Establish good governance in NGO sector: Gowher Rizvi
Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Gowher Rizvi speaks at a programme for disseminating study findings on NGO's governance organised by Manusher Jonno Foundation at the city's Spectra Convention Centre yesterday. On his left are Nurun Nabi Talukder and Rasheda K Chowdhury.Photo: STAR
Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Gowher Rizvi urged the non-government organisations (NGOs) to ensure accountability and transparency at beneficiary level to establish good governance in NGO sector. He made the call at a programme at the city's Spectra Convention Centre yesterday. Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) organised the event for disseminating study findings on NGO's governance. MJF conducted the study on 39 partner NGOs and its own activities to know their transparency, accountability, participation and legal framework. The study shows that half of the NGOs have good record and 39 percent have fair record in accountability to the beneficiaries while more than half of the NGOs have good record and 40 percent have fair record in transparency in financial system showed to the donors and NGO Affairs Bureau. Dr Rizvi observed that it is not enough to satisfy the donors and NGO Affairs Bureau rather NGOs should ensure their accountability at beneficiary level. The civil society and NGOs are watchdogs of democracy, he added. Director General of NGO Affairs Bureau Nurun Nabi Talukder said NGOs should not misuse a single penny of foreign fund anyway and donor-funded NGOs should not try to involve in micro-credit for the sake of the marginalised people. He said the government would formulate a new policy for ensuring more transparency and accountability in NGO sector very soon. Former adviser to a caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury urged the government to provide suitable environment so that NGOs can work for the development of the country. Executive Director of MJF Shaheen Anam said most of the NGOs have necessary requirements but these NGOs have to ensure more accountability and transparency for ensuring good governance. She said the study shows poor participation, commitment and weak capacity of executive committee or governing body of the NGOs. It also further indicates poor knowledge and understanding about policies and tools in practices inherited from the past, she said. Shaheen Anam suggested that NGOs should have clear strategy to strengthen executive committee or governing body to ensure increased participation and involvement in policy and management decision for good governance of NGOs.
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