NGOs Have Failed to Reduce Poverty, Reveals Official

from All Africa

East African Standard (Nairobi)

NEWS

By Evelyne Ogutu And Dorothy Ruto
Nairobi

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have come under attack with revelations that though they mobilise Sh80 billion annually, they have failed to alleviate poverty.

The National NGO Co-ordinating Board, which gave the estimates on Friday, said the organisations have nothing to show for money they claim to spend each year.

The board co-ordinator, Mr Douglas Owino, said although NGOs claim to use the money to uplift lives of poor people, the Government could not quantify the projects carried out.


Owino, who is heading the board's national survey to update and validate data on the resources used by NGOs, said over 400 new organisations are registered annually. "We would like to see something happening to the funds channelled to NGOs," he said.

During a meeting at a hotel in Nyeri, which brought together stakeholders in the civil society, Owino accused the NGOs of spending more money on operations and administration leaving the projects with little resources.

He asked the civil society organisations to ensure that at least 80 per cent of the funds they source go to project implementation.

He said the board would soon start a survey to enable it collect data on all NGO's operating in the country.

Meanwhile, NGOs have rejected the proposed amendments to institutions' Act. The amendments, scheduled for debate in Parliament, would reduce the status of the NGO Council to that of a governmental department.

The body is also opposed to the proposed amendment to section 24(4) of the Act, which would subject NGOs to Government audit.

Speaking at a press conference, NGO council chairperson, Ms Orie Rogo Manduli said the move would undermine the independence of the sector.

She said NGO Council is a self-regulatory body accountable only to donors.