Role of NGOs in Good Governance

Abstract

Voluntary organisations play a vital role in shaping and implementation of participatory democracy. The main role of NGOs has been in enforcement provision. Their "gap-flling‟ role and independence from government has allowed them to implement innovative approaches that can serve as models for government and the public enforcement system. In this sense, NGOs should continue doing what they already do best in order to become a useful laboratory for government. Mainstreaming such successful innovations in cooperation with government thus becomes an enforcement of human rights process par excellence; going beyond the individual and community level, this type of scaling up can become part of enforcement of human rights sector reform, involving all levels and actors, and incorporating NGOs as policy-partners and advisors. NGOs can become acknowledged innovators in the public interest, with a constant eye on adoption by bigger and more powerful actors and on enhancing the capacity of claimants.

Keywords

• NGOs
• Good Governance
• Democracy