NGOs plead for govt bailout …as 120 institutions face deregistration

NGOs plead for govt bailout …as 120 institutions face deregistration

Lahja Nashuuta

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have called for the establishment of a State fund to assist institutions which have lost funding from international donors.

This comes after the Ministry of Health and Social Services revealed that 120 inactive NGOs will face deregistration, unless they submit their annual reports.

The proposal to have government bail out the NGOs has, however, generated mixed feelings, with concerns that accepting governmental support could compromise NGOs’ independence and their ability to hold the rulers accountable.

Sandi Tjaronda, chairperson of the NANGOF Trust, argued that African states should follow the example of European countries, and allocate budgets for NGOs.

NANGOF Trust is an umbrella organisation of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) constituted by Non-Governmental Organisations, Community-Based Organisations, and Faith-Based Organisations in Namibia.

Tjaronda said the institution has been redundant for almost 10 years after the European Union, which was the donor at that time, pulled out and they could not sustain their operations.

 “In the rest of the world, NGOs are supported by the State or public resources. For instance, in Europe and the United States, NGOs receive support from the government. An example is PEPFAR, which is an NGO funded by the US government to implement programmes on behalf of the State”, he stated.

Tjaronda attributed NGOs’ downfall to a lack of funds, lack of voluntarism and staff capacity, withdrawal of international donors, as well as Covid-19. 

Ben Schernick, the executive director of the Nutrition and Food Security Alliance of Namibia (NAFSAN), echoed those comments.

“I completely support the idea, and we do need some form of a funding mechanism. But I think it should not be solely on the government to provide that. Government can contribute, but the private sector or other development partners would also need to contribute”, he said. 

 Schernick advised the government to consider social contracting, in which NGOs provide essential services, including social services and educational support, particularly for children with disabilities or malnutrition.

“There are other affected groups and NGOs; NGOs which provide essential counselling services for issues related to gender-based violence (GBV). If the government requests these organisations to deliver certain services and allocates a budget for that, it could be very beneficial,” he reasoned.

 Also agreeing was Veronica Haimbili, Country Coordinator of Gender Links, who said proposals to support NGOs has become a necessity rather than just a viable option. This shift in approach is crucial, especially now that many international donors have withdrawn their support, based on Namibia’s classification as a middle-income country, she added.

Haimbili maintained that NGOs play a vital role in Namibian communities, often serving as the eyes and ears of the government, and implementing crucial projects which would otherwise fall under the government’s purview.

“If we are serious about our country’s development and committed to the principle of “leaving no one behind,” government funding for NGOs emerges as the most effective option available,” she emphasised.

While the Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched a policy to contract NGOs, particularly for activities related to HIV and AIDS, Haimbili said this progressive approach should serve as a model for other government ministries and departments to follow.

“I think that’s a good idea because NGOs can support the government’s agenda in their development plans, and can be a good partner to the government,” she continued. 

Kirsten Möeller Jensen, managing director of Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) Namibia, opined that NGOs could support the government in achieving development plans and goals.  

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