Engaging NGO

Our Prime Minister urged better engagement and collaboration between NGO and government agencies recently. While many have doubt about the implementation and plan of actions, this is truly a call for sustainable development and good governance. Chapter 27 Agenda 21 calls greater participation and partnership of NGO with government in sustainable development simply because of the independent stand, resourcefulness, capacity and expertise of the NGO. What happen if an NGO opposing the policy stand or a government sponsored programme, will the government listen to them? Will the so called greater collaboration be exercised?

When coming to identify the NGO to be engaged, what kind of criteria is used? Are we not inviting the human right group in discussing equity on economic development for indigenous people or we only talk to trade associations? Who are the stakeholders then? Identifying appropriate groups to engage might be another challenge. The current practice of government servants inviting who they know and comfortable with is obviously not sufficient. Scope of searching reputable groups, not because of it makes the most noice or pro establishment or have higher number of inactive members or even headed by an eminent personnel becomes the only criteria but rather the principles and causes the groups are advocating for.

Engaging NGO for constructive ideas is a long term process. Mechanism and process have to be transparent and sustain. Mutual respect on equal partnership is critical. The thinking of government providing the funding and as such you NGO has to listen to my call is definitely not what we envision as smart partnership. However, it is easy said than done as long as the bossy mind set of government servants remain.