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NGOs Worldwide |
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Nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) mirror the wide variations in governance among
the countries of the developing world. The best and the worst examples
of NGOs can be found. Throughout much of Africa, for example, strong
NGOs have been on the frontline of the battle for civic freedom and
better environmental governance, while in other parts of the region
they are weak, insecure, and vulnerable to repression.
Yet, even in
places where formal government structures are in disarray, such as in
parts of the Great Lakes region, or Somalia, community organizations
and NGOs have managed to address social and environmental
concerns-against great odds. During the Rwanda genocide crisis in
1994, for example, local organizations worked in the communities that
hosted refugee camps, helping people find alternative energy sources
in order to reduce the destruction of local forests for fuelwood.1
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In spite of the positive changes that NGOs have catalyzed throughout
the continent, the overall reputation of nongovernmental organizations
remains negative:
ForeignAID Rating's
East Africa Director,
Francis Njoga, talks about the perception of NGOs in Kenya:
"The perception of NGO’s in Kenya is
negative. They are viewed as vehicles for exploiting the ignorance
of donor agencies. Most people perceive NGO’s as easy get rich quick
schemes where the founders and managers can earn high salaries,
steal money without the fear if prosecution. All this without the
need of adhering to strict performance measures.
Despite
this, there are genuine NGO’s who strive to exceed expectations of
all the stakeholders involved and have indeed achieved stellar
returns. Unfortunately, there is no independent source of
distinction between the two types of NGO’s in Kenya."
The ForeignAID.com Global Catalog for Philanthropy
Online features 50 of
the world's high-impact NGOs working directly to alleviate poverty.
Please see the next slide to learn more about how we chose the 50 NGOs
featured in this catalog.
1 Excerpted from the 2003
World Resources 2002-2004: Decisions for the Earth: Balance, voice,
and power. United Nations Development Programme, United Nations
Environment Programme, World Bank, World Resources Institute.
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