tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post6362033375900339707..comments2023-09-27T14:44:54.248+02:00Comments on Andy Hadfield: What pisses me off about the NGO sector...Andy Hadfieldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00887844054562829807noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post-56116040817165979532014-07-04T17:19:32.136+02:002014-07-04T17:19:32.136+02:00Hey Andy
Good article. That's one of my favo...Hey Andy<br /><br />Good article. That's one of my favourite TED talks I think Dan explains the problem perfectly. The big challenge is that it's really difficult to change the way people think about overhead. I'm personally not comfortable giving R1000 of my hard earned cash to a hunger charity knowing that only 50% of it will get to the starving children. This might have something to do with the fact that most of the charities that I've been exposed to are not the best at finance, admin and marketing...most likely because they can't afford to pay the right staff the right salaries to do the job.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456687608146770917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post-21497434873651983362014-07-04T11:46:18.515+02:002014-07-04T11:46:18.515+02:00I received a comment via email, poster wished to r...I received a comment via email, poster wished to remain anonymous - for obvious reasons...<br /><br />"I work for a prominent NGO, and you're 100% right. Donors - especially the big Western government agencies - seem to reward NGOs for how quickly they get cash out the door, rather than the impact they deliver with it. They are ticking boxes, not thinking deeply about how they can help us deliver sustainable change. There is very little funding out there for the basics an organisation needs to run efficiently - like basic admin support or decent basic marketing/branding - or simply to be invested in innovation and time to think and connect with others. And don't even get me started on the onerous reporting requirements - a friend who used to work for one of the biggest investment banks in the world told me our NGO's financial reporting requirements were more complex than anything she'd seen in a multi-billion dollar private sector firm. <br /><br />There is a great speech on this topic here from Owen Barder of the Centre For Global Development: http://cf.owen.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-05-16-CIFF-Board-Dinner-Evidence-and-scale-as-delivered.pdf<br /><br />All of that said, and despite the fact I get paid like sh*t and work 3x harder than friends in cushy private sector jobs, the sense of pride you get from changing someones life does make it all worthwhile..."Andy Hadfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00887844054562829807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post-32288243235028640722014-07-04T10:29:18.862+02:002014-07-04T10:29:18.862+02:00howzit Andy,
My wife has been working for a reall...howzit Andy,<br /><br />My wife has been working for a really well established NGO this past year, without going into specifics it does seem that when the economy suffers, the NGOs REALLY suffer. Half the time is spent chasing the next buck/restructuring, must be even tougher for some of the smaller entitities. <br /><br />Plus the people work DAMN hard. It really isn't about the money.<br />SteveStevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08670039092952148858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post-54161087234985608922014-07-04T09:56:17.904+02:002014-07-04T09:56:17.904+02:00Nope, you're not mad. At all, ever, I think!
...Nope, you're not mad. At all, ever, I think!<br /><br />Agreed, but it's not always possible for NGOs to look at making a profit, when they were borne of a desperate need for a service. <br /><br />As for NGO support and guidance, I often feel that donors fund, but don't provide adequate support - by funding, they should be investing, and through that, guide NGOs to become profit making businesses, or at least operate like one. I completely agree with you!<br /><br />c@thhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16832950336505135574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post-85683027756147551692014-07-04T09:42:47.493+02:002014-07-04T09:42:47.493+02:00So I'm not mad? (yet)
NGO/Non Profit tends to...So I'm not mad? (yet)<br /><br />NGO/Non Profit tends to fill the gap I guess. Governments can't do everything - which is why the fund the sector. Theoretically, if NGO's were structured more like for profit organisations - where project performance was linked to profit incentive, they'd be more efficient than government - which would work out for everyone...Andy Hadfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00887844054562829807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post-75279378909051555222014-07-04T09:33:42.491+02:002014-07-04T09:33:42.491+02:00And a second comment, because it comes from a diff...And a second comment, because it comes from a different headspace...<br /><br />The NGO/NPO sector is - in my belief - most often doing the work that should be implemented by a governmental agency. Granted, our tax money cannot do everything, and collaboration/partnership between state and NGO should happen. But, I regularly feel (again, in my personal capacity), that governmental support provided to NGO/NPO sectors is also lacking. It creates a sense of desperate competition, and shows that tax money goes to aeroplanes, rather than educating children. That pisses me off no end. <br /><br />c@thhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16832950336505135574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31986108.post-26577896800360643102014-07-04T09:29:44.194+02:002014-07-04T09:29:44.194+02:00Hey Andy,
As someone who has spent the majority o...Hey Andy,<br /><br />As someone who has spent the majority of her career in the NGO sector, and still devote a substantial portion of my freelance life to it...I can't help but agree with you.<br /><br />For a lot of reasons, it does come down to donor funding. The most common experience I can relate, and hear so often, is that donors want to fund PROJECTS, not staffing or salaries - the very things that MAKE projects and interventions possible.<br /><br />Providing sustainability funding, and guiding NGOs towards becoming self-sustainable is often overlooked, and it's not always possible, with the work that needs to be done.<br /><br />Sustainability funding, like paying salaries, office rentals or just keeping the admin boxes ticking, is severely lacking, and - I believe - and (for the record) I speak in my personal capacity here! - it is the crucial error made when it comes to donor funding. <br /><br />NGOs can't attract good talent, if they can't pay a good salary. And if they can't pay a good salary, they can't get important projects done. c@thhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16832950336505135574noreply@blogger.com