Provocation to start discussion
Shah
project is not what LUNGOS members asked for. The EU changed the
aspect of the project. The original project had at its core mission to
build the capacity of LUNGOS and its Commissions to service the
members. Now we want to start at the other end by capacity building
all non-state actors. Is this possible? Are all members homogenous in
their needs? Will the identified objectives of the capacity building
focus on the ulitmate needs (i.e. improve resource mobilization,
recruiting and keeping staff, sustaining institution stability, etc.)
rather than proximate needs (project management, accounting, research
and monitoring, etc) ?Will the training be sustainable as the majority
of NGO trainees will be transitory as they are volunteers with other
full time jobs? Will whatever capacity built by the project (?) be
able to change the present situation for NGOs?
These are questions to reflect on, against a background of deepening
influence of GONGOS and QUANGOS, rapidly declining resources available
to NGOs, general economic difficulties, and a lack of interest by the
populace in non-profit, charitable work.
Capacity development in this case, where the funding is largely going
towards training of personnel, is not an end in itself. Therefore it
has to be coupled with programs for institutional development and
evolution and changes in the enabling environment, both structural
changes rather than functional (the "real" capacity development).
Unfortunately, the donor has not provided adequate funds to do this,
although this was originally identified by LUNGOS 6 years ago when the
original project was submitted and agreed.