Role of NGOs in Rural Development

Kigenyi Asifu

MA Rural Development

Department of Sociology

Makerere University

November 2011

Introduction

NGOs are legally constituted organizations created by natural or legal persons that operate independently from any government. The term originated from the united nations (UN) and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government, and are not convention for profit business. Essentially Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are organizations which are: (i) not based in government; and (ii) not created to earn a profit (Global Education 2001).

Some of the characteristics of NGOs are: they are not profit oriented, independent from the state, privately initiated, objectives and activities focus on development, have structured and systematic and formal activities or roles to play, and are engaged in charity and empowerment. They are local or international acting outside government arms (autonomous). According to the Convention of Biodiversity (CBD), they pursue the interests of one or more groups through lobbying and/or direct action.

Role of NGOs in Rural development

Both local and international NGOs have played a critical role to ensure that rural areas develop. They do that by developing programs that transform communities from miserable to humanly dignifying states. NGOs have positive characteristics which make their impact more readily felt and their activities result oriented. They emphasize self-reliance and underline popular participation in their activities (Olujide, M. 2006).

Agriculture Development

Since agriculture is the backbone of Uganda’s economy, many organizations have channeled resources to it, for example, national research organization. It (NARO) gives guidance and coordinate all agricultural research activities (NARO 2011). Many other NGOs have come up with agricultural programs aims at fighting food insecurity like Hunger Project and Heifer Uganda. They provide training for sustainable livelihood and give agricultural aid to farmers to kick-start actual agricultural practice. With these services they have evidently reduced poverty, and may have improved food security and nutrition and achieved positive social change as well (Zeller, M., Sharma, M., Ahmed, A., & Rashid, S. 2001).

Appropriate Education with Rural Consideration

NGOs have played an important role of improving the education system that capture the real needs of a nation, like the agricultural practice and promotion in countries whose economy is dependent on it. According to Institute of Security Studies –Africa, agriculture in 1999/2000 accounted for about 42% of GDP and for the bulk of exports. The sector employs around 80% of the labor force.

Improvement in the Health Sector

NGOs have greatly contributed positively to the health sector in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria, and improvement in water access and sanitation, for example, the Uganda Village Project in Eastern Uganda is famed for public health promotions –in which the community health concerns, named above, fall. Other such organizations include: AIDS Information Center, The AIDS Support Organization (TASO), and The Elizabeth Glaser Foundation. They conduct counseling and HIV testing, empowers affected communities with vital health information for prevention and survival, and have networking bodies through which they pool resources to increase effectiveness of health programs management.

Support to HIV/AIDS Orphans

Among the programs run by most NGOs operating in rural areas is support for HIV/AIDS orphans. Uganda Village Project, in Iganga District has such a component, and so is TASO, and Mildmay. Others common in the area of HIV/AIDS orphan support are New Hope African Children Ministries located Busia, Eastern Uganda and Mama Jane in Jinja. The support offered attempts to address the general rights of children like right to education, right to health, and the right to education –all of which are met by NGOs. In 2010, 3,500 HIV/AIDS orphans and vulnerable children in the Rwenzori region benefited from the support from the Bantwana Initiatives, an international NGO (Nzinjah, J. 2010).

Housing and Access to Clean Water

NGOs develop programs aimed at improving housing conditions and access to clean water in areas with most need of them. The Union of Community Development Volunteers based in Mengo has upcountry activities (like borehole construction, community cleaning, and micro finance scheme) targeting most vulnerable communities in Bukomansimbi, Mpigi and Rakai Districts. Other related organizations are Slum Aid International and Habitat for Humanity. UNDP works with a wide range of partners in Uganda to create the space build capacity and offer the tools needed to integrate the MDGs into the planning and implementation of national policies (UNDP 2011).

Information Technology and Rural Transformation

Information Technology has been made part and parcel of rural advancement strategy. The Busoga Rural Open Source and Development Initiative (BROSDI) has been instrument at championing that cause through civil society empowerment in their efforts to transform rural communities (BROSDI 2011).

Promotion of Women Rights

It has been NGOs that have played a leading role n promotion of women rights. The federations of women lawyers (FIDA) offer a voice and free legal services to women. By helping to empower women, NGOs have in a way helped to accelerate development faster than ever. Women are now engaged in micro-finance projects to support families effectively, and helped transform men into responsible citizens –in as far as family care is concerned. FIDA does that nationally, regionally, and internationally (FIDA 2009).

Natural Conservation, Climate Change and Food Security

NGOs educate the masses about issues of climate change and environmental health –all of which hold life systems in in balance once moderated. By so doing, humanity is saved from numerous catastrophes like famine, scarcity and inflation (through actions like family planning education), and natural disasters. In Uganda, Save Mabira Crusade and a cluster of other NGOs have led such a Noble cause. Uganda's climate is naturally variable and susceptible to flood and drought events which have had negative socio-economic impacts in the past (Department for International Development 2008).

Civic Participation

NGOs have contributed to democracy and governance through research, information dissemination, training, and advocacy. The DEM Group has highly spoken of in regards to its work of education the masses about democracy and conducting election evaluation analyses. According to Deepening Democracy Program in Uganda (2005), civic education has potential to address this by enabling citizens to be appropriately informed so that they make considered decisions and play an active role in democratization. NGOs play an increasingly important role in expanding local service delivery capacity, demanding transparency and accountability, and advocating rights in various sectoral fields (education, water, etc.) as well as cross cutting issues such as human rights and cultural issues (Egli, W. & Zürcher, D. 2007).

The Misadventure of NGOs

Along the path of causing socioeconomic, sociopolitical, cultural and ecological developments NGOs, like any humanly engaging activity face some mishaps.

Less or No Grassroots Impact

NGOs have been criticized for lack of impact and rather being profit-oriented than genuinely service providers. High cost of administration makes it hard for organizations to survive. There have been lots of reports implicating orphanages in much abuse of children. Love Ministries Orphanage in Kisimu village in Nabweru sub-county in Wakiso district is one of such organizations closed for professing selfishness in pretext of orphaned children care (Ssenkaaba, S. 2011).

Internal Disharmony and Corruption

Reports, also, cite lack of harmony within NGOs. They fail to represent the same virtues preached by them when internal administration is marred my crises. The cause of the crises normally is the struggle for positions that scoop huge rewards. NGOs and CBOs, tend to have weak coordination mechanisms, small membership bases, and are dominated by strong personalities (NGO Resource Centre and Tanzania Association of NGOs 2008). And once funds begin to trickle in wars break up even more –leading to organization disrepute. Similarly, the mismanagement of funds in mainly smaller organizations threatens the good reputation of NGOs –generally (Project Performance Evaluation Report 2001).

Lack of political Support and Recognition

Common is African young democracies is the problem of dictatorships. Emergence of NGOs that condemn the bad governance practices has very often led to tensions between them and government. As a result their operations are time and again foiled and make organizations goals unreachable. In some of such countries like Somalia and Sudan, NGOs have ceased to exist. In Uganda annual re-registration of all NGOs is a criteria meant to ‘humble’ them. Despite being Noble in their roles, affected NGOs get rejected by government (who are key stakeholders in their success) (Jagawat, H. 2002).

Over-dependence of Donor Funds and Limited Capacity

Over-dependence rather than interdependence mentality disable the creative minds of organizations. When projects are either phased out or not of interest for funders, they easily close –a situation that affects beneficiaries –fatally. Donor dependency has been cited as a chronic problem that constantly compromises CSOs and makes them vulnerable (NGO Resource Centre and Tanzania Association of NGOs 2008).

NGO formation is first characterized by strong personalities behind them more than anything else. Once operational stage episodes, they miserably fail to meet organizations needs details. Such organizations based on personalities suffer collapse even when that personality-figure dies. Sustainability of their programs is often questioned and a big question from donors. NGOs (or CBOs) at both the national and local levels face serious shortages of professional staff and problems of staff retention. Very few of them have an adequate policy analysis capability to engage with the Government (NGO Resource Centre and Tanzania Association of NGOs 2008). 

Conclusion

NGOs at whatever level and discipline do impact lives of communities positively. Non-Governmental organizations by the virtue of being small-scale, flexible, innovative and participatory are more successful in reaching the poor and in poverty alleviating. Their work, like social mobilization is a continuous process aimed at changing minds, attitudes and behaviors of the people to involve in any development process (Villi, C. no date). That, though, has been undermined by some selfish-driven ones. It is, therefore, important that they are evaluated as much as they do against government or whatever community ills.

References
BROSDI (2011) About Us @ http://www.brosdi.or.ug/about_us.html Accessed on 10th November 2011

Convention of Biodiversity (no date) Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) @ http://www.cbd.int/ngo/ Accessed on 11th November 2011

Department for International Development (2008) Climate change in Uganda: Understanding the implications and appraising the response Executive Summary Relief Web (Uganda) @ http://reliefweb.int/node/299809 Accessed on 10th November 2011

Deepening Democracy Programme in Uganda (2005) Encouraging more active and participatory civic engagement @ http://ddp.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=96 Accessed on 10th November 2011


Global Education (2001) Non-government organisations (NGOs) @ http://www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled/go/pid/1808 Accessed on 11th November 2011

FIDA (2009) Who we are? @ http://www.fidafederation.org/who-we-are/ Accessed on 10th November 2011

Institute of Security Studies –Africa (no date) @ http://www.issafrica.org/AF/profiles/Uganda/Economy.html#top Accessed on 10th November 2011

Jagawat, H. (2002) Need to Provide Greater Scope to NGOs in National Development NMSWDF 20.04.2002 @ http://www.nmsadguru.org/Article_NeedToProvideGreaterScope.html Accessed on 11th November 2011

NARO (2011) NARO @ http://www.naro.go.ug/ Accessed on 10th November 2011

NGO Resource Centre and Tanzania Association of NGOs (2008) Fighting Poverty Together Case Studies of Collaboration between Civil Society Organisations and the Government in Tanzania NGO Resource Centre (TZ) p.10

WORKING AND LIVING IN RURAL AREAS: IS IT CHALLENGING OR JUST NORMAL?

A CASE OF RURAL BUSOGA, EASTERN UGANDA

Different reasons explain why people go to rural areas –which might be unemployment characteristic of urban areas then compelling them to try out prospects of agriculture in rural areas, job transfers or deployments, and just to adventure –relax away from pressure-some town life.

As soon as one arrived there, all eyes would be on him or her. They rural people are best at telling -who is or not part of them. One could soon see defensive faces –which are usually natural ways organisms protect their territories from invaders. Rumors would then fast spread -regarding the arrival of an alien.

The seemingly “worse” scenario could be the case of a team -with almost equal ratio of men to women. This would easily trigger a mental flash that so was a wife or husband to the other.

For them women and men –working together are in a way working about, very close to or actually in a romantic relationship –especially if no team member crossed over to find a lover from the local community. There is a common believe that traveling without a wife or husband, shows evidence of “unmarried” person, and thus, too “single to be scooped by whoever picks confidence.

And when you live singly in a room or lodge, they would think and work around the clock so that a paired with an opposite sex is formed. Some of the tactics would, for example, be trying to propose or lobbying for you, ridiculing, flocking of mainly young women (including the married) parading onto your veranda or constantly use peeping gesture, everyday -for a chance of being met and perhaps action taken. In fact, it could be as though living in big brother house.

Like the saying goes, “Basoga are sex-maniacs,” rural areas, would prove it right. Surely, sex play is a strong mind-set there and as easily done anytime as taking tea. So if you do not join the “tea-taking” family, then labels like “you are impotent,” would ensue.

You would perhaps retain pity due to the facts that many young people stand a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and STIs every month, and teenagers getting married as early as 13 years. But to them, anyway, tea-taking would be important.

If no formal introductions were made to local authorities by a visiting team -within a day or few days later, they (authorities) would track them along until found and interrogated -to reduce on community suspicion and anxieties. Sometimes they would add “flavor” by teasing or bullying visitors -as if trying to identify themselves before them (visitors).

After getting direct information from the visitors, the local authorities or security personnel would then call a local meeting, with visitors in attendance -to counsel their suspicious subjects, and thereafter, urge them to support the visitors.

When they finally let the visitors into their territory, for different reasons, all would want to stick onto you. The elderly would, for example, want financial help, and the opposite sex –including the married ones, would compete for their share, while others might choose friendship. Any association with them would be seen as prestigious, and praises showered to whoever sought company.

What is shocking there too would be the fact that marriage concept either does not exist or simply not felt and practiced. Whether married or in presence of a spouse, fellows would not hesitate to make love advances to any of the visitors.

Besides, would want to deplete you of the limited belongings –including the current outfit at the time of meeting them. Imagine serving them out everyday, throughout your stay there -and one by one until the entire community is covered.

Declining to do “charity” because it is just one pair or an item for you could bring serious negative judgments, everyday defaming comments and insulting statements. They would choose to nourish their intentions by launching an opposition against your team’s organization’s programmes.

Their biggest victory would be “defection” of a team member to them. Thereon, it would be much easier to break into further -to the extent of stalling office business or team work.

They would use the departed person to win other team members to their side or “vote” to fight –using insulting labels, possibly until productivity was reduced to zero. As a consequence, the defected member could be the first to fall out or slow down team progress –since most of his or her time would be spend to please a bigger community set.

During the team’s stay, temptation could be that in order for their mission to succeed, community members must be given “energizers” or else petition organization bosses to provide “thank yous” –before or at the end of every community event.

One now wonders as to why communities would ask charity for charity. If for instance an organization provided them with free formal and informal education, why would they (communities), on the other hand, ask for money in return for the same services that benefit them? Come 2011, politicians will suffer.

To note is that from the day the team arrives to the end of the mission, communities evaluate team members –on the basis of culture and statuses verses local cases. And whoever took a chat with any member of the team, he or she would have important news for the rest (members of the community) –be it jokes or serious organization policy communiqué. It would be a talk to one person, as the same or amplified to the entire local community

They could confuse statements made by visitors for the purposes of entertaining their colleagues back home. Anything spoken out would potentially make important headlines for them.

If any member of the visiting team was found speaking to a community member, the rest would wonder about what might be the possible details of the chat. Indeed they would soon find out. Whilst there, It would be like living a celebrity life –surrounded with several paparazzi members.

They become so critical that any action and word spoken would be subjected to local norms scale for diagnosis. Very much so, they would want you to be like them. Their evaluating team or scouts could go as far as your bedroom area, lodge or house to monitor visitors’ behavioral pattern –whether they are consistent to their own or not.

In fact, there is never privacy, as people make it their job to check you out all the time, know your thinking process and hear something that could be reported, as they watch or observe.

Anything different from their norms and way of life is like being “criminal” -which could unfortunately or unfortunately raise more controversy than not about the visiting team.

Excesses of their actions, might force you, member of the team or entire group to become defensive -yet again, another disaster. They could begin referring to you as anti-people, as despising them or arrogant.

Very surprising, also, is that even when you get busy writing reports, they would still find it criminal and fail to recognize the fact that time, then, is organization’s or office’s.

They could be funny, expecting you to join them in idle talks -instead of following your office programme. If you were stuck in there doing work, they would make disturbing noise outside to seem like it were a communication demanding or asking you come to an end of it all and grant them your time, as well.

After sensing the danger of being social and free to them, and now in favor reserved life, one would think that alone has been a good decision. Yet too much, too less or no interaction could hardly resolve the matter. Instead, “criminal” branding would worse.

The ringing question would perhaps be: what do these people want or should the contract be terminated? If you are not strong enough to handle such pressure, probably self-destructive choices and decisions could be made.

Upon arrival, it would be important that the visiting team carry out survey of the area to orient themselves with the nature of people there. Such would provide them with ideas of who they are about to deal with. In case of a bothersome encounter with any member of the community, a team member would neither find it surprising nor difficulty dealing with them.

Much of what might be sent out to you must be given a deaf ear or blind eye most of the time -to avoid mental intoxication or getting burnout at the duty station, and at the expense of “minor” local community members.

Attention could be served to them only when done with work, though as a matter of good public relations, sometimes you may need to negotiate much of the time about your position.

Also, care must be taken to filter out information that is best for them. Only what is diagnosed as suitable could be relayed to them, rather than having to communicate each and everything.

Content must, therefore, be categorized into what could be considered as personal or office secrets, and that free for public consumption or take. Truly, with persistence, these people could know and understand who you are as well as your much cherished values.

Really, managing life there, would call for self-discipline from one or a few members –who then could motivate the “play little boys and girls” back to productivity. They could, for example, call for or organize regular meetings to solve team problems -as they arise.

As part of the way forward perhaps the remaining group could re-define themselves and re-think organization values, while at the same time accepting to work without the defected colleague.

Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analysis
waiswajacobo@yahoo.co.uk