Globalization, NGO’s
Globalization
“Globalization refers to the emergence and spread of a suprate
itorial dimensions of social relation. In institutional terms, the process has unfolded through the proliferation and growth of so-called transnational corporations, popular associations and regulatory agencies (global Companies; Global Civil Society and Global Regimes).”
“Globalization is the internationalization of major financial markets, technology, and of important sectors of manufacturing and services…..The world economy
….dominated by uncontrolled global market forces and has principal actors and major agents of change truly transnational who owe allegiance to no nation and locate wherever on the globe market dictates”.
Globalization
“Globalization is a process that has been going on for the past 5000 years but has significantly accelerated since the demise of Soviet Union in 1991. Elements of globalization include transborder capital, labor management, news, images, and data flows.
……From a humanist perspective, globalization entails both positive and negative consequences: it is both na
owing and widening the income gaps among and within nations, (both) intensifying and diminishing political domination, and (both) homogenizing and pluralizing cultural identities”
The term Globalization refers to processes of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture.
Challenges of Globalization:
New wave of complex emergencies
New form of Global Poverty
Declining capacity of National Governments
Challenges of Globalization:
Weak and Outmoded Global Institutions
New Pressures for accountability and Efficiency New Pressures to Respond Globally
Recreating Purpose and “Mystique”
Since 1970’s rapid shift has taken place in the roles of public, private and nonprofit sector.
In wake of fiscal crisis, the cold war, ideological attacks, and privatization, the scope and capacity of national governments has declined.
The expansion of private sector has continued and new more global nonprofit sector has emerged.
This sector of nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) has began to fill the vacuum left by nation-states in international relief and development activities.
Along with changes in states capacities, the magnitude of challenges to NGOs has grown.
Failed states, end of cold war, rise of ethnic identity movements have spawned civil wars and human disasters.
In both developing and developed world, global economic changes have generated new economic disparities as well as changes in the depth of poverty.
Competitive pressures and regional commitments further limit the ability of governments to respond to all of the social and economic demands made by citizens.
Accelerating Growth of the International Nonprofit Secto
First transformation started in 1960s with the era of rapid growth and development of MNCs.
These corporations experimented with a number of models of global organizations and a few started having a fully international board and also hired international staff.
However, a few observed feared a conflict between these multinationals and nations, who could feel these as a threat to their sovereignty. Others saw these multinationals as a force for efficient, cooperative, global organization..
Second transformation began rather quietly in the late 1960s – the global nonprofit sector began to emerge – obscured by the first.
This sector began to fill the vacuum in human services left in international relief and development work by both corporations and nation-states.
The international nonprofit sector growth took off in 1970s and accelerated in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
While NGO growth figures can be varied, it is accepted rather unanimously that this growth has been substantial since 1970’s.
By 1994 the annual revenues of US based international NGOs increased to almost $7 Billion.
Similar increase in growth was observed in 25 OECD group. It estimates that this number grew from 1,600 in 1980 to more than 2,500 in 1990.
Within the developing world the number of local NGOs has also mushroomed.
It is reported that there are more than 250,000 Southern NGOs among which more than 200,000 are grassroot membership groups and 50,000 are nationally based grassroot support groups.
Some estimate that the number of local NGOs in developing countries is between 20,000 – 50,000.
The rapid growth and changing composition of the NGO sector in recent years can be observed within developing countries
National NGO Multinational NGO
Fully Multinational NGO (Transnational)
Same terms were used to describe MNCs in 1960s based on differences – where corporations locate their operations;
Produce/deliver their core services and products; Undertake their support services;
Get their staff, money, equipment; and
Undertake their governance through national and international boards.
Three stages of an NGO becoming multinational:
Stage 1 – home office in country of origin, national staff and board. (e.g. MSF)
Stage 2 – may do more than simply export services. It may set up overseas offices, hire local staff in technical and support capacity; not many international staffers in HQ (eg. Mercy Corps)
Stage 3 – NGO takes on many but not all multinational features. (eg CARE; OXFAM)
Many Reasons for Rapid Growth
1970s – Many private foundations and private donors provided resources for community based institutional capacity building and organizational development.
1980s – World recession and fiscal crisis led to a vacuum in public delivery of social services – leading to growth.
1990s – End of the cold war led to a chain reaction in Eastern Europe
Reasons for Rapid Growth
Public Fiscal crisis Collapse of Soviet Union Democratic openings
Bilateral and multilateral incentives Private Giving
Improved Global Communications
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
A civic or public advocacy organization, which generates, transfers, or administers humanitarian and other aid (development / relief)
Generally, NGO's are organized as nonprofit corporations (charities)
Can be local or international (INGOs)
May work with or independent of government
Generally, do not include professional associations, businesses, and foundations
NGOs are organizations that:
Provide useful goods or services, thereby serving a specified public purpose.
Are not allowed to distribute profits to persons in their individual capacities.
Are voluntary in the sense that they are created, maintained, and terminated on the basis of voluntary decisions and initiatives by members or a board of directors.
Exhibit value based rationality, often with ideological components.
Other players in disaster health management
Government
National
State/Provincial
Local
United Nations
Donors
Hy
id organisations with own defined status
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Related Acronyms
CBO: Community-Based Organization
CSO: Civil Society Organisation
DONGO: Donor-Organized Non-Governmental Organization
GONGO: Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organization
IO: International Organisation
NGDO: Non-Governmental Development Organization
PDO: Private Development Organization
PSO: Public Service Organization
PVO: Private Voluntary Organization
QUANGO: QUasi-Autonomous Non-Governmental Organization
VO: Voluntary Organization
ORGANIZATION FUNCTION
UN Development Program (UNDP) Largest grants for sustainable human development
UN Children’s (Emergency) Fund (UNICEF) Lead UN Organization for the survival, protection, and development of Children
UN Environment Program (UNEP) Encourages sound environmental practices
UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Protects refugee security and well-being
UN Population Fund (UNPF) Population assistance to developing countries
World Food Program (WFP) Largest global food aid organization
UNAIDS Coordinates UN efforts to battle HIV/AIDS
UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Promotes & Protects rights established in the UN Charter and in International human rights.
UN Human Settlement Program Assist people living in health threatening housing
UN Conference on Trade & Development Promotes fair International Trade
Selected UN Organizations
AGENCY FUNCTION
World Health Organization (WHO) To act as the directing & coordinating authority on global health work
International Labor Organization (ILO) Sets and monitors employment standards
Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) Helps raise standards of nutrition,
UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Promotes education, cultural development & protection of natural & cultural heritage, press freedom & communication
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Mobilize financial resources for better food production & nutrition among the poor in developing countries
UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Promotes industrial advancement of developing countries through technical assistance, advisory services & training
Selected UN Specialized Agencies
Selected Bilateral Development Assistance Agencies Involved in Global Health
Examples of NGOs involved in disaster & humanitarian crisis response
Care
MSF
Oxfam
Red Cross (not ICRC)
Save the Children
St John Ambulance
World Vision
Types of U.S. Foreign Aid, 2018
Recipients of U.S. Foreign Aid, 2019
How NGOs operate?
NGOs vary greatly
Organizational structure is similar to businesses
Usually non-rigid hierarchy; significant flexibility and authority at the field level
International NGOs often team up with local NGOs or have regional or local
anches
Core values
Neutrality
Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint
Impartiality
Aid given regardless of race, creed, or nationality
Aid is based on need alone
Independence
Aid agencies shall not act as instruments of government foreign policy
What do they do?
Operational verses Advocacy
Grassroots, long-term projects, development work
Willing to work in high risk areas; not constrained by sovereignty
In theory, emphasis on sustainability
Full integration with local population
Good positioning for disaster response
Strengths
Usually have excellent advocacy or lo
ying capacity
Can fill gaps-specialised skills/capacity
Usually mobilise quickly
Often well connected at local level
Weaknesses
Can duplicate services
Turf wars can erupt
May step outside their areas of specialty
Often overcommit/overextend capacities
May not be so good at sustainability
Funding
Funding sources
Private Donations (citizens, businesses and foundations)
International Organizations (UN)
National Governments
Perceptions are important
Importance of public relations and the Media
Bilateral Aid
Bilateral aid: money given directly from one country to anothe
Major donor nations (>$10 billion each in 2010): United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan
Major donor nations as % GNI (>0.8%): Norway, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands
United States: <0.2% GNI
Private Foundations
Private foundations are making an increasingly significant contribution to spending on global public health
Example: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation provides more than $1 billion each year to support health technologies
Local – GKFF, Helmerich, Wa
en.
Personal Donations
Millions of individuals make donations each yea
Americans donated nearly $300 billion to charity in 2011
73% from individuals rather than foundations or corporations
Represents about 2% of disposable income
NGOs required in disasters
Donors also rely on NGOs, because of their access to the populations in need
And again, their access is dependent on their neutrality
NGOs, as implementing partners of donor organizations, are the legs on which disaster response stands
NGO Monitoring
Little External Monitoring
Self-Regulation: NGO Standards
Red Cross Code of Conduct
InterAction PVO Standards
Sphere Minimum Standards in Disaster Response
NGO Culture
Independent: need to cooperate
Decentralized authority
On-the-job training (changing however)
Often develop a range of field guidelines,
e.g. MSF, Red Cross
Hopefully develop long-term perspective
NGOs coordination
US/USAID Embassy team
Other Government Agencies
UN Coordination Entities [UNHCR, WFP, UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, Special Humanitarian Coordinator]
NGO-Only Coordination Bodies/Field-level coordination meetings
Host Government Ministries / Authorities
Civil-Military Cooperation or Operation Centers