Emerging Areas for Promotion of Voluntary Sector in 21st Century

Emerging Areas for Promotion of Voluntary Sector in 21st Century

T. Gopala Rao

Sundar Vadaon

Article 71 of the UN Charter - At the UN itself, non-governmental actors and organizations have engaged with the United Nations since its creation in 1945[1].

NGOs have been on the UN scene from the beginning and UN as a global order, has been encouraging the NGO sector into diversified activities through its agencies such asUnited Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), United Nation Volunteers (UNV), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO). More interestingly, World Bank has also been encouraging and involving the NGOs in its activities and its bank groups also have place for the voluntary sector such as Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), United Nations Convention to Combat Drought and Desertification (UNCCD) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Non-governmental organizations have been active in the United Nations since its founding. They interact with the UN Secretariat, programmes, funds and agencies, and they consult with the Member States. NGO work related to the UN comprises a number of activities including information dissemination, awareness raising, development education, policy advocacy, joint operational projects, and providing technical expertise and collaborating with UN agencies, programmes and funds.

In the context of globalization and the revolution in information and communications technology, NGOs have proliferated in recent years. In the 1990s, they have had increasing and unprecedented involvement in programs and policies of the United Nations. For many years, NGOs have partnered with or been contracted by the United Nations on specific programs, primarily humanitarian service delivery. This NGO role seems straightforward and relatively noncontroversial. More recently, however, NGOs have sought a greater role in governance and decision making[2].

There is witnessed a comprehensive changes in the attitudes, approaches and policies of the United Nations system with regard to relations with NGOs and their participation in the work of the UN. While this has been most visible in the recent series of UN world summits and conferences, measures to strengthen cooperation with NGOs are being taken across the entire UN system and in virtually all areas of its activity: policy research and analysis; policy dialogue and normative work; monitoring and advocacy; operational development activities; humanitarian work, particularly responding to emergencies and to the needs of refugees; promoting human rights, democratization, disarmament and peace; and information dissemination and raising public awareness of the issues and challenges on the UN's agenda[3].

As indicated above that the UN agencies are placing for the greater involvement of NGOs in their governance arrangements and are developing information disclosure policies with inputs from NGOs.

Since the 1990s, NGOs have been greatly increasing and unprecedented involvement in programs and policies of the United Nations. Moreover, The UN has formulated the NGO role in a way of seems straightforward and relatively noncontroversial. More recently, NGOs have sought a greater role in governance and decision making.

ECOSOC and NGOs

Flexible procedures have been introduced to enable NGOs accredited to world conferences and summits to participate in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) commissions charged with follow-up to the conferences. Occasionally, NGOs are now permitted to participate as observers in informal intergovernmental discussions and negotiations. New forms of dialogue and interaction between Members States and NGOs, such as joint panels, roundtables and stakeholder dialogues, have also been introduced[4].

NGOs currently have three classifications of consultative status at the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The accreditation system allows greater access for NGOs operating in more than one country. Access means different things: the right to circulate documents; access to informal preparatory meetings; observation and monitoring of various proceedings; the right to speak at meetings. ECOSOC as an organization coordinates the economic and social work of the United Nations system. Its functional commissions are on crime prevention and criminal justice, human rights, narcotic drugs, social development, science and technology for development, sustainable development, the status of women, population and development, and statistics.

The Food and Agriculture Organization and NGOs

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was founded in Quebec City (Canada) in 1945 and is the largest of the United Nations specialized agencies. FAO has 175 Member Nations and one member organization (the European Community)[5].

The FAO works with NGOs in different activities which includes: organizations directly representing producers and consumers; Southern development NGOs that provide services to rural people; Northern development NGOs that support programmes in developing countries and undertake public information at home; advocacy NGOs concerned with influencing public opinion and policies; national, regional and global NGO networks organized formally or informally around specific themes or tasks; trade unions and private sector associations linked to food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; and professional and academic associations.

IFAD and NGOs

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) was established in 1977 and it is a specialized agency of the United Nations. The role of NGOs in IFAD's projects has been increased over the years. IFAD has official cooperation with different NGOs, for instance, NGOs from the North such as Association française des volontaires du progrès (France), Oxfam (United Kingdom) and Relief International (United States) and well known Southern NGOs such as MYRADA (India) and so on.

IFAD strengthen the collaboration with NGO in 1998 mainly concentrated on community mobilization; institutional strengthening and capacity building including training; implementation of rural credit and savings programmes; and technical assistance, particularly in resource management

IFAD/NGO partnerships have evolved within three complimentary frameworks: project collaboration in the field; the IFAD/NGO Extended Cooperation Programme (ECP); and, since 1990, the IFAD/NGO Annual Consultations[6].

ILO and NGOs

The International Labour Organization (ILO) was established by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 as an autonomous institution associated with the League of Nations. In 1946, the ILO became the UN’s first specialized agency. The International Labour Organization has a multifaceted relationship with the NGOs due to its unique tripartite structure. That relationship involves:

  • integration of non-governmental social partners in the identity of the organization itself;
  • use of consultative status for non-governmental international organizations that meet certain criteria; and
  • Collaboration at the operational level with a variety of international, national and local organizations[7].

OHCHR and NGOs

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is a part of the UN secretariat and it was established in 1993 based on the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action. OHCHR has a clear institutional relation with NGOs and channeled through the NGO Unit of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs or through the NGO Section of the Department of Public Information[8].

UNAIDS and NGOs

UNAIDS was formed based on the increasing epidemic syndrome of the HIV/AIDS. In this context, World Health Organization (WHO) was the lead agency and from 1986 the WHO had the lead responsibility on AIDS in the United Nations, helping countries to set up much-needed national AIDS programmes[9].

During 1998-1999, consultations between the UNAIDS secretariat and NGOs in particular the United Kingdom Consortium on AIDS resulted in a UNAIDS Position Paper on Collaboration with NGOs. Through an electronic mailing list, the secretariat keeps NGOs informed of new developments and important information that they can pass on to their own constituencies and networks around the world.

UNDP and NGOs

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the world’s largest and most broadly based multilateral organization for grant-based technical cooperation. It works to build developing countries’ capacities for sustainable human development by promoting and supporting efforts to alleviate poverty, manage natural resources to benefit both people and the environment, improve governance and create opportunities for people to improve their lives.

UNDP has been promoting and supporting participation by NGOs and CSOs (including community-based organizations) in efforts to conserve the environment and natural resources since the 1980s well before the Earth Summit. This work has focused on two main areas:

  • encouraging and supporting the UNDP Country Offices to involve and collaborate with international and national environmental NGOs; and
  • sponsoring small-grants programmes, beginning with the Partners in Development Programme (PDP)[10].

UNDP has been working with agencies other than government since last twenty years. Since then, UNDP’s collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) has expanded and diversified significantly. Over the years, UNDP has gradually strengthened its staff capacity to work with CSOs. It has simplified rules and procedures, in addition to developing policies and strategies to facilitate UNDP-CSO collaboration.

The Civil Society Organizations and Participation Programme (CSOPP) is the focal point in UNDP headquarters for working with CSOs and is part of the Social Development and Poverty Elimination Division within the Bureau for Development Policy. CSOPP responds primarily to two constituencies: internal, i.e. UNDP country offices primarily and UNDP in general, and external, i.e. CSOs, both national and international, and other donors and agencies as well as national governments working with CSOs.

UNEP and NGOs

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) was established in 1972 based on Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. UNEP’s main objective is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. The Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment was itself the result of an unprecedented role played by NGOs in shaping the global environmental agenda.

UNEP’s Policy on NGOs and Civil Society

UNEP has endeavoured to enhance partnerships with NGOs by means of:

  • institutionalizing NGO/Major Groups’ participation in project implementation and evaluation;
  • continually reviewing mechanisms for cooperation with NGOs/Major Groups with a view to keeping abreast with global and regional trends and needs;
  • encouraging and, where feasible, supporting the participation of NGOs/Major Groups in policy development, and bringing proposals for broader participation and access to the attention of the Governing Council whenever necessary;
  • co-fundraising with individual NGO/Major Groups partners to finance agreed projects and programmes.

A crucial vehicle for cooperation with the United Nations family is the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS)[11].

Thus, the international organizations especially with the reference with UN and its agencies have been encouraging the participation of Non Governmental Organizations in different institutional mode. All the agencies (here some of international UN Agencies are analyzed the NGO relations with them, but every agency has its own relations and consultative status with NGOs to fulfill the UN charter of Article 71, which is evolved in 1945) have their own relations and some of have consultative and collaborative status.

Global Competition and NGOs in 21st Century

The report of SustainAbility on “The 21st Century NGOs”ishighly focusing on the emerging issues related to strategic, accountability and governance agendas for NGOs. One of the most important report on global NGOs called “The 21st Century NGO in the Market for Change” is giving the scenario of present and future NGOs that how the 21st century NGOs should adopt the market based strategies to compete with the emerging markets in globalized economy. The report is updating the work of SustainAbility that it has been doing for more than a decade on evolving relationships between business and civil society — and, in particular, between business and NGOs. But it is also intended as a provocation, as an encouragement to NGOs to challenge their own thinking, sense of mission and strategies[12].

According to the Georg Kell Executive Head, UN Global Compact, “The strategic move by many nongovernmental organizations to become active players within market systems has profound implications for multi-stakeholder initiatives that seek positive social and economic change. For some civil society actors, confrontation, which has proved a highly effective means for raising awareness of critical issues, is being joined by cooperation with other stakeholders, including business, to produce solutions to pressing global challenges. Much of this shift stems from the realization that many of today’s problems require multi-stakeholder responses. Moreover, the ascendancy of markets demands that societal actors come to grips with today’s market fundamentals in order to reach their goals. The UN Global Compact is an ambitious experiment in multi-stakeholder collaboration intended to embed global markets with universal principles around human rights, labour, and the environment”[13]. This statement is clearly indicating that the NGOs, forever, plays important role in social development and also they will be in forefront for adopting the global competition. It is also revealed that UN has also been giving much more place for their involvement in all its agencies.

As stated by the Jacqueline Aloisi de Larderel, Assistant Executive Director, UNEP regarding the involvement of NGOs in global development that “UNEP has been working with business and industry for many years to engage different sectors in an effort to advance sustainable production and consumption. We have been hosting annual consultative meetings with trade and industry associations since 1984, involving increasing numbers of NGOs and labour organizations. These dialogues raised awareness among associations of new challenges and equipped them to catalyse change in their own ranks. UNEP helped bring many key stakeholders to the table, providing a neutral platform for the discussion of major issues. On many occasions, however, questions were raised from various sides about the role and representivity of different partners”[14]. All the development professionals and global agencies are vividly encouraging the NGOs in all spheres of the development.

Even the UN and other developmental organizations are giving institutional place for the NGOs in their regular and official activities; they are spending also much time thinking about business along with development functions. Even so, they have had a profound influence on both. The evidence, however, suggests a need to engage and shape markets more directly[15].

Financially also 21st century NGOs are proving sounded ness. The not-for-profit sector is now worth over $1 trillion a year globally. As a result, it attracts growing attention, not all of it comfortable. For example, McKinsey & Company — the management consultancy — say that the US nonprofit sector alone could free up at least $100 billion in additional value by changing its notions of stewardship and its operating practices[16]. So it is increasing the importance of capacity building, organizational development and code of conduct for NGOs and also growing interest in priorities, strategies, and accountability and business models.

Sustainability’s is a consultancy services and it advises clients on the risks and opportunities associated with corporate responsibility and sustainable development. It is also working at the interface between market forces and societal expectations; and work with leading companies, NGOs and influencers around the world[17]. It is made a statement on 21st century NGOs regarding their efficiency.

  • Focus on solutions, delivered through (and often disrupting) markets.
  • Invest heavily in networks.
  • Aim to persuade supporters that they are good investments.
  • Agenda will be multi-dimensional, ditto most successful NGOs.
  • Adopt best practice in transparency, accountability and governance.

The 21st century NGOs is changing their strategy in governing their organization through the adapting risk mapping tools for the NGO board.

The following are the most important components for the emerging NGOs in 21st century:

Accountability

  • Stakeholder issues
  • Constituency issues
  • ‘Responsible’ (TBL) campaigning
  • Competitive positioning
  • Brand exploitation
  • Corporate co-option

Transparency

  • Financial & ethical disclosures
  • Director & staff compensation
  • Promotion policies & practices
  • TBL reporting
  • TBL assurance mechanisms

Funding

  • Adequate for current needs
  • Adequate for future needs
  • Sources of funding
  • Fundraising methods
  • % allocation to ‘cause’

Standards

  • Professional standards & targets
  • Position on CSR frameworks
  • Stakeholder benchmarks
  • Stakeholder satisfaction
  • TBL standards required of
  • suppliers & partners

The growth of NGO membership at international during the 1999-2000 can be seen here[18].