NGO strategic networks: from community projects to global transformation

Korten notes that the small size and limited financial resources of most NGOs make them unlikely challengers of economic and political systems sustained by prevailing interests of big government and big business. Voluntary associations are, however, coalescing smaller NGOs through evolving networks that lack identifiable structures, but create new institutional realities with value driven action and through broadly shared social visions. They can influence bureaucracies, and using electronic communication, rapidly mobilise significant political forces on a global scale. The process often depends on one or more individuals or organisations assuming strategic and catalytic roles. This can be done by even small organisations with very limited resources, if they are able forge alliances, network and communicate.

The author cites examples such as the Thailand NGO campaign against the Nam Choan Dam, which organised existing traditional groups representing people likely to be affected by the dam, students who demonstrated against the dam from an ideological perspective, environmental professionals and journalists. The networking NGO maintained a low profile, did not take functions that could be done by member groups, did not set up its own publicity but worked through the media of its members and maintained a low resource base, tapping and supporting the resources of the network members. It also used protest actions to build a proactive agenda.

Korten notes that NGO alliances that influence policy are also driven by analyses of poverty that go beyond welfarist models to an understanding of how development is defined. The further upstream the analysis of cause, the more complex the issues and the more powerful the vested interests. This creates a temptation to widen networks and to tap new skills. The author raises questions of the balance between 'activist' and 'service provision' roles, in mobilizing funding, in maintaining acceptability to government, and taking up citizen action.

(From WHO/TARSC)