NGOs IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: POLICY OPTIONS AND STRATEGIES

This article examines the evolving role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in international development and analyzes their key policy options and strategies. It traces the rise of NGOs from small-scale relief providers to major actors in the global development landscape, with significant influence on policy and large-scale program implementation. The study identifies the diverse strategies pursued by NGOs, ranging from direct service delivery at the grassroots level to policy advocacy and campaigning at the national and international levels. The research explores the key policy debates and dilemmas facing the NGO sector, including their relationship with states, their sources of funding and accountability, and the challenges of scaling up their interventions without losing their unique strengths. The paper argues that NGOs are at a crossroads, needing to professionalize their operations while maintaining their embeddedness in civil society. The analysis concludes by assessing the future role of NGOs as key partners in the multi-stakeholder effort to achieve sustainable and equitable development.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have become indispensable actors in the field of international development. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of their diverse strategies and the key policy questions that shape their work. The study begins by creating a typology of development NGOs, distinguishing between large, international NGOs and smaller, indigenous, grassroots organizations. The core of the article is an examination of the two primary strategic orientations of NGOs. The first is the "service delivery" model, where NGOs act as efficient and innovative providers of services like healthcare, education, and microcredit, often filling gaps left by the state. The paper assesses the strengths and weaknesses of this approach, including its tangible impact on poverty and its potential to create dependency. The second strategic orientation is "policy advocacy." This section analyzes the growing role of NGOs as "watchdogs" and advocates, working to influence the policies of governments and international institutions like the World Bank on issues ranging from human rights to environmental protection. The paper then delves into the critical policy dilemmas facing the sector. A key issue discussed is the question of accountability: to whom are NGOs accountable—their donors, their boards, or the communities they serve? The complex and often-fraught relationship between NGOs and the state is also explored, moving from partnership to confrontation. The findings suggest that the most effective NGOs are those that can skillfully combine grassroots service delivery with strategic policy advocacy, thereby addressing both the symptoms and the root causes of underdevelopment.