A new government approach to NGOs is needed, argues Ben Turok on the eve of NGO Week
AS the non-governmental organisation (NGO) movement prepares for the celebration of NGO Week nationwide, we have to admit that the new South Africa owes the movement an apology. It has to be acknowledged that the consolidation of democratic rule has not brought an enabling environment for NGOs. Indeed, many are going to the wall.
Yet prior to the 1994 election, hopes in the NGO world were high. Many played a major part in the struggle against apartheid, and most pinned their hopes on joining the transformation to democracy and development. Many NGOs emerged from grassroots structures, while others linked up with popular structures. True, some NGOs were insular and some self-serving, but, in general, there can be no denying that they have done much to assist local communities throughout the country.
So what has gone wrong? Why are NGOs struggling to survive? And has the government been helpful? The NGOs themselves would answer that they feel alienated from the government, and some are now rather hostile. Since the government is committed to development, this cannot be helpful.
The current problems in the NGOs are due to several factors. NGOs have suffered a large haemorrhage of skilled personnel who have moved into the government. Some are in Parliament, others hold senior posts in the public service.
There has also been a huge loss of funding. In part this has its origin in the attempt by the former Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) office to co-ordinate foreign donor funding, but which actually diverted funds away from NGOs. At the same time, many foreign donors decided to shift funding from the former NGO partners to the government, no doubt to curry favour with the government for business reasons.
Some blame must attach to the NGOs themselves, for having a chronic incapacity to work together in harmony and around any kind of common vision. NGOs often emerge around a particular personality, and individualism is a common feature. This tends to bring a lack of continuity as these individuals come and go. Activity is ad hoc, with little long-term planning. Of course, donor dependency means projects are short- term and at the whim of funders.
But overall there can be no disputing that NGOs harness communities, introduce skills, enhance social commitment and bring considerable benefits, not least of which is the funds they gather here and there which would not otherwise reach these communities.
It is quite unacceptable that NGOs should be in difficulty at present. First, the RDP placed enormous store on their participation, and the African National Congress continues to stress the importance of civil society involvement in development. Yet so little is done to facilitate NGO activity across the board. Of course there are exceptions, and some provinces have been successful, but the complaints from NGOs are widespread.
It is high time this changed. Since government departments are clearly stepping up spending on infrastructure, housing and the rest, a way must be found to integrate the NGOs in all this activity.
Too often bureaucrats find it easier to work without the NGOs, and they often complain about the time-consuming effort required for consultation. But this is not good enough and we cannot go back to the old system when government institutions laid on projects without gaining the consent of the supposed beneficiaries. People-driven development is on everyone’s lips these days, but it will not happen without the NGOs.
Obviously a new initiative is needed. Perhaps Parliament could provide just this lead. The positive role of parliamentary portfolio committees is often not appreciated. They generally have a fairly close relationship with ministers and departmental heads, they conduct public hearings, they inspect public institutions and generally keep an eye on how the country is being governed.
They also often develop alternative views on policy and how things should be done, and bring expert opinion into the debate. Perhaps the NGO movement might resort to the parliamentary committees as a way of linking up with the government. Certainly the debacle around the RDP handling of foreign donor funds needs to be cleared up, and Parliament can easily assist there.
Then there is the matter of the status of NGOs’ registration and public accountability. The first attempt by the NGO movement to draft a private Bill ended in serious disagreement. The government also seemed too keen to exercise a supervisory role, and this was keenly resisted.
A new initiative is under way, and the role and status of NGOs must be sorted out. There can be little doubt that registration can assist NGOs and the public to establish some criteria enhancing the legitimacy and credibility of people handling public money.
Whether registration is voluntary or mandatory seems of little moment. There is clearly a case for some reassurance that money collected from the public is for bona fide purposes, and this requires some form of monitoring.
Then there is the question of tax deductability for donations, which also requires some form of official intervention. And there is the question of the payment of tax, either for income received or for services rendered.
Finally, the government cannot easily co- operate with organisations which have not gained some stamp of official approval, their books must be audited and so on. There must be some continuity of leadership and accountability mechanisms.
Fortunately, there are signs of a recent change of approach within the government on these matters. Perhaps it is now realised that delivery cannot be done by the public service alone. There are too many transition problems to be ironed out there.
But there is also a rapidly growing realisation that economic growth in the formal sector alone will not transform the country. That elusive thing called development is an essential and integral element without which transformation cannot happen.
It is now understood that transformation requires the actual mobilisation of all of the country’s resources, capital, skills, entrepreneurship, management and, not least, community commitment. For this to happen, civil society must be brought into the picture, and in particular the NGO movement.
— Ben Turok is an ANC MP
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