Evolution of NGOs throughout history
Have you ever wondered about the evolution of NGOs since the First World War?
Original - focus on individual
Defining features: Relief or welfare
Problem definition: Shortage
Time frame: Immediate
Scope: Individual or family
Chief actors: NGO
NGO role: Doer
Management orientation: Logistics management
Development education: Starving children
Second - focus on community
Defining features: Community development
Problem definition: Local inertia
Time frame: Project life
Scope: Neighbourhood or village
Chief actors: NGO and community
NGO role: Mobiliser
Management orientation: Project management
Development education: Community self-help
Third - global focus
Defining features: Sustainable systems development
Problem definition: Institutional and policy constraints
Time frame: Ten to twenty years
Scope: Region or nation
Chief actors: All relevant public and private institutions
NGO role: Catalyst
Management orientation: Strategic management
Development education: Constraining policies and institutions
Fourth - focus on synergy
Defining features: People’s movement
Problem definition: Inadequate mobilising vision
Time frame: Indefinite future
Scope: National or global
Chief actors: Loosely defined networks of people and organisations
NGO role: Activist/ educator
Management orientation: Coalescing and energising self-managing networks
Development education: Spaceship earth