November 19, 2007 | Read Time: 1 minute
How does an international aid group assist needy people overseas
without becoming a de facto arm of the local government?
Very carefully, writes Jeremy Hobbs, executive director of Oxfam
International, in Oxford, England.
On The International Herald Tribune’s Managing Globalization
blog, Mr. Hobbs discusses the role — and risks — of the relationship charities have with the often weak governments of poor nations where they operate.
Answering questions submitted by readers, Mr. Hobbs writes that
nongovernmental organizations “should not seek to replace the
provision of services which governments have a duty to provide. NGO’s should complement this provision; it’s a fine and crucial difference.”
In response to another question, Mr. Hobbs writes that Oxfam and other organizations face another challenge: answering to the beneficiaries of their aid.
“NGO’s need to keep improving their accountability to those they’re trying to help, including improving transparency and codes ofpractice. We must always respect local partners and ensure that the work we do together opens, not closes, their political space,” he writes.
What do you think? What can aid groups do to be more accountable? How do they make sure they do not replace government and its responsibilities to assist needy citizens? Click on the comments link below this post to share your thoughts.
