Hoạt động của các tổ chức phi chính phủ hoa kỳ tại đà nẵng những năm đầu thế kỷ XXI

ðẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI
TRƯỜNG ðẠI HỌC KHOA HỌC XÃ HỘI VÀ NHÂN VĂN
----------------------------

LÊ THỊ PHƯƠNG LOAN

HOẠT ðỘNG CỦA CÁC TỔ CHỨC PHI
CHÍNH PHỦ HOA KỲ TẠI ðÀ NẴNG NHỮNG
NĂM ðẦU THẾ KỶ XXI

LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ

HÀ NỘI, 2013


ðẠI HỌC QUỐC GIA HÀ NỘI
TRƯỜNG ðẠI HỌC KHOA HỌC XÃ HỘI VÀ NHÂN VĂN
----------------------------

LÊ THỊ PHƯƠNG LOAN

HOẠT ðỘNG CỦA CÁC TỔ CHỨC PHI
CHÍNH PHỦ HOA KỲ TẠI ðÀ NẴNG NHỮNG
NĂM ðẦU THẾ KỶ XXI
Ngành: Quốc tế học
Chuyên ngành: Quan hệ quốc tế
Mã số: 60 310 206

LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ

Người hướng dẫn khoa học: PGS.TS. HOÀNG KHẮC NAM

HÀ NỘI, 2013

i


VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
----------------------------

LÊ THỊ PHƯƠNG LOAN

OPERATION OF AMERICAN NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
FIRST DECADE OF THE TWENTY-FIRST
CENTURY IN DANANG
Discipline: International Relations
Code: 60 310 206
MASTER’S THESIS

Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. HOÀNG KHẮC NAM, (Ph.D)

HÀ NỘI, 2013
ii


COPYRIGHT PAGE
I guarantee that this thesis is my study. The quotations are cited from the
materials in the Bibliography with my fullest understanding. I bear whole
responsibility for the accuracy of information in this thesis.

Hanoi, 30 December 2013

LE THI PHUONG LOAN

iii


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my sincere thank to the people who have
supported me enormously in completing this thesis. First and foremost, I would
like to thank Assoc. Prof. HOANG KHAC NAM for his useful instructions and
orientation which help to keep me on the right track of the scope of this study;
and for his faith in the feasibility of this thesis which inspired me to conduct this
dissertation.
Secondly, I would like to thank Mr. Tra for his help with the data
collection. He has been impressively patient and supportive since the very
beginning moments I talked to him about my interests in non-governmental
organizations in Danang. Without his help with the data collection, I would not
be able to finalize this thesis.
Besides, I would like to thank Van Duc, Tra My and Thuy Uyen for their
help documenting the raw data for the analysis.
Additionally, I would like to thank my dear friend, Ms. Le Ly Hayslip, for
her enormous support in questions related to the field of study.
Last but not least, I wish to thank my beloved parents and my dear
husband for always being there when I need their supports and understandings.

iv


ABSTRACT

The concern for the operation of International Non-governmental
Organizations (NGOs) in Danang has been raised thanks to their enormous
contributions to the prosperity of the city in the last decade. This study
investigates the operation of American NGOs in the first decade of the twentyfirst century. Using the meta-analysis and international relations methodologies,
the study has analyzed necessary data for an evaluation of American NGOs’
activities in the fields of poverty alleviation and hunger eradication; childcare;
healthcare; education and some humanitarian activities. Accordingly, some
recommendations will be suggested to make the operation of American NGOs
more appropriate for the local residents and governments.

v


TABLE OF CONTENTS
TITLE PAGE.....................................................................................................................i
COPYRIGHT PAGE ...................................................................................................... iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................iv
ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... v
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. 1
LIST OF ACRONYMS .................................................................................................... 3
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES ................................................................................. 5
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 6
Rationale ....................................................................................................................... 6
Subjective of Study ....................................................................................................... 7
Aims and Objectives of Study ....................................................................................... 8
Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 8
Scope of Study .............................................................................................................. 9
Research Methods ......................................................................................................... 9
Organization of Study.................................................................................................... 9
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL BACKGROUND .......................... 11

1.1. Overview of Non-governmental Organizations ..................................................... 11
1.1.1. Definition of Non-governmental Organizations .............................................. 11
1.1.2. Development and Evolution Stages of NGOs ................................................. 15
1.1.3. Functions and Classification of NGOs ............................................................ 21
1.2. Overview of operation of American NGOs in Vietnam ......................................... 25
1.2.1. Overview of American NGOs ........................................................................ 25
1.2.1. Views of Vietnam toward International and American NGOs operating in
Vietnam ................................................................................................................... 30
1.2.3. Processes of Development and Fields of Operation of American NGOs in
Vietnam ................................................................................................................... 33
CHAPTER 2: CURRENT SITUATION OF AMERICAN NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS IN DANANG CITY ....................................................................... 37
2.1. Views of Danang Government toward Processes of Development of American
NGOs in the city.......................................................................................................... 38

1


2.2. American NGOs operating in the sector of Hunger eradication and Poverty
alleviation .................................................................................................................... 41
2.2.1. Current Situation ............................................................................................ 41
2.2.2. The Cooperation of Local Authorities and Achievements ............................... 45
2.3. American NGOs operations in the Education sector.............................................. 46
2.3.1. Current situation ............................................................................................. 46
2.3.2. The Cooperation of Local Authorities and Achievements ............................... 51
2.4. American NGOs operations in the Healthcare sector............................................. 52
2.4.1. Current situation ............................................................................................. 52
2.4.2. The Cooperation of Local Authorities and Achievements ............................... 60
2.5. American NGOs operations in the Childcare sector .............................................. 61
2.5.1. Current situation ............................................................................................. 61

2.5.2. The Cooperation of Local Authorities and Achievements ............................... 66
2.6. American NGOs operations in other Humanitarian activities ................................ 67
2.6.1. Current situation ............................................................................................. 67
2.6.2. The cooperation of local authorities and Achievements .................................. 72
CHAPTER 3: AN ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS AND POTENTIALS OF AMERICAN
NGOs’ OPERATION IN DANANG............................................................................... 75
3.1. Impacts of American NGOs’ Activities in Danang................................................ 76
3.1.1. Positive Impacts ............................................................................................. 76
3.1.2. Negative impacts ............................................................................................ 79
3.2. Development Potentials of American NGOs’ Activities in Danang ....................... 82
3.2.1. Advantages ..................................................................................................... 82
3.2.2. Challenges ...................................................................................................... 82
3.3. Recommendations to the operation of American NGOs in Danang ....................... 84
3.3.1 Recommendations to American NGOs ............................................................ 84
3.3.2 Recommendations to City Authorities and Local Governments ....................... 85
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................. 87
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 92
APPENDIX .................................................................................................................. 102

2


LIST OF ACRONYMS
ACCCRN

AF
AP
COV
DARD
DOFA

DOH
DOLISA
DUFO
ECOSOC
EDF
EMW
FF
FHI
GIBK
GCSF
GVF
HOLT
INGO
ISET

Asian Cities Climate Change Resilience Network
Mạng lưới các thành phố ở Châu Á có khả năng chống chịu với
Biến ñổi Khí hậu
Asia Foundation
Quỹ Châu Á
Atlantic Philanthropies
Tổ chức Nhân ñạo ðại Tây Dương
Children of Vietnam
Tổ chức Trẻ em Việt Nam
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Sở Nông nghiệp và Phát triển nông thôn
Department of Foreign Affairs
Sở Ngoại vụ
Department of Health
Sở Y tế

Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs
Sở Lao ñộng, Thương binh và Xã hội
Danang Union of Friendship Organizations
Liên hiệp các Tổ chức Hữu nghị thành phố ðà Nẵng
UN Economic and Social Council
Hội ñồng Kinh tế và Xã hội Liên Hiệp Quốc
Environmental Defense Fund
Quỹ Bảo vệ môi trường Hoa Kỳ
East Meets West Foundation
Tổ chức ðông Tây Hội Ngộ
Ford Foundation
Quỹ Ford
Family Health International
Sức khoẻ Gia ñình Quốc tế
Giving It Back to Kids
Tổ chức Trả lại tuổi thơ
Global Community Service Foundation
Quỹ Phục vụ cộng ñồng toàn cầu
Global Village Foundation
Tổ chức Làng Toàn cầu
Holt International Children’s Services
Tổ chức Phục vụ trẻ em quốc tế
International NGO
Tổ chức Phi chính phủ Quốc tế
Institute for Social and Environmental Transition
3


Viện nghiên cứu Môi trường và Xã hội
LOVE

Love of Vietnam Expressed
Tổ chức Thể hiện Tình yêu Việt Nam
NIH
National Institutes of Health
Viện Y tế Quốc gia Hoa Kỳ
NGO
Non-governmental organization
Tổ chức Phi chính phủ
ORBIS
ORBIS International
Tổ chức phòng chống mù loà Quốc tế
PACCOM People's Aid Coordinating Committee
Ban ñiều phối viện trợ nhân dân
PC
People’s Committee
Ủy ban Nhân dân
SCPC
Danang Street Children Protection Center
Trung tâm Bảo trợ trẻ em ñường phố ðN
SEAR
South East Asian Relief
Hội Cứu tế ðông Nam Á
SPA
Study Promotion Association
Hội Khuyến học
TASC
The Alliance for Safe Children
Liên minh vì an toàn của trẻ em
UN
The United Nations

Liên Hiệp Quốc
USPACOM The U.S.Pacific Command
Bộ Tư lệnh Thái Bình Dương Hoa Kỳ
VWAM
Vets with a Mission
Sứ mệnh Cựu chiến binh
VCF
Vietnam Children’s Fund
Quỹ Trẻ em Việt Nam
VNAH
Vietnam Assistance for Handicapped
Hội Trợ giúp người Tàn tật Việt Nam
VORF
Vietnam Orphans Relief Fund
Quỹ hỗ trợ trẻ em mồ côi Việt Nam
VUFO
Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations
Liên Hiệp các tổ chức hữu nghị Việt Nam
VUFO-NGO Resource Centre
Trung tâm Dữ liệu các Tổ chức Phi Chính phủ
VVAF
Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation
Hội Cựu chiến binh Mỹ tại Việt Nam
WCDO
World Concern Development Organization
Tổ chức Phát triển Mối quan tâm Thế giới

4

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
FIGURES
Figure 1.1: Diversity of NGO acronyms………………………………….…..15
Figure 1.2: Changes in Terminology covering NGOs………………….…….17
Figure 1.3: Growth of international NGOs 1909-2012……………………….18
Figure 1.4: The rising prominence of NGOs………………………………….19
Figure 1.5: Four generations of NGO development strategy…………………20

TABLES
Table 2.1:

American NGO’s major projects in hunger eradication and
poverty alleviation in Danang……………………………………42

Table 2.2:

American NGO’s major projects in education in Danang………..46

Table 2.3:

American NGO’s major projects in healthcare in Danang……….53

Table 2.4:

American NGO’s major projects in childcare in Danang………...61

Table 2.5:

American NGO’s major projects in other humanitarian fields in
Danang……………………………………………………………67

5


INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Globalization in the twenty-first century has paved the way for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to thrive and achieve significant
recognition worldwide. International NGOs have been accredited for their
endless efforts since the early 1990s when NGOs’ operation mostly focused on
providing technical support and disaster relief to developing countries. It is,
thus, believed that international NGOs have made positive contributions to
sustainable development of developing countries, especially to the process of
improving and promoting the people’s standard of living. In the last decades,
there has been a sharp increase in the quantity and operation scale of NGOs in
international relations, i.e. from 1,250 in 1980 to 45,000 in 2000. In addition,
NGOs have become governments’ crucial partners in facilitating community
development all over the world. As a consequence, the study of NGOs’
operation has attracted deeper attention in more diverse fields.
International NGOs first came to Vietnam long ago. Initially, they worked
mainly in the South of Vietnam. Since 1975, yet, international NGOs have
considerably assisted Vietnam in reconstructing the nation, gradually promoting
economic growth, and improving people’s living standard. The number of
international NGOs, hence, steadily increased in accordance with the country’s
development, from 200 to 600 in 1990 and 2006 respectively. Impressively, at
the end of the first decade of this century, this figure was already 800. The fields
of operation also varied ranging from economic development, hunger alleviation
and poverty reduction, environmental protection, emergency relief, social issues
settlement to capacity building for Vietnamese partners. Likewise, the total

6

finance assistance in 2009 was nearly 270 million USD, which was nearly
seventeen times that of the early 1990s.
Danang, the fourth largest city in Vietnam, is the biggest cultural,
economic, educational, scientific and technological center of the Central
Highlands. Since 1997, the city has gained remarkable growth in almost fields
from education, science, economics, to tourism. This resulted from appropriate
development policies, good management of the city government, and support of
its citizens, as well as foreign and domestic cooperates, enterprises and NGOs.
International NGOs in Danang have supported the city greatly in diverse forms
of aid programs: from human resource training, to technological supply or
humanitarian relief for the poor, disaster and war calamities. From 1997 to 2007,
the total amount of financial assistance to Danang reached 1,025 billion VND.
International NGOs have shifted their interest to bigger scope, and more
sustainable projects, which are skewed to be in line with the development pace
and demand of such a “young” city. Nonetheless, there have been a number of
downsides in NGOs’ projects and lack of immediate responses of the city or
local government in which the projects are implemented. Currently, American
NGOs account for 50% out of 110 foreign NGOs having partnerships with
Danang city. On that account, to have a better understanding of the current
status, fields of operation and impacts of American NGOs, particularly in
Danang city, I have chosen “Operation of American NGOs in the first decade of
the twenty first century in Danang” as a Master’s thesis in the field of
International Relations.
Subjective of Study
From the above mentioned reasons, this study is intended to focus on
activities of only international American NGOs within the city of Danang from

7

2001 to 2011 in five fields, i.e. hunger eradication and poverty alleviation;
education; healthcare; childcare; and other humanitarian activities.
Aims and Objectives of Study
This study is aimed at conceptualizing international non-governmental
organizations in terms of definition, classification, functions, and roles in
international relations.
In addition, this study is to discuss operation of international American
NGOs in Danang and their impacts of projects implemented in the early years of
the twenty-first century.
Also, this study is about to analyze challenges and advantages in the
potentials of American NGOs in Danang.
Accordingly, some suggestions and recommendations will be proposed to
improve the effectiveness of American NGOs’ activities in Danang in the near
future.
Research Questions
Based on the above aims and objectives, this study will be the answers to
the following research questions:
- What is the current status of operation of American NGOs in Danang?
- What are their major fields of operation?
- What are positive and negative impacts of American NGOs’ operation
within the city?
- What are challenges and advantages to promote American NGOs’
activities in the city?

8


Scope of Study

The scope of the study is American NGOs’ operation in Danang city in
the first decade of the twenty first century, particularly for a period of ten years
from 2001 to 2011 in the fields namely: hunger eradication and poverty
alleviation; education; healthcare; childcare; and other humanitarian activities,
i.e. supporting the disabled, tackling issues of dioxin contamination, or early
warning and prevention of natural disasters, etc.
The above fields are selected to study for they are matters of concern of
American NGOs in Danang. These issues have also been included in the fiveyear socio-economic development plans of Danang city since 1997. Thus, the
study of the five above fields is expected to make a comprehensive evaluation of
operation of American NGOs in the city for the first ten years of the twenty-first
century.
Research Methods
Based on the above study aims and research questions, in this study, both
qualitative and quantitative approaches are employed along with the following
methodologies of international relations: meta-analysis: collecting information
from the public previous research; elite interview of American NGOs’
coordinators, founders, directors in Danang; statistical analysis; observation;
level of analysis; foreign policy analysis; analyzing roles and functions of
international NGOs from neo-liberalism perspective.
Organization of Study
This study will be structured in three major chapters:
Chapter 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

9


This chapter presents the previous researches with different points of view
about non-governmental organizations since the term came into being.
Also, theoretical background related to the study will be presented clearly
in this chapter.

Chapter 2: CURRENT STATUS OF AMERICAN NGOs’ IN DANANG CITY
This is the main part of the whole study in which the current status of
American NGOs’ operation in Danang from 2001 to 2011 will be
analyzed from collected data.
Chapter 3: AN ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS AND POTENTIALS OF
AMERICAN NGOS’ OPERATION IN DANANG
In this chapter, some impacts, both positive and negative ones, on certain
fields of operation of American NGOs’ will be discussed. Additionally,
challenges and potentials of those NGOs to operate in Danang are to be
looked at carefully. Finally, I will deliver some recommendations to the
operation of American NGOs in Danang city.

10


CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL BACKGROUND
1.1. Overview of Non-governmental Organizations
1.1.1. Definition of Non-governmental Organizations
Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) have a long history of existence
and development. In fact, in 1910, about 130 international groups participated in
a uniting meeting to form the Union of International Associations. In 1945, the
term NGO first came into use in Article 71, Chapter 10 in UN Charter to
establish consultative role of UN agencies towards organizations that were not
affiliated with any government. Then the term international NGOs (or INGOs)
was first defined on February 27, 1950 in Resolution 288 (X) by the Economic
and Social Council (ECOSOC) as “any international organization that is not
founded by an international treaty” [72].
However, the term NGO has often been associated with organizations
whose goals, structure and motivations are hugely varied. As a result, it is not an
easy task to come up with a common definition of the term “NGO”. For

example, The World Bank defines NGOs as “private organizations that pursue
activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the
environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community
development.” Later, in their Key Document, Working With NGOs, the World
Bank adds, “In wider usage, the term NGO can be applied to any non-profit
organization which is independent from government. NGOs are typically valuebased organizations, which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations
and voluntary service”[72].
Martens suggests another definition of NGOs: “NGOs are formal
(professionalized) independent societal organizations whose primary aim is to
promote common goals at the national or the international level”[42, pg.282].
11


There are a wide range of definitions of NGOs, such as: major group;
pressure group; interest group; private voluntary organization; independent
voluntary sector; third sector organization; grassroots organization; activist
organization; nonprofit body; and professional, voluntary, and citizens
organization[42,pg.278]. Those terms embrace a variety of different groups, from
national to local community groups, from grass-root activist to advocacy groups,
etc. Accordingly, they are diverse and heterogeneous regarding sizes and scope
of activities. While some NGOs only consist of limited number of members;
others may have millions of members and professional staffs (e.g. Rotary
International with 1.2 million members worldwide)[35]. Take the case of large
international NGOs, such as Amnesty International, the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Oxfam International, CARE, Save the
Children, and the World Wildlife Fund, which are transnational federations of
national groups. Meanwhile, other international NGOs, i.e. Greenpeace, are
mass-membership organizations[65].
Despite such differences, NGOs share common characteristics, which are:
(1) non-governmental; (2) voluntary; and (3) non-profit. The European

Commission, in a Commission Discussion paper, suggests that (1) NGOs must
be independent of government and other public authorities or political parties.
(2) In this sense, there must be a voluntary element: from establishment to
participation. (3) This means NGOs are not created to pursue any commercial
interests of their certain members. Although they may have to pay employees or
involve in revenue-generating activities, they do not distribute financial gains to
members or management. Consequently, different terms like Non-Profit
Organization (NPO), Public Voluntary Organization (PVO) or Civil Society
Organization (CSO), etc. may be used interchangeably, the term NGO can be
used as an umbrella term for those organizations since they still share common
defining characteristics.
12


NGOs have become an academic research topic in recent decades.
According to Martens[42,

pg.272]

normally there are two major tracks of

interpretation to define NGOs regarding differentiations in international
relations: (1) judicial approach – studying legal status of NGOs in national
context and their implications to international law; (2) sociological perspective –
studying composition and functions of NGOs in transnational activities based on
examining societal actors.
In international relations research, NGOs is perceived as an important
actor in international matters, i.e. Keck and Sikkink study conditions in which
nongovernmental actors influence world politics[33]. Similarly, Nam (2008)
emphasizes the deeper participation of international NGOs in international

relations and other aspects of social lives, e.g. economics, science, technology,
culture and social affairs, etc. According to him, international NGOs have
increased their quantity at an average of 176 international NGOs per year since
the Cold War ended[3]. This, on the one hand, indicates the increasing crucial
roles of international NGOs toward nations and people. On the other hand, it
shows the growing engagement of different social classes in international
NGOs. International NGOs have become an important part of international
relations indeed. As a consequence, impacts of international NGOs have
gradually increasing.
Nam (2008) also studies the international NGOs’ role of a non-state actor
in international relations, which is in line with the Neo-liberalism perspective. In
particular, foreign NGOs tend to expand their quantity and level of participation
in all fields and all over the world. This is resulted from trends of globalization
and integration; needs to stabilize relations and limit nongovernmental status in
international relations; emergence of global issues; information revolution; and
democratic conditions[3]. Moreover, operation principles of international NGOs
are voluntary and engaging, which received financial donations and advocacy of
13


a wide range of social classes in the world. Also, they have competent human
resources, which facilitates their development and empowers them as non-state
actor in international affairs. With such a power, international NGOs, as a nonstate actor, help enhance trends of cooperation, integration, and interdependent
in international relations. Consequently, they join the formation of international
system via globalization. In this sense, they are struggling to form international
standard and regulations, which increase their voice in global issues, except for
politics. In many cases, certain nations had to adjust their moves because of
NGOs’ intervention. That is why Neo-liberalism addresses international NGOs
as “international pressure group”[3].
Thus, international NGOs’ activities have attracted a huge number of

sponsors, advocates, and beneficiaries, who are inspired by their good cause;
consequently, NGOs have increased their influence in international matters. In
other words, as an individual (an NGO) takes action, a group of people with
similar ideas will come together to do something about the problem. Whereas, in
sociological perspective, NGOs is studied with regards to their impacts on
transnational social movements[42].
Despite the fact that NGOs vary considerably in sizes, organization and
approach, they share a common belief that individuals working together can do
something to make lives here and there better through campaigns that triggers
such problems as environmental and humanitarian matters. With untiring efforts
through grassroots organizing, innovative use of information and sophisticated
political strategies, NGOs have made impressive contributions to the fights
against slavery, apartheid; illegal trade of endangered animals; abuse of victims
of internal and international armed conflicts, violence against women and
recently, the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Typical examples of such NGOs
are the British Anti-Slavery Society (1838); International Committee of the Red
Cross, established in 1864[65].
14


In brief, an organization can be defined as an NGO if it is legally
constituted and created by private organizations or those who do not represent
for any government. NGOs have a primary aim which is to promote activities
for a common goal (i.e. public goods) at national or international levels. In other
words, an organization is viewed as an NGO as long as it excludes government
representatives from membership or maintains a non-government position. Yet,
NGO can receive funds or aids, partially or fully, by a government or
governments but it will still be considered non-governmental if there is no need
for a government council.
Accordingly, in this study, I will approach NGOs bearing in mind

Martens’ definition of international NGOs from an international relations
perspective when trying to evaluate their impacts and limits in terms of social
developments.
1.1.2. Development and Evolution Stages of NGOs
Long before the term NGOs was widely employed, scholars had used
varied expressions to address organizations that are not affiliated with any
government; i.e. the League of Nations employed the term “voluntary agencies”
or “volas”; while others once used “private organizations” or International
Pressure Group[54], [59].
In addition, to make this terminology even more confusing, different
scholars with time have employed various concept systems to group NGOs
according to their similarities and differences, summarized in the following
table[17], [24], [36].
Figure 1.1. Diversity of NGO acronyms
NPO

Non-Profit Organization

PVO

Public Voluntary Organization

15


MO

Membership Organization

GRO

Grassroots Organization

PO

People’s Organization

CSO

Civil Service Organization

TSO

Third Sector Organization

NGDO

Non-Governmental Development Organization

CO

Charitable Organization

CBO

Community-Based Organization

PO

Private Organization

CSO

Civil Society Organization

PSC

Public Service Contractor

NGI

Non-Governmental Institution

QUANGO

Quasi-Non Governmental Organization

Source: Korten, (1990). Getting to the 21st Century: Voluntary Action
and the Global Agenda, Kumarian Press.
Yet, since 1980s, the term NGO has been widely used for societal actors
that engaged in voluntary works nationally or internationally[42]. After 1945
when the United Nations was established, NGOs became widely popular.
However, before that time, there were already other organizations, such as the
International Committee of the Red Cross (1864); the British Anti-Slavery
Society (1838); or Rotary International (a worldwide charitable society for
businessmen, businesswomen and professional people that began its operation in
1905). In 1905, there were approximately 1,083 NGOs in existence. Those
NGOs played an important role in movements against slavery or for women’s
suffrage or relating to scientist rescue or refugee issues.
Willetts summarizes the linguistic usage development of terminologies

defining NGOs in the following figure[55]:

16


Figure 1.2: Changes in Terminology Covering NGOs
Level of
Organization

1945 - Early 1990s

Early 1990s - Onwards

National NGO (only used
Local

at the UN)

Provincial

National NGO (only used

Grass-roots, community based or
civil society organization, or local
NGO

(U.S. - state) at the UN)

Civil society organization
or local NGO

National NGO (only used

NGO or national NGO or civil

at the UN)

society organization

Regional

International NGO

NGO or civil society organization

Global

International NGO

National

NGO or Major Group or civil
society organization

(Source: Willetts, P. (2002), What is a Non-Governmental Organization?, City
University, UK)
With such a long existence, however, NGOs, especially international
NGOs have just developed remarkably in the past decades. Particularly, since
1970s, there has been a boom in creation of NGOs, at both national and
international levels. In a 1995 UN Report regarding Global Governance, they

estimated that there were about 29,000 international NGOs. Currently, it is
estimated that this figure reaches about 65,400. This number is even much more
for national NGOs, e.g. approximately 3.3 million NGOs in India (2009); 2
million American NGOs; 277,000 Russian NGOs. Among them, at present, the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world's largest
humanitarian NGO. Such a fast development has resulted from increasing needs
of greater contributions of NGOs in all aspects of life[65].

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After the Cold War ended, there have been a number of factors leading to
the development of international NGOs, including (1) globalization and
emergence of global problems, i.e. human rights, environmental threats,
infectious diseases, nuclear weapons, transnational crimes, etc.; (2) advanced
technological development in information and communications; (3) growth in
UN-sponsored Forums or Conferences; (4) spread of democracy[65]; (5) growing
needs for economic and social exchange; (6) rising needs for expanding and
deepening functional cooperation[3], [65].
Figure 1.3. Growth of international NGOs 1909-2012
Types

1909

1951

1991

2012

IGO

37

123

4.565

7.679

INGO

176

832

23.635

57.721

Total

213

955

28.200

65.400

Source: UIA, Yearbook of International Organizations 2012
Hulme and Edwards have commented on NGOs trend to develop
internationally:
“Their numbers have grown exponentially; the size of some makes them
significant players in social welfare and employment markets at the national
level; the funding they attract has increased enormously; and their visibility
in policy-making fora, the media and with the general public, has never been
higher” [30]
Source: NGOs, States and Donors: Too Close for Comfort?[30, pg.3]
In terms of development, Banks and Hulme summarize the emergence
and expansion of NGOs in development in the following box.

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Figure 1.4: The rising prominence of NGOs
Until

A limited number of small NGOs receiving little external support

late

constitute the NGO sector. Most are northern-based with a

1970s

southern presence, often based on religious assistance and/or in
short-term relief.

Late

‘The NGO decade’ takes place amidst the Western pursuit of

1970s -

neoliberal agendas, with NGOs emerging as a promising

1980s

development alternative.

Late

Alongside emergence of the good governance agenda, the first

1990s

concerns surrounding NGOs take off alongside a focus back on
the role of the state.

2000s

A new international aid regime promises greater consultation and
focus on non-growth factors. NGOs with their people-centered,
rights-based, and grassroots-driven approaches are well-suited to
continue riding the NGO wave.

2010s

With persistent concerns of NGOs remaining unaddressed and

recognition

of

their

limited

success

in

advocacy

and

empowerment, there is increasing recognition that NGOs are only
one sector within broader civil society and they must reorient
themselves with their grassroots-roots.

Source: The role of NGOs and Civil Society in development and poverty
reduction[18, pg.6]
Regarding evolution of NGO, in his theory of Four Generations of
Voluntary Development Action, Korten (1990) defines four stages which are: (1)
Relief Service NGO; (2) Local Development NGO; (3) Sustainable
Development NGO; and (4) People’s Movements[36].
19