No description available.

The purpose of this study is to compare how two non-governmental organizations (NGO‟ s) with different backgrounds and value systems can function when it comes to mobilization of work with orphaned HIV positive children The ambition with the study has been to find out whether the value bases reflect how the organizations view HIV/AIDS and work with children, and how they thereby mobilize the daily practical work with and around the children. This study is of descriptive characteristic with a qualitative approach in which six interviews has been carried out at two different organizations, and in which the format of the interview questions have been semi structured. The overall result of the study shows that the differences in backgrounds and value systems do not considerably affect the respective organizations‟ mobilization and work with HIV positive children. Also, the results show that there are certain common themes and strategies for the organizations‟ mobilization work. The difference that has been discerned is that the organization that is secular on paper criticizes the South African government more strongly than the organization with a pronounced Catholic value basis. With the help of the theory of social mobilization, we have shown how the organizations mobilize their work with HIV positive children. We show how the two organizations cooperate with various parties and engage in different networks with the aim of strengthening the children and their next of kin. An important aspect from the results is how two non-governmental organizations can contribute with valuable knowledge, and engage people in the work with e.g. preventing the spread on the devastating HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa.

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.

To organize and implement social development projects through interorganizational collaboration is common, but lack empirical studies from a psychological perspective. The study´s aim was to make a collaboration analysis on the implementing actors within a social development project, to understand how the collaboration was functioning. The study took place within a project for marginalized groups in Tanzania, arranged by a Swedish NGO and implemented by interorganizational collaboration. Eight participants were interviewed on six areas: Environment, Membership characteristics, Process and Structure, Communication, Purpose, and Resources. The findings highlight the complexity of interorganizational collaboration. The studied collaborative network is overall working in the same direction, but has both functional and dysfunctional areas where the dysfunctional need to be improved for the collaboration to work well. The study indicates that interorganizational collaboration brings benefits for social development projects, and the six areas studied seem to cover essential areas of interorganizational collaboration.

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

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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

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.