The Role of Non-Governmental Organisations in the Improvement of Livelihood in Nepal

Abstract

Useiden tutkimusten mukaan köyhyys lisääntyy kehittyvissä maissa, erityisesti Etelä-Aasiassa, jossa asuu noin 40 % koko maailman köyhistä. Erityisesti Nepalissa ongelma on polttava. Tätä ongelmaa yrittävät poistaa monet valtiot, yritykset ja kansalaisjärjestöt.

Tässä tutkimuksessa keskitytään kansalaisjärjestöjen rooliin köyhyyden poistamispyrkimyksissä. Se on ensimmäisiä tutkimuksia, joissa kysymystä analysoidaan mikrotasolla, kyläyhteisöissä. Tutkimus keskittyy erityisesti siihen, ovatko juuri kansalaisjärjestöt ja niiden toimintapolitiikat tehokkaita köyhyyden eliminoimisessa.

Tutkimuksessa oli mukana kaksi huomattavaa kansainvälistä kansalaisjärjestöä, joiden toimintaa analysoitiin Markhun ja Hekulin kylissä Nepalissa. Useiden toisiaan täydentävien kvalitatiivisten menetelmien avulla rakennettiin kokonaiskuvaa kansalaisjärjestöjen roolista kohdekylissä. Aineistoa täydennettiin kyselyn avulla. Lisäksi haastateltiin kehitysasioista vastaavia valtion virkamiehiä.

Tutkimustulokset tuottavat kansalaisjärjestöjen roolista moniaineksisen kuvan. Niiden merkitys puhtaasti taloudellisessa mielessä on marginaalinen. Sen sijaan niiden rooli tiedostamisen ja muutoksen mahdollisuuden ymmärtämisessä on huomattava. Kansalaisjärjestöt pystyvät myös toimimaan muutosagentteina. Erityisesti ne ovat onnistuneet naisten roolin muutosmahdollisuuksien osalta.

Kansalaisjärjestöjen toiminnan tulosten kestävyyttä haittaavat eräät ongelmat. Ne yrittävät "tavoittaa kaiken" kylätoiminnassa, mutta eivät aina osaa löytää todellisia taloudellisen kehityksen muutosmahdollisuuksia. Kansalaisjärjestöt kykenevät luomaan positiivisia asenteita säästämiseen, kehitysmahdollisuuksiin jne., mutta eivät välttämättä kykene organisoimaan kestävän kehityksen institutionaalisia edellytyksiä.

Yleisesti voidaan tutkimustulosten perusteella arvioida, että kansalaisjärjestöt ovat tehokkaimmillaan ruohonjuuritason ajattelutapojen ja asenteiden herättelyssä. Niiden oma toimintakapasiteetti kuitenkin kaipaisi huomattavaa kehittämistä.

Several recent studies indicate an alarming increase in the level of poverty in developing countries, particularly in South Asia where 40 percent of the world's poor live. Nepal's poverty problem is more pervasive than most of the South Asian countries, which has been stood as one of the major challenges. To eliminate this problem, the role of various organizations - government, private and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are considered vital.

This study is first of its kind to analyse the relationship between NGOs and livelihood issue particularly at the micro-level, i.e., of the village communities. Thus, this study intends to discuss whether NGOs are good institutional and operational options for improving livelihood of the poor people in the Nepalese context. For this, it was designed to see the roles played by the NGOs for handling poverty issues. The study also aims to review the existing policies on NGOs in the improvement of livelihood of the targeted population. This research focuses on livelihood issues, and explores how the findings can best be applied in the amelioration of livelihood both at the conceptual and practical levels. To study the role of NGOs, PLAN International and Backward Society Education (BASE) were selected. These NGOs were working in Markhu, and Hekuli villages located in the mid-hills and southwest part of the country respectively. For this, various methods such as Participatory Research Appraisal (PRA), household survey and interview methods were employed. Some of the selected groups were involved at PRA exercise, while selected household representatives were administered a survey questionnaire. Some key persons from among the government, NGOs and beneficiaries were interviewed to discuss on the research issue. Apart from these, relevant literatures were reviewed to address livelihood issues.

The NGOs in question show a mixed picture. Awareness-creation activities have more positive impact on the livelihood condition of the people than the actual income-generating activities. The study also reveals that the NGOs act as change agents to the organisational landscape at grassroots level by organising the people, particularly women. Naturally, such a group approach recognises the key role of women in the household and in society, facilitating their access to resources and thereby contributing to livelihood. This has a good effect on community participation, and in voicing and addressing women's needs. From the gender perspective, NGOs contribute to raising the general status of women, help in realising economic rights, and enhancing new roles to some extent.

The income-generating activities put more emphasis on distribution of cash/kind inputs rather than developing human resources, entrepreneurial know-how, and markets. One positive indication was that people have been adopting saving habits, however, the level of credits as against the size of saving was quite far below. This indicates that NGOs have not been successful in stimulating local initiatives for meeting the livelihood of people.

As many of the target beneficiaries are deprived and unable to voice their demands, NGOs often define their needs, which represent their own values, interests, and priorities. This situation constrained the NGOs in question by creating demand-led development initiatives. Therefore, there was a common tendency among poor people to seek handouts, thus creating dependency and complaisance instead of creativity and independence.

The catch-all approach taken by NGOs was not without shortfall. They lack focus in potential areas of success and more needy areas of action. NGOs often diversify their activities as per their resource collection strategy from foreign grants/supports. This leads to a dependency syndrome by the intervening NGOs themselves, raising question for their long-term sustainability.

NGOs as development partners of the government have not been reflected in policy commitment. Lack of clear direction for the functions that should be carried out through NGOs, absence of incorporation of NGOs' income generation activities in the governmental plans and programmes, and lack of co-ordination and monitoring and evaluation of NGO activities are some of the policy shortcomings to streamline the NGOs in the livelihood improvement process.

Based on the about findings, it can be said that NGOs can be a better institutional option for the improvement of livelihood only in certain conditions. They must select only those activities that are feasible for intervention at the grassroots level, and which can be managed easily. Similarly, it also requires smooth collaboration and co-ordination among intervening organisations that are working for the same purpose to create a synergy of efforts for implementing different activities successfully. NGOs should also develop their own capability for utilising local resources and implementing their programmes more effectively.