NGO

The term NGO is a wide thing and engulfs many different types of organizations. In the field of development, NGOs range from large, Northern-based charities such as CARE, Oxfam and World Vision to community-based self-help groups. They also include research institutes, churches, professional associations and lobby groups.

The World Bank tends to interact with two main categories of NGOs: (Operational NGOs)- whose primary purpose is the design and implementation of development-related projects, and; (Advocacy NGOs) - whose primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause and who seek to influence the policies and practices of the World Bank.

According  to the world Bank records; NGOs  are defined 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).  In wider usage, the term NGO can be applied to any non-profit organization which is independent from government.  NGOs are typically value-based organizations which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service.  Although the NGO sector has become increasingly professional over the last two decades, principles of altruism and voluntarism remain key defining characteristics.

The term NGO can also be defined as, a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any form of government. The term originated from the United Nations (UN), and is normally used to refer to organizations that are not a part of the government and are not conventional for-profit business. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives from membership in the organization. The term is usually applied only to organizations that pursue wider social aims that have political aspects, but are not openly political organizations such as political parties.

However according  to me as a student  can define the term Ngo(s) as an private founded organization(s) that are not part of the government control, that provide civil service  to the livelihoods  of the community with out the anticipation of profits in the long run. And in most cases, they focus on the poor natives of the region. For example Ngos like save the child, UNHCR, WFP, HOPE and others. All focus on the poor who are in total cost of living.

The contribution of NGOs to good governance and development is now widely acknowledged by citizens, governments and the international development community, even though this varies from country to country. In a world characterized by unequal development, social, economic and political injustices, conflict and marginalization, many NGOs have emerged to challenge the status quo and provide hope to millions of people.

NGOs not only deliver essential services to disadvantaged citizens, they also offer space through which political, social and economic pressure is built to challenge injustices. In Uganda, the NGO contribution to the health and relative stability of the country cannot be underestimated: Programmes and innovations in service delivery, advocacy and citizen empowerment, have been valuable. The NGO sector, and civil society generally, is however still perceived by government, political actors, development partners and even some sections of civil society itself to be either �weak�, fragmented, or too apolitical, and lacking in conviction and relevance to tackle fast changing social, economic and political dynamics. While this perception is partly informed by the lack of a systematic documentation of the value of the NGO sector in our country�s development, it also points to the need for NGOs to do a lot more. This strategy reflects both positive and critical views on the NGO sector.

However on the other hand, A sustainable organization is one that can continue its activities into the future. Before any activity is started, the NGO has to ask “How long can we continue?" Not how long we would like to continue, but how long we definitely can continue – to provide, supervise, motivate, train or do what the project needs. Once you are clear about the lifespan that you can guarantee, then you can fit your activities to the time you have. There may be pressure to plan long-term projects even when the money is not around: your colleagues will be optimistic and assume that funding will appear; and they hope that their jobs and salaries will continue into the future. But it is not that easy.

The basic measures taken to ensure sustainability of NGO work.

·  Governance and Strategic Management; The Strategic Management for Leaders of Non-Government Organizations program gives nonprofit and NGO leaders the tools, perspectives, and frameworks needed to strengthen leadership of their organizations, engage constituent communities, and cultivate long-term partnerships. Through cutting edge research, case studies, and presentations tailored to the unique needs of NGOs, this program provides the skills NGO leaders need to develop and implement strategies to increase value to their community and constituents.

·         Financial Sustainability; Managing the money is a subject that anyone starting an NGO needs to grasp well. You need to be comfortable with accounting terminology and have confidence in the bookkeeping system you use.

·         Leadership and Human Resource Management; Human resources are of a key importance for NGO sustainability. Ongoing development of these resources is essential for a successful NGO. Professional development activities in NGOs are important for ensuring sustainability of available human resources as a motivational factor, and for development of NGO services in general. “ If you want an NGO to have a good reputation, you have to have good specialists”

·         Leadership and Human Resource Management; Human resources are of a key importance for NGO sustainability. Ongoing development of these resources is essential for a successful NGO. Professional development activities in NGOs are important for ensuring sustainability of available human resources as a motivational factor, and for development of NGO services in general. “ If you want an NGO to have a good reputation, you have to have good specialists”. Still NGO leader’s personality is very important and can affect the sustainability in double ways. Thus, skills developed within the organization should be institutionalized not to be dependent on a personality. “ In general, leader has been always important in our society, we are a country of leaders rather than law… If there is a leader which imagine mission, goals, resources, targets of the organization, and appropriate management style, then it is more probable that the sustainability of the organization will be more long-lasting”

·         Service Provision and Administrative System. Elements of service delivery system including need assessment, monitoring, provision mechanisms, and evaluation, are used in part of NGOs involved in service provision; however, all these elements are usually not seen in their complexity, while implementation is usually more emphasized by NGOs. Further more One of key aspects of service provision is effective marketing of NGO services which is at place mostly only when an external assistance is provided.

·         External Relations and Partnership .Collaboration with other organizations is valued as a factor for sustainability. However, in practice this approach is not always utilized. “There is a jealousy and contest among our NGOs. When any of them win a grant they are trying to keep that from others. Still Seminars and other joint events serve as a good ground for NGOs in terms of exchange of information and for settling personal contacts. In this regard, joint events organized by development agencies and Resource Centers have been of a great support to organizations in enlarging the scopes of partnership with each other.

·        Capacity-Building Assistance Many findings briefed above show that NGOs still need technical and capacity-building assistance. External assistance is crucial for NGO capacity development for a range of reasons:. Lack of financial resources for operational expenses and for capacity development; Need in coaching and consultation in planning and implementation of capacity development activities; Nonprofits needing development do not and could not have enough awareness on their development gaps and opportunities.

·         Planning and Need Assessment. Research proves that participatory approaches are more efficient both in terms of sound need assessment as well as all stake-holder involvement in the process and creating ownership of development effort. “ You must support the involvement of people in the process from the beginning. If you come and say let do this project now, it doesn’t work.”