The Role of NGOs in Fostering Development and Good Governance at the Local Level in Africa with a Focus on Kenya
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12124809 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Walter O Oyugi (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2005 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Publication date | 2005-08-26 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Africa Development (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0850-3907 • E-ISSN: 2521-9863 |
| Publisher | Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (PUBLISHER • SN) |
| DOI | 10.4314/ad.v29i4.22205 |
| OpenAlex | W2068885520 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 7 |
| References cited | 3 |
Non-governmental organisations have since the colonial period played a major role in socio-economic development in Africa. This role has increased in the post independence period, especially from the 1980s, following the demonstrated failure of the state all over the continent, as a credible provider of basic needs services to the poor both in the rural and urban slums. As a result, instead of channelling development assistance through the state, some donor agencies have during the last two decades or so, opted to do so through non-state actors – especially the NGOs. The Kenyan experience demonstrates that the NGO sector has since the 1980s emerged as a major player in the design and implementation of projects as well as the actual provision of basic needs services to the disadvantaged groups both in the rural and urban areas. Although they are individually engaged in diverse activities, the Kenyan data suggests that the concentration of their activities is – in the social sector (education, health, general welfare). The operational strategies employed to reach the intended beneficiaries varies between direct and indirect interventions depending on the service to be delivered and the institutional configuration on the ground. Where NGOs have opted for direct linkage with service recipients, their activities have tended to elicit negative response from the state as the latter usually prefers to act as intermediary between non-state actors and the service recipients. The impact of NGOs has varied both in terms of quality and quantity of service provided. The variation assumes both service and area (i.e. spatial) dimensions, and the factors accounting for the variation are the stability of funding sources as well as commitment by the founders of the organisations to their missions and objectives. The Kenyan case study demonstrates that the sector has emerged as a major player in the provision of basic needs services. Résumé Depuis la période coloniale, les organisations gouvernementales jouent un rôle crucial dans le processus socio-économique en Afrique. Ce rôle s\'est renforcé au cours de la période post-indépendance, à partir des années 80, tout particulièrement, après que l\'état eût montré son incapacité a fournir des services de base aux populations pauvres vivant dans les bidonvilles rurales et urbaines. Ainsi, au lieu d\'acheminer l\'aide au développement a travers l\'État, certains organismes bailleurs de fonds ont choisi, depuis ces deux dernières décennies, d\'avoir recours aux acteurs n\'appartenant pas a l\'État, particulièrement les ONG. L\'expérience kenyane montre que depuis les années 80, le secteur des ONG joue un rôle crucial dans la conception et la mise en œuvre de projets, ainsi que dans la fourniture de besoins de base aux groupes défavorisés, aussi bien dans les zones rurales qu\'urbaines. Bien que celles-ci soient engagées individuellement dans diverses activités, les informations collectées au Kenya révèlent que leurs activités se concentrent dans le secteur social (éducation, santé, service social global). Les stratégies opérationnelles destinées a atteindre les populations bénéficiaires, consistent en interventions directes et indirectes, selon le type de service à fournir et la configuration institutionnelle sur le terrain. Lorsque les ONG choisissent d\'établir un contact direct avec les populations bénéficiaires, l\'État réagit souvent négativement, car ce dernier préfère jouer le rôle d\'intermédiaire entre les acteurs non gouvernementaux et les populations bénéficiaires. L\'impact des ONG a varié, en ce qui concerne la qualité et la quantité des services fournis aux populations. Cette variation concerne les services fournis et l\'aspect territorial; elle s\'explique par la stabilité des sources de financement, et l\'engagement des fondateurs de ces organisations envers leur mission et leurs objectifs. L\'étude de cas kenyane révèle que ce secteur joue aujourd\'hui un rôle clé en matière de fourniture de services de base. Africa Development/Afrique et développement Vol.XXIX, No 4, 2004: 19-55
Business · Corporate governance · Development economics · Disadvantaged · Economic growth · Economics · Independence (probability theory · Kenya · Political science · Service (business · State (computer science · International Development and Aid · Public Administration · Religion, Society, and Development · Finance · Marketing
Getting Along or Going Alone
Why Do NGOs Go Where They Go? Evidence from Kenya
Why Do NGOs Go Where They Go? Evidence from Kenya
The Kenyas we don't want’
A Child's Right to Participation
Civil Society in ‘Politics’ and ‘Development’ in African Hybrid Regimes
Social Movements and Socio-Political Change in Africa
| Citations per year | 0.44 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2010 - 2020 (11) |
| Highly cited | No |