Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's)

Disadvantage of NGO's

A lot of aid campaigns portray images of Africans starving and helpless in order to generate sympathy and thus donations. It gives the idea that Africa is helpless and incapable of helping itself- which is NOT necessarily the truth)

Aim of NGO

Focus is on development in one region and specialise in one are

Advantage of NGO's

Aid is given freely and thus is not 'tied'

The World Bank

An international, financial institution which provides loans to countries of the world

What is an NGO

Any non-profit,non-political voluntary citizens group which is organised on a local, national or international level to give help in the form of aid

Advantage of NGO's

Can provide continuous supply of aid compared to governments which can be effected by elections

Advantage of NGO's

Generally smaller and thus more responsive to the needs of local communities than large scale development projects undertaken in the modernisation theory

Advantage of NGO's

More likely to help the 'poorest of the poor' unlike transnational corporations who will only invest in slightly more developed countries

Disadvantage of NGO's

NGO's cannot bring about industrialisation or serious economic growth, only help small local communities with social development

Advantage of NGO's

Provide a broader range of knowledge about life in developing countries

Disadvantage of NGO's

Provide only a tiny amount of aid compared to government and the world bank

Disadvantage of NGO's

Spend 25% of their money on 'glossy' advertising campaigns rather than helping people in the developing world

Example of an NGO

The 'Emergency Aid Function' - When a natural or social disaster occurs (earthquakes, hurricanes etc) - The front line of delivering emergency aid