Involvement Of Non-governmental Organizations Research Articles

NGO 'Lawfare' Exploitation of Courts in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

NGO 'Lawfare' Exploitation of Courts in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

The Atlas of human African trypanosomiasis: a contribution to global mapping of neglected tropical diseases.

BackgroundFollowing World Health Assembly resolutions 50.36 in 1997 and 56.7 in 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) committed itself to supporting human African trypanosomiasis (HAT)-endemic countries in their efforts to remove the disease as a public health problem. Mapping the distribution of HAT in time and space has a pivotal role to play if this objective is to be met. For this reason WHO launched the HAT Atlas initiative, jointly implemented with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in the framework of the Programme Against African Trypanosomosis.ResultsThe distribution of HAT is presented for 23 out of 25 sub-Saharan countries having reported on the status of sleeping sickness in the period 2000 - 2009. For the two remaining countries, i.e. Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, data processing is ongoing. Reports by National Sleeping Sickness Control Programmes (NSSCPs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Research Institutes were collated and the relevant epidemiological data were entered in a database, thus incorporating (i) the results of active screening of over 2.2 million people, and (ii) cases detected in health care facilities engaged in passive surveillance. A total of over 42 000 cases of HAT and 6 000 different localities were included in the database. Various sources of geographic coordinates were used to locate the villages of epidemiological interest. The resulting average mapping accuracy is estimated at 900 m.ConclusionsFull involvement of NSSCPs, NGOs and Research Institutes in building the Atlas of HAT contributes to the efficiency of the mapping process and it assures both the quality of the collated information and the accuracy of the outputs. Although efforts are still needed to reduce the number of undetected and unreported cases, the comprehensive, village-level mapping of HAT control activities over a ten-year period ensures a detailed and reliable representation of the known geographic distribution of the disease. Not only does the Atlas serve research and advocacy, but, more importantly, it provides crucial evidence and a valuable tool for making informed decisions to plan and monitor the control of sleeping sickness.

Holding the Giants to Account? Constraints on NGO Accountability in Bangladesh

In recent times non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Bangladesh have witnessed massive growth in size, budget and scale of operations. They enjoy growing support from international donors and operate outside the direct control of the government. Their handling of the massive funds aside, increasing involvement of NGOs in economic, social and at times political spheres has given rise to widespread concerns about their accountability including their relationships with the government, donors and the community. This article examines and analyses various dimensions of NGO accountability in Bangladesh. Drawing on evidence from the Grameen Bank and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC)—two of Bangladesh's largest and the most successful NGOs—the paper argues that NGO accountability in Bangladesh has been more rhetorical than real. It shows that while formal accountability measures are in place, they suffer from a range of inadequacies and shortcomings. Consequently NGO accountability has remained weak and ineffective in relation to major agents such as the government, donors and the clients. The article further shows that some of the recent developments, such as the proliferation of NGO operations, government organisation (GO)–NGO collaboration and the growing involvement of NGOs in commercial activities, have imposed further limitations on their accountability to key stakeholders.

Monitoring Adherence to the International Code of Conduct: Highly Hazardous Pesticides in Central Andean Agriculture and Farmers' Rights to Health

The WHO has advocated monitoring adherence to the Food and Agriculture Organization's Code of Conduct to reduce use of highly hazardous pesticides in lower and middle income countries. We re-framed Code articles in terms of farmers' rights and drew on survey data, farmer focus group results, and direct observations of agrochemical stores in Ecuador and Peru to construct indicators reflecting respect for such rights. Use of highly (Ia and Ib) and moderately (II) hazardous pesticides was common. Worse indicators were observed in places with lower education, greater poverty, and more use of indigenous languages. Limited government enforcement capacity, social irresponsibility of the pesticide industry, and lack of farmers' knowledge of the Code were all factors impeding respect for farmers' rights. Addressing the power imbalance among social actors requires informed farmer and farmworker participation in monitoring adherence and active involvement of non-governmental organizations and municipal governments.

NGO Involvement in the WTO: A Comparative Perspective

This article examines the nature and the extent of the involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the activities of the World Trade Organization (WTO). First, it looks at the arguments for and against NGO involvement in WTO activities. Next, the article discusses the legal basis for the involvement of NGOs in WTO activities and the various forms of involvement provided for. It compares the position of NGOs in the WTO with their position in other international organizations, in particular, the United Nations. Subsequently, the article explores the practice of WTO engagement with NGOs. Finally, it examines and compares the rules and procedures of the WTO and the United Nations for the selection of the NGOs with which to engage. This article concludes that a more open and engaged dialogue with civil society will make the WTO a more transparent and responsive organization, enjoying greater support among the general public in developed as well as developing country Members. Justified concerns about the legitimacy, accountability, and politics of NGOs could be eliminated, or at least mitigated, by introducing a system of accreditation in the WTO. While NGO involvement in the WTO definitely has its limits, the involvement of NGOs in other international organizations, in particular, the United Nations, suggests that these limits have not been reached as yet.

Globalization and Urban Governance in Two Asian Cities: Pune (India) and Cebu (The Philippines)

This contribution examines the management of urban development in two Asian metropolitan regions against the background of globalization. Although there are substantial differences in context, recent developments in both Pune Metropolitan Region in India and Metro Cebu in the Philippines can largely be explained by their integration into the financial and commodity circuits of the global economy. Globalization, however, comprises more than economic inclusion. At the level of policy ideas, we see the introduction of principles of governance emphasizing greater participation of civil society groups in urban management. Operating within existing patron–client frameworks, however, the involvement of non-governmental organizations and community-based/peoples’ organizations has unintended, exclusionary effects. We trace these here in the areas of participatory planning and access to basic needs, especially housing.

Partnerships for corporate social responsibility

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to conceptualise the extent to which partnerships with non‐governmental organisations (NGOs) are a necessity for successful efforts of businesses in the area of corporate social responsibility (CSR).Design/methodology/approachThe main findings are based on an analysis of existing literature on NGO typologies and strategies for CSR and illustrated with examples from the Dutch National Research Program on CSR.FindingsBased on three different strategies towards CSR, the suggestion is that NGOs tend to become involved in partnerships with companies that have an interest in postponing concrete results, while partnerships with companies that have the potential for the biggest contribution to the ambitions of NGOs have the highest risk of diminishing NGO‐legitimacy.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a conceptual paper. Suggestions are given to test the hypotheses put forward as well as the actual results associated with each of the strategies towards corporate social responsibility.Practical implicationsWhatever strategy a company opts for, managers should be aware that every strategy has a reverse side. Being aware of the weak spots of one's own strategy is important to anticipate claims associated with one of the other strategies.Originality/valueTheory in the field of CSR emphasises the necessity to involve NGOs in embedding social issues in the strategies and day‐to‐day operations of organisations. This paper proves that this emphasis is not always justified and presents arguments when certain forms of NGO involvement are required.

Involvement of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Food Production and Welfare of Beneficiaries: The Efforts of Fadu and Dadp in South Western Nigeria

NGOs have been acknowledged to be very reliable in effective adaptation and transfer of technology to farmers, delivery of agricultural support services and effective vehicles for alleviating rural poverty.This study investigates the performance of two agricultural based NGOs in their effort to improve the lots of small-scale resource-poor farmers in Southwestern Nigeria. Farmers Development Union (FADU), an enterprise building organization and Diocesan Agricultural Development Programme (DADP), a capacity building organization were studied. The unique features of their strategies were organization of farmers into cooperative groups, attention to supply of inputs, firm arrangement for the provision of farm credit, and clientele participation in decision making. Achievement of the beneficiaries lagged behind in the case of DADP where input supply was largely left in the hands of the farmers because of its capacity- building ideology.The NGOs needed more donor assistance to enable them expand the scope of their operations.

Challenges and opportunities: the expanded government-led HIV/AIDS programs in China

HIV/AIDS has posed an increasingly serious issue in China. In recent years, Chinese government has taken further intensified efforts to combat HIV/AIDS with high-level political commitment, supportive policy development, increased financial allocation, large-scale of government-led initiatives, expanded international cooperation and great involvement of non-governmental organizations. Meanwhile gaps and challenges coexist impacting the implementation and the results of national HIV/AIDS programs. Thus, further government efforts are needed to improve and tailor the actions to meet the requirement of HIV/AIDS control in China.

Rules on Ngo Accreditation Do Existing Legal Arrangements Facilitate the Legitimization of the Role of Ngos in International Organisations?

This article examines the involvement of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a number of selected international organisations and the rules on NGO accreditation currently applied by these international organisations. It is submitted that appropriate legal arrangements for accreditation of NGOs facilitate the legitimization of their role in international organisations. None of the examined international organisations have currently implemented fully appropriate legal arrangements for the accreditation of NGOs. The arrangements implemented by the UN Economic and Social Council, however, set a good example for other international organisations and form an excellent basis for further improvement.

Speeding Up the International Community's Response Time in Addressing Acts of Genocide: Deferring to the Judgment of Nongovernmental Organizations

Although the United Nations’ 1948 Genocide Convention was a well-intentioned step toward ending genocide, acts of genocide have continued since its ratification. This paper suggests that because genocide is widely considered to be the most horrific of all crimes, the leaders of the international community owe it to their constituents to put some teeth in the Genocide Convention by increasing the speed with which acts of genocide are identified and eradicated. In order to speed up the international community's response time in stopping existing situations of genocide, this paper asserts that certain specified international human rights non-governmental organizations (NGOs) should be given the designated role of identifying genocide and related acts. Such a designation would then initiate, within the U.N. system itself, appropriate action to stop these genocidal acts.This paper examines the relevant statutory provisions and precedents for significant NGO involvement within the United Nations (UN) system. I also discuss several practical concerns associated with granting deference to NGOs and evaluate the degree to which such concerns may be refutable or compelling. This paper explores the moral and pragmatic values of creating a new system to identify cases of genocide, in the hope that the “never again” mentality that permeated the original drafting of the Genocide Convention can finally be given some force.

The influence of NGO involvement on local people's perception of forest management: a case study of community forestry in Nepal

Despite high expectations of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as project partners in bilateral-aid community forestry (CF) projects in Nepal, it remains unclear whether the NGO involvement favored by donors is efficient. This study examined the influence of NGOs on local people's perceptions of CF management by using a quantitative analysis based on a questionnaire survey. Three different forest user groups (FUGs) supported by the Nepal Swiss Community Forestry Project were selected from the Dolakha and Ramecchap districts: an FUG supported by another FUG acting as an NGO, an FUG supported by an NGO specializing in CF, and an FUG without NGO support. A structured survey examined the perception of CF management based on satisfaction, involvement, and self-reliance in 244 selected households belonging to the three FUGs. Knowledge of CF and personal information was also surveyed and analyzed. The results showed that NGO involvement influences factors such as self-reliance and knowledge of CF. FUG members who were supported by an NGO or an FUG had a significantly higher perception with respect to self-reliance and knowledge than did members without such support. This indicates that experienced FUGs can serve as adequate service providers for the CF formation procedure, in a manner similar to that of NGOs. On the other hand, the limited support from NGOs or FUGs during the formation process seemed insufficient to fulfill the expectations of aid agencies with respect to the enhancement of satisfaction and active participation on the part of FUG members. If aid agencies expect NGOs and FUGs to enhance the satisfaction and participation of members, these intermediary organizations should be assigned to support more CF activities than just the formation procedure. Aid agencies should take responsibility for strengthening the capabilities of NGOs and FUGs, as needed.

Women's NGOs at UN Conferences: The 1992 Rio Conference on the Environment as a Watershed Event

SUMMARY Before the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) was held in Brazil in 1992, the involvement of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in UN conferences was limited. NGOs participate in UN conferences in two ways, at a non-governmental forum usually convened simultaneously with an official UN conference, or as accredited observers to the official conference where government delegations meet and make decisions. Only 200 NGOs were granted access to the official portion of the Decade for Women Conference held in Nairobi in 1985, whereas 1,400 organizations were accredited to attend UNCED in Rio in 1992. And while only a small portion, about 5 percent, of those were women-oriented NGOs, they had a significant impact on the outcome. An entire chapter on women and environmental issues was added to the official conference document, and cross-cutting references to women were included throughout the document. This achievement reflects the work of several uniquely placed women, in and outside governments and the United Nations system, working together to build an international network of women and bring their voices to the table. Moreover, the techniques they developed have been used by women at every major UN conference held since 1992.

Defending Diversity, Sustaining Consensus: NGOs at the Beijing Women's Conference and Beyond

SUMMARY This article discusses access to and involvement of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in September 1995. It also looks at the impact on consensus-building of the growing diversity of NGOs participating in these global UN events and at the effect on the international women's movement of the frustrations and difficulties faced in the follow up to Beijing as agreements have been reopened or rolled back. In this climate, women activists and feminist analysts are questioning the future viability of the United Nations as a political space for women's organizing, and under conditions of rapid globalization, are increasingly divided on strategies for implementation and activism.

Regulating GM crops in the Netherlands: precaution as societal-ethical evaluation

Dutch regulators have generally made a sharp distinction between scientific-technical and societal-ethical aspects of regulating agri-biotechnology, but many developments have blurred or challenged that distinction. For field releases, risk assessment depended on agro-ecological norms regarding what plausible effects would be unacceptable. In the mid-1990s, stakeholder controversies continued over how to regulate genetically modified (GM) crops, as well as their food and feed use. Since the late 1990s, opposition by public-interest groups has led to new priorities for risk research, and tighter criteria for evidence. Involvement of non-governmental organisations, whether or not actively sought or appreciated by Dutch regulators, contributed to analytical rigour in risk assessment. Public debate also resulted in proposals for an integral societal-ethical evaluation framework (ISEEF) for biotechnology products, and market demands for the co-existence of GM, conventional and organic crops. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

The role of NGOs in global health research for development.

BackgroundGlobal health research is essential for development. A major issue is the inequitable distribution of research efforts and funds directed towards populations suffering the world's greatest health problems. This imbalance is fostering major attempts at redirecting research to the health problems of low and middle income countries. Following the creation of the Coalition for Global Health Research – Canada (CGHRC) in 2001, the Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) decided to review the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in global health research. This paper highlights some of the prevalent thinking and is intended to encourage new thinking on how NGOs can further this role.ApproachThis paper was prepared by members of the Research Committee of the CSIH, with input from other members of the Society. Persons working in various international NGOs participated in individual interviews or group discussions on their involvement in different types of research activities. Case studies illustrate the roles of NGOs in global health research, their perceived strengths and weaknesses, and the constraints and opportunities to build capacity and develop partnerships for research.HighlightsNGOs are contributing at all stages of the research cycle, fostering the relevance and effectiveness of the research, priority setting, and knowledge translation to action. They have a key role in stewardship (promoting and advocating for relevant global health research), resource mobilization for research, the generation, utilization and management of knowledge, and capacity development. Yet, typically, the involvement of NGOs in research is downstream from knowledge production and it usually takes the form of a partnership with universities or dedicated research agencies.ConclusionThere is a need to more effectively include NGOs in all aspects of health research in order to maximize the potential benefits of research. NGOs, moreover, can and should play an instrumental role in coalitions for global health research, such as the CGHRC. With a renewed sense of purpose and a common goal, NGOs and their partners intend to make strong and lasting inroads into reducing the disease burden of the world's most affected populations through effective research action.

EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS FOR OLDER POPULATIONS IN NIGERIA

Aging populations are growing at a fast rate. The situation is not different in Nigeria, although variations exist among nations. The growing number of older people has implications for social and economic development of the world, especially in developing economies, which have to spend more in the social sector than economic sector. This paper presents analyses of the growing trends in aging populations in the world as well as the trend in Nigeria, discusses the causes and implications of this growth, and suggests educational and welfare programs that can assist in addressing the problems associated with elderly people. Among the programs recommended are adult literacy, health education, skill development, professional training, women's education, retirement and pre-retirement education, social welfare, and the involvement of non-governmental organizations in provision of assistance to old people. The paper cautions against sending elderly people to old people's homes in Nigeria, because it is against our culture and, instead, recommends the establishment of day care institutions with facilities for learning, enjoying leisure, and recreation. It is hoped that this will prevent alienation associated with life in an old people's home.

Mapping Relations between Family Policy Actors

In line with calls from the European Commission for greater involvement of non-governmental organisations in the policy process, this article draws on research across EU member and applicant states to investigate the potential for enhancing cooperation between political and civil society actors in family policy formulation. The authors argue that the role of civil society is highly differentiated between countries, due to three key factors: party ideology, political culture and political transitions, which determine the capacity for improving alliances. Structural barriers to development may prevent the Commission's advocacy of closer cooperation between policy actors from being successful in the shorter term.

Post‐conflict reconstruction of the health system of Afghanistan: Assisting in the rehabilitation of a provincial hospital ‐ context and experience

Over more than two decades of conflict, Afghanistan's health system came to depend heavily on assistance from donors and non‐governmental organizations (NGOs). When the Taliban fell in November 2001 the health system was in a state of collapse; Afghanistan's health indicators were amongst the worst in the world. National Health Policy is to deliver an essential package of health services to the entire population. It is acknowledged that reconstruction of the health system will depend on donor financial support and NGO involvement in health programmes. An example is Medécins du Monde's involvement in health system rehabilitation in the Ghor province. Investing in health can contribute to peace, stability and political transition. Security, needed for reconstruction and for NGOs to continue their crucial work in health, has recently deteriorated in parts of Afghanistan. Joint Regional Teams to provide security to outlying areas have been announced by the US. There is concern that their proposed humanitarian and development role could compromise perception of the neutrality and impartiality of NGOs.

Ethnography of a policy process: a case study of land redistribution in Bangladesh

AbstractThroughout the developing world, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are involved in various aspects of an increasing number of policy interventions. The donor community has lent considerable support to this strategy. One of the key assumptions behind the strategy is that the greater involvement of NGOs in policy processes will result in more resources being distributed to the poor, and will also facilitate the establishment of a policy process which is more inclusive and egalitarian. Here the involvement of NGOs in an important land redistribution policy initiative is used to examine both these assumptions. While there is strong evidence that more land was redistributed to the poor as a result of NGO involvement, the actual mechanism or process for deciding the distribution of land was not found to be all inclusive or completely egalitarian. This ambivalence serves as a timely critique to the naive optimism and simplified assumptions underpinning development thinking and practice. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.