NGOs and IGOs in Developing Nations
NGOs and IGOs in Developing Nations
IGOs are voluntary association found in nations that require various levels of assistance to accomplish different tasks. In most cases, developing countries work with IGOs, to accomplish tasks that the nations would not have successfully accomplished. Currently there are hundreds of IGOs in the world today with each specializing in a certain field. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), on the other hand, refers to organizations established by non state actors. NGOs establish and mobilize global networks through the creation of transnational organizations. In developing countries, NGOs and IGOs interact with local partners and engage in various fields of activities (Ulleberg, 2009).IGOs and NGOs have taken an interest in capacity development activities, in education.
This has become possible as the international organizations have consolidated their role in development and aid work. Specifically, development NGOs have taken up a wider role of working towards economic, social and political development in developing nations. In the education sector, for instance, NGOs in developing nations have taken the role of gap fillings (Ohmae, 1996). In most developing nations, the national government lacks the capacity to provide quality education to all geographical regions. Education is the one of the largest sectors in these developing nations. The NGO and IGO intervention thus means that the national government becomes disengaged from educational affairs. The government is thus unable to control the destiny of its populace in the education sector.
The international organizations have also decentralized activities that were previously held at national levels by governments. Unlike government organizations, NGOs have made the effort to reach people at their grass roots. In developing countries, the national government has almost lost touch in the village and district levels. International organizations such as IGOs and NGOs found that the rural areas had been sidelined by the government. The international organizations then settled in these areas and took social and economic control (Ohmae, 1996). The national government, though it holds political power, lost control of the rural areas. IGOs and NGOs have also impacted the role and ability of national government to control their own destiny through funding.
Most developing nations lack the financial capability to finance various projects and sectors such as health. The international organizations, in their attempts to develop the socio-economic and political sectors of developing nations, have provided nations with financial assistance. Financial assistance means that the IGOs and NGOs provide the government with funds but stipulates how and where the funds should be used. For instance, in the fights against HIV/AIDS international organizations can provide funds for the purchase of antiretroviral drugs. Alternatively, rather than give direct funding, the international organizations directly provide medication, books and other commodities that a population might need (Ulleberg, 2009).
The NGOs and IGOs take control of the distribution of these commodities and cannot direct or determine where and how the commodities will be distributed.Engagements of NGOs and IGOs are usually small scale, flexible, local and innovative. These factors make the activities of international organization stand out against the activities of the national government in developing nations. The international organizations go to the grassroots and deal with immediate issues that affect different regions. They are thus able to serve the immediate needs of the locals compared the national government actions (Ohmae, 1996). The national government is unable to compete with the international organizations strategy. This is because the government lacks the flexibility to adopt different approaches to handling economic, social and political issues.
Reference
Ohmae, K. (1996). The end of nation states. Free press paperbacks
Ulleberg, I. (2009). The role and impact of NGOs in capacity development. International institute for educational planning
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