DEFINITIONS OF NGO

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is organized on a local, national or international level.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a citizen-based association that operates independently of government, usually to deliver resources or serve some social or political purpose.

DEFINITIONS The World Bank defines NGOs as "private organizations that

pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development" (Operational Directive 14.70)

Many NGOs are active in the traditional social sectors: emergency support, rehabilitation, poverty reduction, maternal and child health, family planning and education.

Most of the NGOs in Pakistan are unregistered, small scale and their funding source is philanthropy.

ADVANTAGES

Innovative approaches and, if necessary, to take risks.

Flexible in adapting to local situations and responding to local needs.

Good rapport with people and can render micro-assistance to very poor people.

Ability to communicate at all levels, from the neighborhood to the top levels of government.

Recruit both experts and highly motivated staff.

DISADVANTAGES

The degree of participation in program me/project design.

Restricted/constrained ways of approach to a problem or area.

Dependence on outside financial resources

Reduces cooperation between agencies, seen as threatening or competitive.

NGO TYPES BY (ORIENTATION)

Charitable Orientation: Needs of the poor -distribution of food, clothing or medicine; provision of housing, transport, schools etc.

Service Orientation: Provision of health, family planning or education services in which the programs are designed by the NGO

Service Orientation: Self-help projects where local people are involved particularly in the implementation of a project by contributing cash, tools, land, materials, labor etc.

Empowering Orientation: The aim is to help poor people develop a clearer understanding of the social, political and economic factors affecting their lives, and to strengthen their awareness of their own potential power to control their lives.

NGO TYPES BY(LEVEL OF OPERATION)

Community-based Organizations: These can include sports clubs, women's organizations, and neighborhood organizations, religious or educational organizations.

Citywide Organizations: Its Include organizations such as the Rotary or lion's Club, chambers of commerce and industry, coalitions of business, ethnic or educational groups and associations of community organizations.

National NGOs: Its Include organizations such as the Red Cross, YMCAs/YWCAs, professional organizations etc. Some of these have state and city branches and assist local NGOs.

International NGOs: Redda Barna and Save the Children organizations, OXFAM, CARE, Ford and Rockefeller Foundations to religiously motivated groups

HISTORY OF NGOS IN PAKISTAN

The origin of NGOs in Pakistan goes back to partition 1947, when British India was divided into two states India and Pakistan.

Many voluntary organizations (though not referred as NGOs at that time) were formed to provide humanitarian aid to refugees pouring into the newly established country.

During the first few years of Pakistan, many of the NGOs concentrated on rehabilitation and basic services such as health and education.

The next upsurge in the formation of NGOs took place in the late 1970s, when the Martial Law government promoted its philosophy of social work and welfare.

During 1980s, many new NGOs merged to avail of the funding set aside for development through local bodies ( district, municipal , town and local councils).

In the early 1990s, there was another rapid increase in NGOs, when new organizations were formed to take advantage of available funding under the People’s Works as a Programmer.

HISTORY OF NGOS IN PAKISTAN

Unlike past during 2000s more NGOs emerged in the field of advocacy and development.

According to a study by UNDP the number is between 8,000 to 16,000, if unregistered NGOs and CBOs are added, the number could be between 25,000 to 35,000. (This number is 45000 by Aga Khan Foundation).

Only few NGOs have comparable credentials, sufficient resources, coverage, linkages, delivery mechanisms and documentation systems.

According to Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) there are less then 100 effective NGOs in Pakistan, but thousands of generally weak CBOs.

LAWS GOVERNING THE NGOS IN PAKISTAN

There are six laws under which NGOs operate in Pakistan

1. Societies Registration Act, 1860 (for professional, cultural and educational bodies).

2. The Trusts Act 1882, (it provides legal cover for private acts of charity).

3. Cooperative Societies Act, 1952.

4. The Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance, 1961 (to regulate and assist the development of NGOs undertaking welfare activities).

5. The Companies Ordinance, 1984 (it allows NGOs to set themselves as nonprofit companies).

6. Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 (this Act sets out the tax exemptions )

TYPES OF NGOS IN PAKISTAN

Advocacy and lobbying NGOs

• Advocacy and lobbying NGOs are well-known, though their actual impact is low.

• These include organizations focused on legal rights, literacy, women’s issues, children, minorities and human rights.

Policy advocacy NGOs

• Policy-based NGOs are relatively new in Pakistan.

• Their purpose is to participate in and initiate dialogue about policy issues, be it with the government, other NGOs, or international organizations.

• These are involved in international and regional networking. They most often do not get involved in project implementation or service delivery.

Emergency, rehabilitation and relief organizations

• The majority of NGOs in Pakistan fall into this category.

• Except some very large organizations most of smaller grass-root organizations dominate this category.

Those involved in implementation of development projects and programmer

Service delivery organizations and CBOs

ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN PAKISTAN NGOS

The Pakistan government has been positive towards NGO development

In the first five year plan (1955-60) a permanent social welfare section was created which is now part of Planning Commission

Recently in seventh and eighth five year plans contain supportive policy for assistance for NGOs

The income tax ordinance exempts NGOs from income tax which has helped NGOs in terms of sustainability and resources.

Many government sponsored institutions provide financial grants to NGOs

National (and provincial) Social Welfare Councils, Zakat Councils, Social Action Programmer, National (and Provincial) Education Foundations, National (and Provincial) Health Foundations, Trust for Voluntary Organizations, National Trust for Population Welfare etc.

ROLE OF DONOR SUPPORT IN PAKISTAN NGOS

The term donor is used for bilateral or multilateral funding agencies in Pakistan.

It does not include Pakistani philanthropic organizations, or individual citizens.

Funding agencies typically provide funds for economic and public sector development, particularly for large-scale infrastructure development.

In the absence of internal resources, bilateral and multilateral funding agencies have received an important role in social development and support to NGOs.

ROLE OF DONOR SUPPORT IN PAKISTAN NGOS

The multilateral agencies include various United Nations agencies focusing on education, health, water, nutrition, safe motherhood, reproductive health and gender.

Among the bilateral sources of aid Canada, Germany, Japan, United States and United Kingdom are noteworthy in their contributions to the social sector.

There are also several INGOs active in Pakistan, which include Oxfam, Save the Children, Asia Foundation, British Council, Action Aid and Christian Social Services

IMPACT OF PAKISTAN NGOS ON POVERTY

Working for the poor’ whether this is in ‘relief’ mode or in pursuit of more durable ‘development’ solutions to chronic poverty Mustafa (1992); Narayan et al. (2000).

There has been mixed record of NGOs performance in Pakistan.

Relations between NGOs and the government have at time, marked by tension.

NGOs are reported to have not moved forward to address fundamental inequity issues that create the problems in the first place Mumtaz (1997).

NGOs in Pakistan mostly prefer to work on relief rather than focusing on problems of poverty and inequality.

PROBLEMS OF NGOS IN PAKISTAN

The registration process is quite complex.

Although the government provide financial and technical assistance to NGOs, there are problems and delays due to bureaucratic procedures.

Funding problems due to withdrawal of many INGOs.

Restriction to work in specific areas.

Corruption by elites, politicians and bureaucrats.

The failure of many NGOs to meet their legal obligations and to be open about their sources and amount of funds has produced an environment of suspicion around NGOs.

PROBLEMS OF NGOS IN PAKISTAN

Traditional activities such as welfare, relief or service provision are welcomed but NGOs working at democratizing the state have not been encouraged.

The state’s attitudes toward NGOs have been mixed and ambiguous. While it appreciates the services that the NGOs provide, it also perceives them as a competitor for donor funding, political allegiances and influences.

Many of these NGOs have huge funds and international support at their command, even though they lack track record.

SOLUTION OF THE NGOS PROBLEM IN PAKISTAN

If the biggest problem of registration is solved many problems regarding availing the funding from international donors can be resolved.

The streamlining of work of NGOs is necessary to complement their role as well as of the government.

Proper regulatory framework is needed to avoid corruption and elite capture of NGOs.

NGOs work can be improved through monitoring, accountability and capacity building.