NGO Activities Research Articles

Effectiveness of resource management of Lebanese NGOs in response to COVID-19 and the Syrian crisis

Crises are appearing widely in different regions of the world. The Syrian war was considered one of the largest humanitarian crises where Lebanon hosted many displaced Syrians. Recently, the coronavirus outbreak coincided with a severe socio-political and economic crisis in the country. COVID-19 affected NGOs’ response to the community and refugees. Henceforth, the study examined NGO activities and strategies in response to the Syrian refugee crisis during and after COVID-19 to identify future effective practices. The paper is based on qualitative data. Forty representatives from NGOs in Lebanon participated in semi-structured interviews. They reported on (i) the influence of COVID-19 on NGOs’ activities, (ii) effective strategies for supporting Syrian refugees and the host community, and (iii) evaluation of NGOs’ achievements and failures to provide services for the community during COVID-19. Data disclosed that COVID-19 enhanced the need for different activities to support refugees and the host community but failed to procure funds and get the necessary support from the funding agencies. The paper suggested that both government and donor agencies should enhance support for NGOs during crisis times, with better communication among stakeholders being crucial. A resource dependency theory was developed and supported by stakeholder perspectives. Based on the research findings, implications, and future research suggestions are proposed.

The Generalized System of Preferences and NGO activism

Can NGOs contribute to the implementation of Labor Laws in a developing country? We exploit as a quasi-natural experiment the renegotiation of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) between the US and Indonesia in 1994, which induced the Indonesian government to raise the level of the legal minimum wage. Using data from Indonesian manufacturing firms, a diff-in-diff analysis and an event study show that the activism of workers’ rights groups helped increase firm-level average wages up to the minimum-wage level, not only inside but also outside the export sector. Labor NGO activism helped to implement the new minimum wage standards in a country that lacked strong governmental institutions.

The Interstitial Emergence of Labor NGO Activism in China and Its Contradicting Institutionalization, 1996–2020

Abstract This article seeks to extend the theoretical discussion of interstitial emergence to an authoritarian context. An interstitial space is a space whose relations with the dominant power structure are not yet institutionalized. In analyzing interstitial emergence in an authoritarian context, it is necessary to examine the interaction between interstitial space and the state as an institutionalizing force and recognize that 1) institutionalization is an ongoing process that spans over a period and 2) a state’s intervention may induce unintended consequences. The rise and fall of labor NGO activism in China between 1996 and 2020 are used as a case to illustrate the theoretical discussion. Labor NGOs emerged out of the interstices of state control since the 1990s. Although the state started to regulate these organizations since the late 2000s, its intervention lacked consistency. Before the state finally gained the capacity to enforce rules, which was around 2015, labor NGOs had already launched a series of advocacy activism and cultivated a group of activists who identified with the value of social movement. Hence, although the activism was eventually incorporated, it had successfully thematized labor issues and produced enduring impact on the culture of public discussion.

Некоторые различия в государственной поддержке региональных социально ориентированных некоммерческих организациях России

The article is devoted to some differences in the state support of regional socially oriented non-profit organizations in Russia. The article examines the evolution of public-non-profit relations at the regional level in Russia against the background of nationwide restrictions on the activities of so-called NGOs. Russia has also recently introduced a policy of supporting so-called NGOs, but there is a duality in the position of the Government of the Russian Federation in relation to socially oriented non-profit organizations. Significant differences were found in the relations between regional authorities and non-profit organizations, as well as in deviations from the positions of national policy.

GEOTOURISM ROUTES AND GEOTOURS IN THE WEST OF UKRAINE: STATE AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

The paper analyzes the current state of geotourism routes and geotours in the west of Ukraine from the point of view of experience and practice of European geotourism. Geotourism routes are considered as a kind of thematic tourist routes with educational specialization. On the territory under study, based on the territorial coverage, there are transboundary ("Ukrainian-Polish Geo-Carpathians" and "Ignacy Lukasiewicz Oil Heritage"), national ("Amber Road"), regional ("Terra Podolica", "Beskydy Rock Formations") and local (mainly in the protected areas) routes. According to the maintenance status, they are divided into three groups: 1) built and marked, 2) built and marked near the sites, 3) not built and not built. Basically, geotourism sites here include places with geological rock outcrops, interesting forms of relief and processes, mountain constructions. It can be argued that the diverse geotourism network is at the initial stage of its development in the region. Thanks to the activity of NGOs, the region is developing comprehensive geoproducts – geotours to gypsum caves of Podillia, mineral resources of Precarpathia, rock formations of Podillia and the Carpathians. Some geotourism sites are included in comprehensive (natural and cultural) tours of regional travel agencies. Eco-educational trails with detailed presentation of geoheritage sites are functioning in the national and landscape parks of the region. Based on the methodological foundations of the geotourism discipline and the European practice of planning and introducing geotourism products, a promising network of diverse geotourism routes and geotours has been developed for the western Ukraine. The trajectory and route of promising transboundary (in particular "Geo-Roztochchia"), national ("Ukrainian Carpathian Geostrada") and a number of regional and local geotourism routes have been proposed. Many proposed regional and local geological and geomorphologic routes can form the basis for the development of appropriate geotours by community-based and commercial structures. To implement the European experience of geotourism routes and geotours development for Ukrainian context, it is necessary to carry out a number of scientific, educational and organizational activities. They include a comprehensive inventory of geotourism sites, provision of informational and educational support for geotour visitors, training for geointerpreters for excursion support as well as strategic and operational management to serve tourists and the preservation and promotion of geoheritage sites. Keywords: geotourism; tourist routes; geotours; geostrada; western Ukraine.

국제개발협력에서 문화적 인식과 NGO활동에 대한 질적연구 : 네팔 사례를 중심으로

국제개발협력에서 문화적 인식과 NGO활동에 대한 질적연구 : 네팔 사례를 중심으로

Гражданское общество и преодоление социальной исключенности детей, молоде-жи и пожилых людей (на примере Арген-тины и Чили)

The article examines the activities of civil society organizations in Argen-tina and Chile to reduce the social exclusion of two vulnerable groups of the population: on the one hand, children and youth, on the other, elderly people from poor backgrounds. Based on the analysis of the work of a number of non-governmental organizations aimed at the social adaptation of the younger generation and the creation of a tolerant social environment for older people, the specifics of civil society as an active participant in public life, a full-fledged partner of the state in promoting social policy are revealed. It is noted that the educational activities of NGOs and the devel-opment of specific practices of additional training, volunteer support, the creation of special centers for mutual assistance and communication are able to produce new values, form social capital and solve a wide range of tasks related to expanding life prospects and overcoming discrimination.

From below or from above: How to force fashion MNCs to be more sustainable

AbstractMultinational companies in the fashion industry operate on a global level. Fashion was one of the first industries that outsourced production to developing countries and allowed exploitation and environmental pollution to remain hidden. But concerns regarding the industry's (un)sustainability are rising, regarding both the environmental and the social aspects. Fashion consumption is on the rise and the industry is among the most polluting ones. With this paper, I join the debate on how to force fashion MNCs to operate sustainably. There are two opposing views on where change should come: from above (regulation) or from below (change in customer habits and the activity of sustainable fashion NGOs). According to one view, fashion is underregulated and only legislation can be a solution: MNCs will only operate sustainably if they are forced by law. The other group claims that customers should drive green initiatives as their demand catalyzes MNC production. I claim that neither side is enough, as sustainability is not necessarily the number one consideration for customers or policymakers. In this conceptual paper, I use document analysis as a qualitative approach, and descriptive statistics to support my position.

Medical charity: participation of non-profit organizations in the field of medical scientific research

The article examines the practice of medical charity as a virtuous activity in the field of medical care. The main attention is paid to non-profit organizations that, in accordance with the legislation, have the status of non-governmental organizations or non-governmental organizations. An overview of the main activities of NGOs with an emphasis on participation in the organization and financing of medical research is presented.

Stock price reactions to the climate activism by Fridays for Future: The roles of public attention and environmental performance

This research investigates how the European and U.S. stock markets reacted to the upheaval caused by Fridays for Future. We perform an event study on stocks listed in the Stoxx Europe 600 and S&P 500 to examine their price reactions to the Global Climate Strikes 1–11. We analyze the significance of abnormal stock returns utilizing three event windows covering anticipation, short-term, and lagged effects. We also divide the sample by environmental performance grades. Our findings reveal that climate activism significantly affected stock valuation for all 11 Global Climate Strikes. Superior environmental performance is comparatively beneficial for firm values when climate activism receives a high level of public attention. We identify differences in the market reactions between Europe and the U.S. Also, we enrich the literature on stock market reactions by demonstrating that investors react, not only to primary stakeholder events (i.e., enactment of regulations by governments) but also to secondary stakeholder pressure (i.e., NGO activism). Furthermore, we provide evidence that climate activism has a processual character that causes recurring effects on the stock market. Our study encourages policymakers to increase environmental pressure as a mechanism for guiding green transformation.

Uncharted Waters: Solidarity with Migrants at Sea and the Freedom of Expression

AbstractEuropean States have adopted policies to push back not only against migrants fleeing across the Mediterranean Sea but also against those individuals and NGOs who act in solidarity with them. This article seeks to demonstrate how the activities of maritime NGOs in solidarity with migrants may be protected from States’ interferences within the framework of international human rights law. In a novel inquiry, we submit that both monitoring as the gathering of information and even search and rescue operations may be considered forms of the freedom of expression. Furthermore, as State measures, ranging from intimidation to criminalization, undoubtedly serve to counter migration to Europe, we argue that Article 18 ECHR may be violated if the interferences’ ulterior purpose is exposed. By showing solidarity, at times we also express ideas. Think of those who hid Jewish people during the Nazi regime, the NGOs who organized private aircrafts to save Afghans after the Taliban’s takeover, and those who today go to the Ukrainian border to collect people fleeing the war. This article is based on the authors’ conviction that human rights law must adapt to remain viable in the face of unprecedented human rights challenges and the resourceful civic actions to meet them.

Exploring the Community-Based Adaptation Strategies :An Anthropological Study on Local Knowledge in Patharghata Upazila, Bangladesh

The geographical location, land characteristics, the multiplicity of rivers and the monsoon climate render Bangladesh highly vulnerable to natural hazards (Kabir & Hossen, 2019). The general economic situation and cultural way of life of Bangladesh's coastal residents have been impacted by climate change. The risk of natural disasters such as cyclones, storms, floods, and salinity are the greatest in Bangladesh's coastal regions (Chowdhury, 2007). In order to comprehend how the natural disasters brought on by climate change affect people's lives, the study has taken into account the fishing and farming communities of Patharghata, a coastal Upazila of the Barguna region. Both qualitative and quantitative (mix-method) approaches were used to reach the study's objectives. The first-hand data is collected using Case Study, KII, FGD, Semi-structured Interview, Structured Interview, and observation. This study has found some local strategies followed by the people to predict and adapt the natural calamities. The govt of Bangladesh and different NGOs and INGOs are working to mitigate the climate change challenges. The study demonstrates that these activities of government and NGOs have some weaknesses, so they sometimes fail to make positive changes at the root level. The local people have their own social, political, and religious belief system and worldview, which significantly impacts disaster response. To achieve the sustainable development goal of this area, it needs to apply bottom-up policy formulation synchronizing their local social context.

Labor Precarity of Chinese Feminist and LGBT NGO Activism—a Social Reproduction Perspective

Abstract: This article examines an under-explored topic of labor precarity of Chinese feminist and LGBT NGO activism from the perspective of social reproduction. Contextualizing the intimate connection between the Chinese party-state outsourcing social service delivery to global civil society and the burgeoning of feminist and LGBT NGOs since the 1990s, it argues that the party-state relies on the social reproductive functions of these NGO while containing their political influence; at the same time, the transnational non-profit funding complex utilized these NGOs for political intervention in China. Arguing against a binary framework of civil society versus state and resistance versus oppression, this article centers the lived experiences of feminist and LGBT activist workers and highlights the contradiction and interplay of agency and conformity of these workers in the state- and market- orchestrated processes of moralization, illegalization, and professionalization, whereby they reshape, revise, or reinforce norms associated with gender, sexuality, and neoliberal standards of productivity and efficiency. Building on Marxist feminist theorization of labor, this article valorizes NGO labor as socially valued work and calls for attention to the issue of labor precarity of NGO activist workers under the backdrop of increasing state violence and market cooptation in many parts of the world, especially in the global South.

Activities of international, medical and humanitarian NGOs in Ukraine under martial law

As a result of Russia's full-scale military offensive on the territory of Ukraine, numerous international, non-governmental organizations have commenced providing assistance to the population through the implementation of different programs. Such assistance is manifested in various aspects, from humanitarian to financial. This article outlines the experience and legal basis for the operation of several international, non-governmental, medical and humanitarian organizations in Ukraine working under martial law imposed as a result of the war. To the purpose and objectives of the study, the work uses a combination of general and special methods of scholarly knowledge. The article uses the doctrinal provisions of science on the legal framework for the activities of international, medical and humanitarian, non-governmental organizations in Ukraine, as well as statistical data on the activities of public associations during the period of martial law. This study was conducted taking into account the experience of non-governmental organizations in other countries. The authors found that during the legal regime of martial law in Ukraine, international, non-governmental organizations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and Oxfam play a leading role in providing humanitarian and medical assistance to war victims. These organizations play a key role in promoting democracy while helping to mitigate violence and the psychological trauma of war victims. It is the authors’ contention that such assistance furthers democratic governance, helps curb violence, and addresses the psychological trauma occasioned by the war.

NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE SECURITY SYSTEM

The purpose of the article was to analyze non-governmental organizations and present their role in the state security system. According to the adopted goal, the main research problem was formulated: How do non-governmental organizations affect the functioning and security of the state? The following hypothesis was adopted: non-governmental organizations, through their activities and activity, influence the level of state security and its smooth functioning. Obtaining an answer to the above question required the use of qualitative methods including a critical analysis of legal acts and selected items of literature on the subject. The article takes a closer look at what a non-governmental organization is and its importance in the state security system in the third sector of its security. Answering the question posed by the authors, the study presents an analysis of the activities of non-governmental organizations, and points out their role in the state security system. The study used qualitative methods, and the content analysis of documents and literature on the subject served as a source of information. In the first part of the article, the authors characterize the security system of the Polish state. Then they describe the legal forms of NGO activity. In the main part, the authors focus on the areas of NGO activity in the sphere of state security. In conclusion, they point out that internal security is one of the of the basic existential needs that are associated with the existence of a specific entity, and point out the important role played by NGOs in the functioning of the state. as well as ensuring the security of its citizens

Public Control as a Sphere of Activity of NGOs in Uzbekistan

Public Control as a Sphere of Activity of NGOs in Uzbekistan

Nivi Manchanda. Imagining Afghanistan: The History and Politics of Imperial Knowledge.

After hundreds of drone strikes and twenty-years of nation-building projects, Afghanistan remains a puzzle for the vast majority of Americans and their allies in the “war on terror.” How could all those resources—the best intentions of civilian officials, think-tank experts, military counterinsurgents, and NGO activists, along with much high-tech battlefield equipment—result in nothing but another Taliban takeover of the country? In Imagining Afghanistan: The History and Politics of Imperial Knowledge, a work much indebted to postcolonial studies, Nivi Manchanda provides a succinct and well-researched answer to this question. She argues that the Euro-American West has suffered from an incapacity to move beyond a well-worn set of contradictory descriptions and simplistic stereotypes, which for well over a century have served as an immobile bedrock for interventions into and policy related to Afghanistan. Anyone who wants to understand what went wrong in Afghanistan and why will find no better starting point than this careful historical study.

Metaphors and metonymies in the multimodal discourse of whaling

Abstract Metaphors and metonymies are considered complex phenomena dependent on various factors. This paper looks at genre (as one of the many factors) to verify to what extent the subjective descriptions of a highly controversial and complex social topic such as whaling can be driven by discourse type. The whaling discourse was chosen because antiwhaling activist NGOs’ have had great success with their extensive social campaigns worldwide, while it is a highly controversial and politically charged topic. These unique features resulted in the emergence of advertising and political cartoons. By examining the similarities and differences between metaphors, metonymies, and other meaning-making tropes such as irony and hyperbole, the observed difference concerns both the intention behind the selection of source domains and a preference for favoring certain evaluative metaphorical expressions in one genre as opposed to another to have a distinct impact on its intended audience.

Reconsidering the Relationship between the State, Donors, and NGOs in Bangladesh (Distinguished Lecture)

The growth in size and significance of NGOs and particularly of Grameen Bank and the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in Bangladesh challenges the idealtypical relationship between the state, donors and NGOs. Such an ideal envisions a clear demarcation of roles in which NGOs compete with other NGOs for resources from the state and/or donors and one in which NGO activities and programmes are regulated or held accountable by their respective funding sources. The emergence of large multitasking NGOs in a relatively small and weak state such as Bangladesh belies this ideal. Grameen and BRAC compete with government ministries for donor funding; statal institutions designed to regulate the activities of such NGOs are functionally ineffective; and international donors face insuperable hurdles in assessing accountability.

Search and Rescue Ships as Exceptional Spaces in the Mediterranean: Navigating Emergencies, Threats and Governmental Actions

ABSTRACT Since 2014, there has been an increase in non-governmental Search and Rescue activities (SAR) on the Central Mediterranean Route (CMR). Scholarly attention has focused on refugees’ and migrants’ lived experiences on the route. When engaging with non-governmental SAR ships, recent migration scholarship mostly concentrated on their function to rescue and to be a symbol for political activism. What is currently missing is a thorough exploration of rescue ships exceeding their function to rescue through the lens of humanitarian action. Scholarship has to expand on mechanisms and dynamics of political interference and the rejection thereof. Hence, I explore how SAR vessels can be conceptualized as exceptional spaces and how this affects NGO activists on those ships. This article is based on semi-structured interviews with activists that worked with SAR NGOs and on participatory observation on a SAR vessel. The article offers specific insights into the dynamics and mechanisms of rescue ships as exceptional spaces on the CMR and engages with wider debates about exceptional spaces.