ABSTRACT: Policy makers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Zimbabwe are advocating for alternative agriculture as a better form of agriculture compared to conventional agriculture in order to increase agricultural productivity, as well as address challenges such as climate change, erratic rainfall patterns, and environmental degradation. The country is now a net importer of food with many people in need of food aid. Conventional agriculture as well as policies supporting it has not been able to address these challenges. Although there is a growing interest in alternative agriculture in the country, it is a field that is under researched. This study therefore sought through three main objectives to clarify characteristics of alternative agriculture in Zimbabwe, determine the role of NGOs promoting it and assess whether pro-conventional agriculture policies have impacted development of alternative agriculture in the country.Results from the first study indicate that there is lack of respect for alternative agriculture as compared to conventional agriculture. Disrespect for alternative agriculture has resulted in lack of proper pricing and policy support for alternatively produced products. In addition, alternative agriculture is viewed as the farming for the future for it results in many benefits and is able to address challenges faced by farmers in Zimbabwe due to its holistic approach. It is also viewed as an old form of agriculture practiced before the introduction of Green Revolution technologies. Since alternative agriculture is an ambiguous term and is under researched in Zimbabwe this study clarified what it means within the Zimbabwean context. Results from the second study show that NGOs are using certified organic agriculture, a form of alternative agriculture to facilitate community development. They are targeting poor vulnerable communities and facilitate training in organic farming, research, market linkages, create awareness, advocate for policy change and provide social support to these communities. However, it is clear from the study that there is need for government and other stakeholders to partner with NGOs so as to further develop certified organic agriculture in the Zimbabwe.The third study indicates that pro-conventional agriculture policies resulted in lack of respect for certified organic farming which leads to lack of organic policy. It is evident from the study that there is long term disregard for alternative agriculture with most policies supporting conventional agriculture development. Poor governance and land reform policy have further undermined the development of certified organic agriculture. These factors have prevented Zimbabwe from addressing real problems of declining food production, climate change, land degradation and loss of biodiversity through sustainable forms of agriculture such as certified organic agriculture.

Diss. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007.

In recent decades, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), both national and international, have employed various approaches to improve socio-economic conditions in Africa. Influenced by neo-liberalism, public-private partnerships (PPPs) are now widely used to deliver social programs and services integral to those efforts. This study examines a sample of such collaborations addressing HIV/AIDS and malaria in Togo's Maritime Region. The analysis focuses on relationship dynamics—governance structure, communication, trust levels, and decision making—to gauge partnership effectiveness in delivering health services, as perceived by selected government and NGO representatives. I interviewed leaders from government agencies and NGOs, national and international—all experienced in such collaborations. They described partnership dynamics, issues impeding partnership success and how those concerns might be addressed. This is the first investigation of public-private health-related partnerships in any Togolese region. The analysis contributes empirically to the broader literature concerning the employment by developing nations of cross-sector collaboration for health service delivery. In Togo, national and international NGOs must be granted legal identity, formal governmental acknowledgement under a national regulatory statute, in a process fraught with obstacles. The study concludes that the Togolese government should systematically develop a framework for guiding its partnerships with NGOs, including ways to build mutual trust among those participating in them. Such action would foster mutual engagement in policy decisions, while also honoring the government's rightful stance as final arbiter. Neither of these steps can occur without more open, effective communication among all involved. The study offers recommendations for helping all parties address reported concerns about communication and trust. In characterizing the dynamics of these partnerships, the study enriches our understanding of the challenges confronting the government, NGOs and civil society in Togo. / Ph. D.

I surveyed members of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC) to assess the motivations of active and nonactive memebrs in these nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). I investigated the effects of social networks, competing commitments, requests for participation and the belief of the efficacy of their actions on decisions to become and remain active members. I found that requests are important tools for recruiting new members but not the determining factor in the decision to participate. Rather, in both NGOs, active members indicated that the efficacy of their actions was most important in their decisions, while nonactive members cited the importance of competing commitments. I also investigated what leads to burn out and attrition of active members. Burn out and attrition in active members often resulted from a lack of personal satisfaction and growth from contributions. Active members who had experienced burn out donated more hours, had been members and active longer, and in the RMEF needed more recognition than those members who had not experienced burn out. Volunteers who discontinued participation also cited age, health, and personal reasons, Recruitment and retention of volunteers may be aided by increasing the awareness of volunteer programs, ensuring the programs provide results that individuals are proud of, requesting the participation of individuals on both local and higher organizational levels, and recognizing volunteers for their contributions. / Master of Science

No description available.

Interorganizational arrangements, such as partnerships between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governmental organizations (GOs), are increasingly regarded by policymakers as critical to effective social sector development. This is particularly true in the arena of housing provision for residents of slums and squatter settlements. The recent pursuit of collaboration between NGOs and government housing agencies in large urban agglomerations such as Mumbai, India marks a significant shift from the adversarial climate that previously characterized NGO-GO interactions. In other words, NGOs engaged in housing issues appear to be evolving from ''housing rights advocates'' to ''housing developers''. However, very little research has examined the struggles and pressures facing organizations as they travel from confrontational to collaborative relationships. This dissertation provides an empirical and theoretical basis for examining the evolution of NGO-GO relationships over time and, in doing so, links research on urban political economy of housing to research on organizational life cycles and strategic institutional change. Two questions are central to the dissertation: 1) How do shifts in state housing policies influence the strategies pursued by advocacy NGOs in housing the poor? 2) What are the factors that influence the emergence and sustenance of NGO-government housing partnerships? To address these, I use a multiple-case study analysis of critical incidents in the history (from 1981 to 2003) of three NGOs in Mumbai: Nivara Hakk Suraksha Samiti, Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action, and Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres. In addition, I examine five state and city level housing authorities. The dissertation's findings address three broad themes of literature: i) NGO-GO Interaction Styles; ii) Institutional Isomorphism; and, iii) NGO Development Continuum. Findings related to these broad streams of literature suggest that NGO behavior is shaped both by public policy orientation and by internal strategies and decisions. In efforts to gain and retain legitimacy, NGOs will likely use multiple interaction styles both simultaneously and sequentially. Analysis of internal institutional processes in NGOs suggests that organizational responses to isomorphic demands are circumscribed by path-dependent factors and the variability in NGO resource environments. NGO development strategies have evolved towards greater complexity and sophistication. / Ph. D.

The overarching focus of this research is to examine the role and effectiveness of formal network organizations in mitigating barriers to disaster relief. I address this larger focus by examining the impacts of one formal network organization, the Partnership for Quality Medical Donations (PQMD) on its twelve NGO members. Specifically, the study addressees the following questions: 1) How does PQMD function? 2) What effects has PQMD had on its NGO members' relationships with each other, especially in the context of disaster response efforts? The research design for this study uses a qualitative framework. The study includes a literature review, content analysis of PQMD's website, research from a previous study with the same organization, and new interviews with representatives from nine NGO members, as well as the executive director of PQMD. My findings indicate that PQMD has been able to successfully bring together 27 different organizations (private and nonprofit), and mitigate the barrier of lack of central authority and lack of trust, to discuss their concerns, learn from one another, learn about one other, and create relationships that lead to better communication and collaboration in humanitarian relief. Although PQMD is working on a much smaller scale, I argue that researchers can look at this formal network organization to better understand how to improve the coordination of humanitarian aid on a worldwide scale and can glean lessons from this group. / Master of Public and International Affairs

Doctor of Philosophy / Security Studies Interdepartmental Program / Emizet F. Kisangani / Attacks against nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in high-risk conflict zones have increased exponentially over the last two decades. However, the few existing empirical studies on NGO insecurity have tended to focus on external factors influencing attacks, with little attention paid to the actions of aid workers themselves. To fill this gap, this dissertation theorizes that aid workers may have contributed to their own insecurity by engaging in greater political action. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used to assess the impact of political activity by NGOs on the insecurity of aid workers. The quantitative analyses test the theory at two levels. The first is a large-N country-level analysis of 117 nations from 1999 to 2015 using panel corrected standard errors. The second is a subnational-level statistical analysis of four case studies: Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, and Colombia from 2000 to 2014. Both the country- and provincial- level analyses show that the magnitude of aid tends to be a significant determinant of aid worker security. The qualitative methods of “structured-focused comparison” and “process tracing” are used to analyze the four cases. Results show that aid workers are most likely to be victims of politically-motivated attacks while in-transit. Consistent with the quantitative findings, it is speculated that if workers are engaged in a large-scale project over an extended period of time, attackers will be able to monitor their daily activities and routines closely, making it easier to orchestrate a successful ambush. Furthermore, the analysis reveals that political statements made by NGOs—regardless of their sectors of activity—have increased insecurity for the broader aid community. These results dispel the myth that humanitarian activity has historically been independent, impartial, and neutral. Several NGOs have relied on this false assumption for security, believing that adherence to core principles has contributed to “humanitarian space.” The results also dispel the popular NGO assumption that targeted attacks are not official tactics of organized militants, but rather the result of criminality or mistaken identity. In fact, the overwhelming majority of aid workers attacked in high-risk conflict zones have been targeted by political actors.

Thesis advisor: David Hollenbach / Transnational Catholic nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are among the most active agents in the promotion of the global common good as they seek to overcome the structures of sin that divide the human family. This dissertation investigates the theological and ethical significance of Catholic NGOs by developing a critical framework that uncovers the relationship between these organizations and the church's mission. Part One considers the global context and theoretical foundations of Catholic NGO action by examining social scientific literature (Chapter One) and modern Catholic teaching on the relationship between mission and justice (Chapter Two). Part Two places the theoretical foundations into dialogue with two case studies--the International Movement of Catholic Students-Pax Romana (Chapter Three) and the Jesuit Refugee Service (Chapter Four). This critical investigation of both theory and praxis illuminates several missiological, pneumatological, and ethical conclusions that are addressed in the final part (Chapter Five). This dissertation asserts three conclusions regarding the theological signifigance of Catholic NGOs. First, in contrast to some interpretations of the role of the church in the world, the actions of Catholic NGOs for the global common good are an integral part of the church's mission. Second, these organizations can be described as structures of grace as they embody charity and charism in their efforts to overcome the divisive effects of structural sin. Finally, a more robust awareness of the theological dimensions of their work can aid these and other organizations respond more effectively and ethically to the demands of the global common good today. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Theology.

Entre 1992 e 2005, representantes de 11.921 organizações não governamentais (ONGs) participaram de conferências realizadas pela Organização das Nações Unidas (ONU) e pela Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC). Tendo em vista que, tradicionalmente, apenas os representantes dos Estados-membros dessas duas organizações seriam admitidos, a crescente presença de atores não-governamentais nesses eventos foi considerada uma das evidências empíricas do surgimento de uma sociedade civil global. Contudo, alguns críticos afirmam que a sociedade civil não seria global, mas concentrada geograficamente em alguns países. Nosso objetivo é analisar se, de fato, existe tal concentração e quais suas principais características. Com esse objetivo, analisamos a distribuição geográfica das sedes das ONGs credenciadas para esses eventos, discutindo dois dos principais argumentos contrários à idéia de sociedade civil global: o primeiro afirma que a sociedade civil não é global porque seus atores estão concentrados em países do Norte (gerando um desnível Norte-Sul, com predomínio numérico e político de ONGs do Norte sobre as do Sul); o segundo, defende que a concentração das ONGs espelha as atuais constelações de poder em âmbito internacional (pois as ONGs seriam, predominantemente, de países localizados no eixo Europa-América Anglo-Saxônica). Considerando que todos seríamos parte da sociedade civil global, procuramos constatar de onde são as pessoas e organizações que efetivamente têm participado das discussões e decisões a respeito de questões que dizem respeito a todos (os habitantes do planeta). / Between 1992 and 2005, 11921 representatives of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) participated in conferences held by the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). Given that, traditionally, only representatives of Member States of these two organizations would be admitted, the growing presence of \"nongovernmental\" actors in these events was considered one of the empirical evidence of an emerging \"global\" civil society. However, some critics argue that civil society is not global, but geographically concentrated in some countries. Our goal is to examine whether, in fact, exist that concentration and their main characteristics. With this objective, we analyzed the geographic distribution of headquarters of accredited NGOs to conferences, discussing the two main arguments against the idea of global civil society: the first asserts that civil society is not \"global\" because their actors are concentrated in North countries (creating a North-South divide, with numerical and political dominance of NGOs from the North on the South); the second claims that the concentration of NGOs reflects the current constellation of power in the international arena (as the NGOs would be predominantly of countries located in EuropeAmerica Anglo-Saxon). Whereas we would all be part of global civil society, we see where are the people and organizations that have effectively participated in the discussions and decisions about issues that concern all (the inhabitants of the planet).