In today’s globalized world, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a
critical role in addressing challenges that cross borders. They empower
communities, deliver aid, and drive sustainable change, but also face major
obstacles in staying afloat as an entity, primarily because of a lack of funding and
governance issues. This paper explores the vital role of NGOs in global
development, highlighting their challenges and proposing actionable solutions
illustrated by global examples.
The Important Role of NGOs in Global Development
NGOs today are central to global development, filling the gaps where markets
and governments fall short. They operate with a moral code, prioritizing
community over politics or profit. By focusing on community development, NGOs
work to empower individuals, strengthen social ties, and balance environmental
and economic needs. Their work spans multiple fields: education, healthcare,
environmental protection, and human rights, addressing complex societal issues.
For example, Oxfam International, an international confederation that tackles
poverty and inequality. Oxfam’s campaigns, such as its endeavors for criminal
justice and fair trade, empower marginalized voices, reshaping policies both on
the local and global levels. Similarly, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provides
medical care in crisis zones from South Sudan to Syria, acting swiftly to meet
local needs.
In the USA, the Peace Corps represents the transformative power of
cross-cultural collaboration. Since its foundation in 1961, volunteers from the
Peace Corps have served in more than 140 countries, teaching English and
promoting sustainable development. For instance, in Ghana, volunteers partner
with local schools to improve literacy in an attempt to build bridges of
understanding between cultures. This exchange between the volunteers and the
local community not only uplifts communities but also nurtures global citizens
who return home with a deep appreciation for interconnectedness.
In Asia, BRAC, based in Bangladesh, is a major frontrunner in community
development. Its microfinance program has empowered millions of women to
start their businesses and break the cycle of poverty. BRAC’s holistic
approach—combining healthcare, education, and economic
empowerment—points out how NGOs can address the major causes of
inequality. In Africa, Amref Health tackles healthcare disparities, training
community health workers in Kenya and beyond to deliver life-saving care. These
examples underscore NGOs’ role in fostering sustainable, community-driven
solutions.
The Affective Core: Tales of Influence
A small Romanian NGO from the town of Brasov country supports more than 500
beneficiaries annually, including refugees and abandoned children; even with
constrained funding, they continue to strive to provide for their community. ‘We
need this funding to continue to support and hold as many beneficiaries as
possible’ (Bodi, 2022, p. 197), shared by the project managers from the NGO.
The resilience of the manager resonates throughout the NGO world; the passion
for service drives them to their mission, even in the most adverse circumstances.
Malaysian NGOs work on programs that empower rural women through skill
training and workshops; this not only empowers women but also creates a
community where the participants become each other’s safety net (Abiddin et al.,
2022). What do we learn from these examples? These stories show us that the
NGOs and their programs can serve the community as a lifeline, a hope for the
downtrodden and vulnerable.
Do We Act As Global Citizens? If Not, We Must.
Globalization has its pros and cons; one con is that a regional crisis can spill over
the globe. For instance, COVID-19, a virus from Wuhan, swept across the world
and changed the very landscape of our society. Similar to this, our world has
countless other challenges (ex, migration & climate change) which require a
collaborative approach. NGOs represent the very essence of global citizenship,
working across national boundaries to address shared frustrations and promote
cross-cultural understanding. The Peace Corps can be a prime example of this;
American volunteers work under the Peace Corps banner around the world, they
learn about the local culture and tradition, building lasting relationships beyond
their national identity, when they return after 2 years of service, they share their
experiences with their friends & family about the diversity and the beauty of our
world. Similarly, the program model of BRAC motivated programs in Africa and
beyond, again proving to us that with proper effort, solutions can cross borders
and cultures.
Thinking as global citizens means recognizing our shared humanity. A farmer in
Ghana, a teacher in the USA, a refugee in the Arab world, and an expatriate
worker in Malaysia are connected by the same motivations for opportunity,
dignity, and upward mobility. NGOs facilitate this connection, but this cannot be
achieved alone; the support and commitment are also required from
governments, businesses, and individuals, and they must collaborate, funneling
their resources and expertise towards a more efficient and positive output. For
instance, Amref’s partnership with African governments amplifies its impact, thus
ensuring a sustainable healthcare system. As members of a global family, we
must contribute towards the efforts of NGOs by volunteer, donating, or
advocating for policies that enable their work; we must also bear in mind that our
actions today will sow the seeds of our future generation tomorrow, ergo – a
united & collaborative front is a necessity.
Challenges Facing NGOs: A Sobering Reality
Despite their important role in community development and social welfare, NGOs
face major challenges that threaten their long-term sustainability.
● Limited Funds: Stable funding is a universal struggle for NGOs. In
Romania, NGOs describe funding as their ‘main concern’; funding has
become the sole mission just to stay afloat – this forces NGOs to channel
most of their energy searching for funds, rather than focusing on the
community (Bodi, 2022). In the global context, NGOs rely on donors, who
might have different priorities, drifting the mission of the project or
isomorphism (Sawadogo-Lewis et al.,2022).
● Shortage of Human Resources: NGOs lack both volunteers and staff. In
Brasov, one NGO lamented,’ We need more team members, but financial
resources don’t allow us to do that’ (Bodi, 2022, p. 198). Most of the NGOs
in the global south suffer the same fate, and eventually, because of lack of
resources, they wither out.
● Networking and Communication Gaps: Many NGOs struggle to promote
their services effectively to their communities, a lot of them fail to reach
their beneficiaries because of poor internet connections or lack of their
organizations’ digital presence (Facebook, LinkedIn, or Website) (Bodi,
2022); globally, this affects on the NGO’s credibility, and further
disconnecting them from the international NGO eco-system =, and
development project potentials (Ozra, 2021).
● Unstructured and Poor Governance: Weak governance and a
dysfunctional management team undermine the NGO’s efficiency.
Management or the lack of clarity from the board can diminish access to
resources and trust (Powers, 2016).
● External Forces: Operating in conflict-prone areas and political interference
poses significant risks to NGOs. In the developing world, NGOs face
intimidation from local politicians or political parties, further complicating
their operations, frequently resulting in the projects being shelved or
abandoned (Kakai & Bejma, 2022).
Even though these challenges look daunting, they are not insurmountable. With
strategic actions, NGOs can overcome the hurdles and amplify their community
impact.
How To Strengthen NGOs – The Action Plans
For increased impact, stakeholders of NGOs must implement effective, targeted
solutions. They should study and gather information and data from worldwide
research and successful examples. To ensure NGOs thrive, stakeholders must
implement targeted solutions.
● Diversification of Funding Sources: NGOs should identify innovative
funding models, such as social enterprise and crowdfunding. In Malaysia,
NGOs have tapped into redirection schemes, like the 3.5% income tax
option (Abiddin et al, 2022). Governments can provide support by offering
matching grants or tax incentives, reducing the over-dependence on
donors.
● Investment in Human Capital: Training programs can improve volunteer
and staff capacity. Partnering with universities, as seen with Romania,
where local students intern and promote the NGOs, addressing not only
the shortage of human capital but also providing professional experience
for the students (Bodi, 2022).
● Enhancing Digital Communication: In this current digital landscape, NGOs
must capitalize on the easily accessible digital tools (YouTube, Facebook,
LinkedIn) for wider exposure. One example can be of BRAC from
Bangladesh, which has used social media to share the success stories of
its projects. Training the staff on digital marketing can help NGOs target
beneficiaries effectively. Even in low-internet-access areas, they can adopt
a hybrid approach as community radio (Guo & Saxton, 2018).
● Strengthen NGO Governance: Structure their governance structure by
making it more transparent. NGOs can adopt frameworks that ensure
accountability. Clear governance structures, including transparent boards,
are essential. NGOs can adopt frameworks ensuring accountability and
trust. Charities can improve how they are run by collaborating and learning
from each other.
● Promote Networking & Collaboration: NGOs should build coalitions globally
to reduce duplication and amplify impact. Romanian NGOs envision ‘a
network of good facts’ through hubs that connect professionals (Bodi,
2022). The support of the government and donors is essential in sustaining
these platforms.
● Supportive Policy Advocacy: NGOs need enabling environments free from
political intrusions and interferences. Campaigns for advocacy, such as
Oxfam’s policy work, can push towards laws protecting NGO autonomy.
The part of the global citizenry is important in this, they can help the
process by engaging in grassroots movements or contacting policymakers
United For a Better World: A Call to Action
A well-run NGO can play an important role in global development. There is no
place for individualism; for success, a collective will is essential. In a utopian
world, every child accesses education and health care, communities thrive
sustainably, and everyone’s voice is heard. The governments will also need to
play a role by providing enabling policies, businesses must invest in social impact
(which would increase their public relations and business presence), and
individuals must gather together to take action, whether it is by volunteering or
creating their own projects.
The story of NGOs is one of resilience and hope. In Brasov, an NGO leader
declared, “We don’t give up, we reinvent ourselves every time” (Bódi, 2022, p.
199). This can be an inspiration for us all; we need to act more like global
citizens, embrace interconnectedness, and celebrate our cross-cultural
collaborations. A united front can change obstacles into opportunities, ensuring
that NGOs and our communities can lead us to a better world.
References
Abiddin, N. Z., Ibrahim, I., & Abdul Aziz, S. A. (2022). Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
and their part towards sustainable community development. Sustainability, 14(8), 4386.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084386
Besançon, S., Sidibé, A., Sow, D. S., Sy, O., Ambard, J., Yudkin, J. S., & Beran, D. (2022). The
role of non-governmental organizations in strengthening healthcare systems in low- and
middle-income countries: Lessons from Santé Diabète in Mali. Global Health Action, 15(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2022.2088083
Singirankabo, M., & Wanjiku, C. (2023). Effect of project communication practices on
performance of the international non-governmental organizational projects in Rwanda. Journal
of Entrepreneurship & Project Management, 7(7), 48–59.
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t3093
Thomas, P. N. (2014). Development communication and social change in historical context. In
K. G. Wilkins, T. Tufte, & R. Obregon (Eds.), The handbook of development communication and
social change (pp. 7–19). Wiley Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118505328.ch1 https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2022.2061239
Bódi, D. C. (2022). Being social worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bulletin of the
Transilvania University of Braşov, Series VII: Social Sciences • Law, 15(64), 195–202.
https://doi.org/10.31926/but.ssl.2022.15.64.2.8
Carpenter, S., Takahashi, B., Lertpratchya, A. P., & Cunningham, C. (2016). Greening the
campus: A theoretical extension of the dialogic communication approach. International Journal
of Sustainability in Higher Education, 17(4), 520–539.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-02-2015-0036
Chaturvedi, M., & Ashish Kumar, B. (2022). Social marketing strategies for the non-profit
organizations. Academy of Marketing Studies Journal, 26(5), 1–12.
https://www.abacademies.org/articles/social-marketing-strategies-for-the-nonprofit-organizations
-15245.html
Guo, C., & Saxton, G. D. (2018). Speaking and being heard: How nonprofit advocacy
organizations gain attention on social media. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 47(1),
5–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/0899764017713724
Kákai, L., & Bejma, A. (2022). Legal and practical conditions of the functioning of the civil
society organizations in Hungary and Poland. Eastern Journal of European Studies, 13,
120–140. https://doi.org/10.47743/ejes-2022-SI07
Oliveira, E. (2019). The instigatory theory of NGO communication: Strategic communication in
civil society organizations. Springer VS Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-26858-9
Oza, P. (2021). Symbiotic communication plan for NGOs: Praxis and challenges. PalArch’s
Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 18(4), 3843–3850.
https://ssrn.com/abstract=3842923
Powers, M. (2016). Communication and NGOs. Oxford Bibliographies Online Datasets.
https://doi.org/10.1093/obo/9780199756841-0121
Sargeant, A., Jay, E., & Lee, S. (2006). Benchmarking charity performance: Returns from direct
marketing in fundraising. Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, 16(1-2), 77–94.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J054v16n01_05
Sawadogo-Lewis, T., Bryant, R., & Roberton, T. (2022). NGO perspectives on the challenges
and opportunities for real-world evaluation: A qualitative study. Global Health Action, 15(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2022.2088083
Singirankabo, M., & Wanjiku, C. (2023). Effect of project communication practices on
performance of the international non-governmental organizational projects in Rwanda. Journal
of Entrepreneurship & Project Management, 7(7), 48–59.
https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t3093
Thomas, P. N. (2014). Development communication and social change in historical context. In
K. G. Wilkins, T. Tufte, & R. Obregon (Eds.), The handbook of development communication and
social change (pp. 7–19). Wiley Blackwell. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118505328.ch1
Together for a Better Tomorrow
