Nongovernmental Organizations In Countries Research Articles

Which civil society? State-run media and shaping the politics of NGOs in post-uprising Egypt

ABSTRACT This article explores the role of traditional, state-run media as tools for both, promoting policy, and providing feedback about non-governmental organizations (NGOs)-related policies in Egypt. It also gives insights into how media might contribute to shaping policy on NGOs in countries with similar systems of media governance. The study tests the social construction and policy design theory's “target population proposition” by conducting a thematic analysis of news articles on NGO Law 70 of 2017. It adds a new media studies perspective to Schneider and Ingram’s theory by exploring the framing effects of the media as mediators between governmental policy and target groups of that same policy. The findings confirm Schneider and Ingram’s theory in post-uprising Egypt. It delineates that state-run media variously frame policy rationales of Law 70 of 2017. Dichotomous framing was found to support the significant burdens imposed on, and the sub-rosa benefits granted to, NGOs by the new policy. Media frames also varied according to NGOs’ social construction and power level. This distinction in policy rationales draws the line between developmental NGOs and advocacy organizations whose agenda is perceived as a source of threat to the sovereignty, political independence, and national interests of the state.

Development of Venture Philanthropy in Ukraine in the Context of Strengthening of the Social Responsibility of Civil Society Organizations

The main aim of the article is to highlight the venture philanthropy in the context of strengthening the social responsibility of non-governmental organizations in countries that are at the initial stage of developing a culture of charity. Design/methodology/approach. In fulfilling the purpose of the study a set of general and special research methods were used (methods of analogy and comparison, induction and deduction, scientific abstraction (to clarify the conceptual apparatus of the problem under study, and to justify the benefits of venture philanthropy compared to the traditional approach to charity); logical generalization and systematization (to justify the use of crowdfunding approach for projects that have not passed the initial competitive selection in the social purpose organization), etc.). Research results. The article discusses the national Ukrainian features of the social responsibility of non-governmental organizations. It also highlights some existing approaches to the interpretation of the content of venture philanthropy and substantiates its main differences from the traditional approach to charity. The author explains that criticism of venture philanthropy is mainly caused by the lack of understanding of its content and the possibility of applying venture approaches in charity. The author also substantiates the importance of applying a venture approach to charity as one that helps to solve the root causes of existing problems in society. Given the initial stage of development of venture philanthropy in Ukraine, the author proposes to introduce it in combination with a crowdfunding approach. Such a mechanism will contribute not only to the faster introduction of venture philanthropy into domestic charity practice, but also to a significant increase in the social responsibility of NGOs and citizens involved in the processes. The elements of scientific novelty. The article substantiates the feasibility of using a venture approach to charity in comparison with the traditional approach. For the first time in Ukrainian practice, the peculiarities of the formation of venture philanthropy in Ukraine from a scientific point of view are studied and it is proposed to use its flexibility to improve the charity process and the development of philanthropy culture in Ukraine. This can be achieved through a combination of venture and crowdfunding approaches to charity. Practical significance. The main results of the study can be used as the basis for further scientific research devoted to the problems of the activities of NGOs, and will also be useful for decision-making process for development of the civil society policy in Ukraine creation.

Inter-Organizational Fit, Relationship Management Capability, and Collaborative Performance: An Empirical Analysis

In studying the antecedents of inter-organizational relationship performance, the influence of partners’ characteristics (i.e. strategic compatibility, operational compatibility and resource complementarity), and partners’ relationship management capability (i.e. coordination and relational capability) have been established in the management literature. I integrate these two perspectives within a unified theoretical framework to empirically examine the relative efficacy of key factors or constructs within two examined perspectives. I investigate the hypotheses within international non-governmental organizations (NGOs). I use Partial Least Squares to examine the proposed hypotheses using a sample of 132 respondents. Data are collected through a web-survey of international humanitarian NGOs in countries across Africa, Asia and South America. The results reveal that (i) resource complementarity, coordination capability and relational capability are significant factors influencing collaborative performance through their effect on mutual trust, reciprocal commitment and relationship specific investment; and (ii) similarities in partners’ characteristics (i.e. missions, values, goals), and partners’ operational methods and procedures do not significantly inhibit or drive success or failure of collaboration between international NGOs. Managerial implications of the findings are discussed.

Stakeholders' views of Alcohol Policy

Method A questionnaire survey on views of alcohol policy was completed by stakeholders (country counterparts of the European Commission's Alcohol and Health Working Group (mostly government officials), country nongovernmental organizations that have a remit on alcohol policy, and representative bodies of the beverage alcohol industry, who are stakeholders of the European Commission's Alcohol and Health Working group). Results Representatives of the alcohol industry (AIs) tended to hold different views than representatives of governmental (GOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), who were more similar in their views. The AIs viewed regulatory measures as of low impact and policy importance in strong contrast to both NGOs and GOs. AIs were more favourable to educational measures than either NGOs or GOs. All three groups were similar and positive in their views of the impact and importance of implementation measures and of interventions for hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. In general, AIs were more positive in their views of successful implementation of both the WHO European Alcohol Action Plan and the Council Recommendation on the dinking of alcohol by young people than GOs who were more favourable than NGOs, but this was largely due to the AIs giving very high implementation scores for items that were their responsibility. With regard to perceived advances and barriers, again there were discordant views between the AIs and both the GOs and NGOs, who were more similar in their perceptions. The strongest theme among GOs and NGOs was the importance of coordination in implementing action plans and strategies at country and European levels. The strongest theme among AIs was stakeholder involvement, i.e. their own participation in the policy process. This was in contrast to the views of GOs and NGOs who both saw industry lobbying as a major barrier to effective policy to reduce alcohol-related harm. Conclusion Whilst representatives of the alcohol industry regard themselves as having an equal place to GOs and NGOs in policy discussion, they bring to the policy table markedly different views than GOs and NGOs, proposing educational measures, for which the scientific evidence for impact is rather wanting, and opposing regulatory measures, for which the scientific evidence for impact is rather strong. In contrast, government officials and non-governmental organizations view industry lobbying as a major barrier to effective alcohol policy.

A Critical Examination of the State versus Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the Policy Sphere in the Global South: Will the State Die as the NGOs Thrive in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia?

AbstractThis paper examines the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in service provision with a special focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. First, it reviews the conceptual and taxonomic issues in NGOs. It then proceeds to examine the performance of NGOs in some countries. The paper notes the increased relevance of NGOs in many countries. It, however, argues that any expectation that the NGOs will supplant the state in service provision is likely to be utopian. It contends that just as we have government failure and market failure, we can also have third sector failure. The paper argues for an appropriate balance between the state and NGOs in meeting the needs of the poor. It concludes that while it may be necessary to continue to strengthen the private sector and the third sector, it would be useful to continue to inquire into how the state can be effective.

Early detection and response to meningococcal disease epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa: appraisal of the WHO strategy.

To assess the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value positive of the WHO threshold strategy for detecting meningococcal disease epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa and to estimate the impact of the strategy on an epidemic at district level. Data on meningitis cases at the district level were collected weekly from health ministries, WHO country and regional offices, and nongovernmental organizations in countries where there were epidemics of meningococcal disease in 1997. An epidemic was defined as a cumulative district attack rate of at least 100 cases per 100,000 population from January to May, the period of epidemic risk. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value positive of the WHO threshold rate were calculated, and curves of sensitivity against (1 - specificity) were compared with alternatively defined threshold rates and epidemic sizes. The impact of the WHO strategy on a district epidemic was estimated by comparing the numbers of epidemic cases with cases estimated to have been prevented by vaccination. An analysis was made of 48 198 cases reported in 174 districts in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Togo. These cases were 80.3% of those reported from Africa to WHO during the 1997 epidemic period. District populations ranged from 10,298 to 573,908. The threshold rate was crossed during two consecutive weeks in 69 districts (39.7%) and there were epidemics in 66 districts (37.9%). Overall, the sensitivity of the threshold rate for predicting epidemics was 97%, the specificity was 95%, and the predictive value positive was 93%. Taken together, these values were equivalent or better than the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value positive of alternatively defined threshold rates and epidemics, and remained high regardless of district size. The estimated number of potential epidemic cases decreased by nearly 60% in the age group targeted for vaccination in one district where the guidelines were followed in a timely manner. The use of the WHO strategy was sensitive and specific for the early detection of meningococcal disease epidemics in countries of sub-Saharan Africa during 1997 and had a substantial impact on a district epidemic. Nevertheless, the burden of meningococcal disease in these countries remains formidable and additional control measures are needed.