Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Local Governments’ Partnership in Managing Development in Ethiopia: The Case of Bonga Town Administration.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the partnership between NGOs and local government in managing development in Bonga administrative town. Effective and meaningful collaboration between Government and NGOs has becomes imperative for both partners in accelerating the development activities. Government cannot perform all the activities due to the changing scenario and NGOs have emerged as a strong party in the development process. In Ethiopia, woreda administration is the central point in the administrative scenario. Most of the NGOs in Ethiopia have their branches in the District level. But in local level the effective partnership is lacking between GO and NGOs. This study tries to identify the roles played by NGO, factors affecting their partnership, and identify the enabling environment. The study is descriptive as well as analytical. It utilizes a mixed method approach. A combination of structured interview and document analysis was used to collect data. Basically this study used non probability sampling so that the NGO people and government officials were chosen purposively since this method was relevant to the nature of the study. Respondents from both Government organizations and NGOs give their opinion. From the government side legal frame work and attitude towards NGOs were the determining factor and from NGO view point organizational goal and intention is the determining factor. The study found that existing legal framework is not in favor of partnership. Despite of this fact both GO and NGOs are willing to work together. Most of the variables show positive inclination towards partnership.