puts up with them because they allow the country's leadership to delegate the responsibility for solving a series of pressing social and economic problems to NGOs. In essence, as in other developing countries, privately- and internationally- funded NGOs have replaced government services in certain areas; however, "NGOs not dependent on state aid are the exception rather than the rule" (Robbins 2002, 129). While it is not the intention of the authors to discuss the complexities surrounding NGOs, the following quote puts the latter's operations in context: Although the state may welcome charities and welfare bodies providing for the homeless, elderly and sick, not least because this reduces state [End Page 132] expenditure, it may take less kindly to advocacy groups that promote causes contrary to government policy or organizations that challenge the legitimacy of the state. . . . Similarly, businesses may sponsor community development, but they may be less...