Natural Resource-based InteractionsOrganizational InteractionNGOs and IPOs

CDP 532: Unit 1 (e)

NGOs

Emergence after 1945, became prominent on various issues including environment after 1990s (so is in Nepal)Environment as a major theme of NGO world (along with human rights)Understanding of NGOs and their roles and understanding of environment (very diverse)NGOs, civil society, not-for profit organization, social movements, non-state actorsLimitation of state to address env issues (local and global) rise of ENGOs, but in Nepal both came at the same timeGrowth of NGOs on Environmental issue: NGOs as major actor during rise of liberalization as development partner / service providerNew political contexts: justice, social movement, rights, advocacy, activism, inclusion, participatory developmentGlobal environmental discourses since Stockholm convention (importantly after the Rio convention): Agenda 21 accepted and broadened the roleEnvironment: neutral theme but not always and not for all

NGOs

What do NGOs do?NGOs have served as agents of change and forces for the public good for the protection of human and environmental welfare.NGOs' activities range from picketing, protests, and demonstrations to education, research, or diplomatic work to achieve their goals.NGO collaboration, lobbying, and public awareness-building methods include the effective use of media and scientific researchNGOs are powerful players in the international policy arena and leverage their access to policy makers to good effect. (act as epistemic communities in the international relation)Some NGOs are developing partnerships with governments and corporations / industries (Corporate social responsibilities)CritiquesBecause of their funding, NGOs are accountable to their funders, not the people they work with (Trojan horse of western countries, neo-colonialism)INGOs have gone beyond partnering with local agencies, intervening local mattersIgnored local contexts, (focused on only one issue as if it occurs in the isolation e.g. biodiversity conservation)Not independent and carrying many hidden agenda of their donors (political, religious, economic etc.)

NGOs in international relations (related to environment)

Epistemic communities

Anepistemic communityininternational relationsis a network of professionals with recognized knowledge and skill in a particular issue-area. Epistemic communities influence policy by providing knowledge to policy makers. The communities influence through communicative action; diffusing ideas nationally, transnationally, and internationally. Epistemic communities usually aid in issues concerning a technical nature. Epistemic communities are also a source of policy innovation. Epistemic communities came to be because of the rapid professionalization of government agencies. Another reason why epistemic communities came to be is that decision makers began turning to experts to help them understand issues because there were more issues and all were more complicated. There are a myriad of examples of the impact that epistemic communities have had on public policy. Epistemic communities brought attention to chlorofluorocarbons and their polluting consequences. This realization led to the creation of environmental international agencies in a majority of the worlds governments. Epistemic communities also have brought attention to the habitat fragmentation and decline of biodiversity on the planet. This has led to reform throughout the world creating conservation agencies and policies.

For detail: Haas, Peter M. 1992. Epistemic Communities and International Policy Coordination.International Organization. 46(1):1-35.

NGOs in natural resource interaction (civil society)

Understanding about civil society (just for simplicity)

Liberal (normative, good society), critical (public sphere) and analytical (associational life)Pro-environment and pro-livelihoodPro-advocacy (activism), pro-service delivery (project implementation), pro-knowledge generation (research publication)Membership based and non-membership based: serving own constituency / members or external constituencies How they get funds / resources: domestic / member contribution or foreign aidTheir position over environmental interaction is dependent on how they have conceptualized development: Development alternatives or alternative to developmentAll these categories may not always be distinct and now there are more mixed forms

NGOs

ENGOs

Source of power, interest and legitimacy of NGOs in environmental interaction (against State and business groups)No authority over coercive power like state and no control over capitals like business groupNGOs: moral authority of organizations / members, claim over knowledge, capitalizing the new avenues of politics (media), connection / network outside global level (donors) and inside at the grassroots levelHow do they influence:By influencing environmental policies and practices of states, businesses and multilateral institutionsThrough direct link with grassroots activism and indigenous people Through well-publicised campaigns (through media), designed to raise public awareness on environmental issuesThrough activities at global environment and development conferences (global-local network)Through their unique organizational size, structures, knowledge / skills, purpose, ideology, cultural origin, legal status

NGOs

ENGOs and state

Collaboration, oppression and confrontationenvironmental movement against government / marketAny examples of environmental initiative / movement: indigenous peoples movement, anti-dam movement, pro-conservation movement, anti-pollution campaignsState establishes partnership with NGOs in any environmental and development issuesTherefore state-NGO relation is mixedLegitimacy of NGOs through stateCredibility and power of NGOsNew politics of the environment: various types of NGOs, various levels of state agencies and other indigenous social movement, claiming the natural resources by indigenous groups

NGOs in Nepal

Big database of SWC, more than 30,200 last year, July 2010 (since 1977)All registered, grouped by sector-wise (almost 10 sectors) and region / district-wiseEnvironment and natural resource management is a major sector of NGOs concern particularly after 1990

Trend of NGOs and ENGOs in Nepal in the last more than 30 years

Chart1

171978

01979

11980

71981

21982

161983

371984

261985

271986

171987

221988

211989

561990

1443

22013

59839

55646

126184

1327110

1623123

143699

1466115

2156139

135262

129848

135746

138246

170150

181844

298460

250860

236172

245959

Total NGOs (Year-wise)

ENGOs. (Year-wise)

Year (as of July 15 of each year)

Sheet1

YearTotal NGOs (cumulative)Total NGOs (Year-wise)ENGOs (S.No.)Total ENGOs (cum)ENGOs. (Year-wise)

2034/351717

2035/36170

2036/37181

2037/38257

2038/39272

2039/404316

2040/418037

2041/4210626

2042/4313327

2043/4415017

2044/4517222

2045/4619321

2046/47249563

2047/48393144633

2048/49613220191613

2049/501211598585539

2050/51176755610410146

2051/523028126118818584

2052/5343551327298295110

2053/5459781623421418123

2054/557414143652051799

2055/5688801466635632115

2056/57110362156774771139

2057/5812388135283683362

2058/5913686129888488148

2059/6015043135793092746

2060/6116425138297697346

2061/621812617011026102350

2062/631994418181070106744

2063/642292829841130112760

2064/652543625081190118760

2065/662779723611262125972

2066/673025624591321131859

YearYear (as of Jul15)Total NGOs (cumulative)Total ENGOs (cum)Total NGOs (Year-wise)ENGOs. (Year-wise)

2034/3519781717

2035/361979170

2036/371980181

2037/381981257

2038/391982272

2039/4019834316

2040/4119848037

2041/42198510626

2042/43198613327

2043/44198715017

2044/45198817222

2045/46198919321

2046/47199024956

2047/48199139331443

2048/4919926131622013

2049/50199312115559839

2050/511994176710155646

2051/5219953028185126184

2052/53199643552951327110

2053/54199759784181623123

2054/5519987414517143699

2055/56199988806321466115

2056/572000110367712156139

2057/58200112388833135262

2058/59200213686881129848

2059/60200315043927135746

2060/61200416425973138246

2061/622005181261023170150

2062/632006199441067181844

2063/642007229281127298460

2064/652008254361187250860

2065/662009277971259236172

2066/672010302561318245959

1991-1997

1998-2000

2001-2007

2007-2011

Sheet1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Total NGOs (cumulative)

Year (BS)

env

S.N.SWC Aff. No.NGOs NameAddressContact PersonPhone No.SectorDistrictApp_DateCer_ DateRegion

252252Batawaran Tatha Gramin Bikas KendraPulchowk 3 PON. 2314Deepak Neupane523477,523320Environmental ProtectionLalitpur47/04/1647/04/19Central Region

283283Batawaran Ra Janswasthya SansthaJayabageewhori 8 PON.3456Sapana Sharma470052Environmental ProtectionKathmandu47/08/1746/08/20Central Region

349349Batawaran Tatha Bikas Sangh7/110 JaisidewalBhupal Pd. Lamichhane227697Environmental ProtectionKathmandu48/01/0