The rise and fall of donor funding for advocacy NGOs: understanding the impact

Abstract

NGOs in Asian countries often experience fluctuations in funding because of the constantly shifting priorities of their international donors. Without domestic sources, Asian NGOs are forced to re-align their priorities with donor interests in order to compete for funding. In the case of advocacy NGOs, the resulting asymmetry in donor–grantee relations often leads to a crisis of legitimacy and deteriorating effectiveness for the NGO. Because of the political nature of advocacy work, these NGOs must maintain a reputation for independence and legitimacy if they are to be influential in the political process. This article analyses the impact of fluctuating international donor assistance to advocacy NGOs in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Thailand, and offers recommendations for donors. While donors have spent significant resources on building the capacity of advocacy NGOs in South-East Asia, funding trends usually undermine the effectiveness of their grantees long before funding is ended.

Keywords:

• Civil Society
• Aid
• East Asia

The author

Thomas Parks worked with the Asia Foundation in Cambodia and Thailand, providing technical assistance and managing grants to advocacy NGOs from 2001 to 2004. After completing his degree at Johns Hopkins University in 2006, he returned to the Foundation as the Assistant Director for Governance, Law and Civil Society Programs. Contact details: 1137 Montgomery Street #4, San Francisco, CA 94133, USA. [email protected]

Notes

1. In this article, ‘NGO’ generally refers to organisations operating at the national or sub-national level. Transnational NGOs are outside the scope of this analysis. Advocacy NGOs are those whose core mission is to promote a political cause, pressure government for reform, represent marginalised and poor communities in the policy-making process, or monitor and expose abuses of government and politically powerful groups.

2. Interview with advocacy NGO director, Asian country, 2 November 2005.

3. Interview with former staff member of advocacy NGO in the Philippines, 7 December 2005. Throughout this period (late 1990s to 2005), the interviewee worked for an NGO that lobbied for the rights of indigenous people and environmental conservation in the Philippines. Its work was very political, and was frequently challenging the government and major economic interests in court and policy debate. The organisation was a beneficiary of Ford Foundation funding until the Foundation's office closed in 2003.

4. Interview with Rosana Tositrakul, Secretary General, Thai Holistic Health Foundation, former leader of NGO coalition to address the 1997 Ministry of Public Health procurement corruption scandal, 29 November 2005.

5. LICADHO is the acronym of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights.

6. Interview with anonymous informant, Philippines, 7 December 2005.

7. Interview with anonymous informant, Philippines, 7 December 2005.

8. Interview with Rosana Tositrakul, 29 November 2005.

9. Interview with anonymous informant, Philippines, 7 December 2005.