Media and NGOs: A Call For Teamwork To Aid Community Development
By Nwabisa Ngumbela
Media plays a significant role in shaping public perception on a variety of fundamental issues. In some cases, the information communicated helps society make informed decisions regarding their social-economic advancement. It is, therefore, crucial for purposeful partnerships to be forged between the media and development agencies, such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in order to ensure that large segments of society are informed about developments happening around them through media channels such as print, community radio stations and community newspapers. For this to be meaningful and effective, the information communicated should be in a language understood by the target market.
The majority of people in underdeveloped communities lack the necessary skills and resources to attain rapid development. In many cases, their information options are limited. Under the circumstances, development-oriented civil society formations and the media need to help the State disseminate information regarding skills development and training opportunities that would improve people’s livelihoods. Moreover, while non-State development agencies can analyse the needs of a given community competently, the media could step in to help disseminate the resulting findings and recommendations to wider audiences and even the relevant State departments.
The Role of NGOs in Community Development
Some of the definitions of NGOs found in third sector literature make reference to major groups, pressure groups, interest groups, private voluntary organisations, independent voluntary sector, third sector organisations, grassroots organisations, activist organisations, non-profit bodies, and professional, voluntary, and citizen organisations (Martens, 2002:278). While the above descriptive terms do try to define NGOs, it is important to note that these organisations are not meant to solve all communities’ social-economic problems. Nevertheless, they largely endeavour to empower people and equip them with the necessary skills for survival and sustenance. Some of the programmes through which NGOs attempt to play this role are briefly discussed below:
Micro-finance: Microfinance programmes improve the economic well-being of communities by job creation and income generation. In the long run, this economic empowerment would contribute to sustainable community development.
Capacity building: NGOs strive to strengthen community capacities and impart skills that promote sustainable development through capacity building initiatives.
Self-reliance: Civic development agencies also help communities to discover their own potential and learn to rely on their own resources. Communities are trained on how to coordinate meetings, plan community activities and be more active and practical in community initiatives.
Role of the Local State
Developmental local government refers to a local government that is committed to working with citizens within the community. Its role is to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs to improve the quality of their lives, particularly in under-developed communities. It should target those members and groups within communities that are most marginalised or excluded, such as women, disabled people and the very poor (White paper 1998).
According to the Constitution of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, the object of local government is to:
• Promote democratic and accountable government for local communities.
• Ensure provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner.
• Promote a social and sustainable development.
• Promote a safe and healthy environment.
• Encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in matters of local government.
The question to be asked then is: Are local governments doing enough to ensure that these needs are met? According to a study done by the Institute of Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), South African citizens are dissatisfied by the quality and quantity of services provided by the local government, this is apart from the fact that the South African local governments have improved their service delivery incessantly over the past decade at a fairly fast pace—although evidently not fast enough according to communities that still remain under-served.
Since 2004 there have been violent protests over delivery of basic municipal services. Analysts assume the country’s high rate of unemployment has also led to social unrest and have even identified the recent xenophobic attacks as an extension of such protests. A significant number of people feel far removed from local government and from development.
Critical Role of Communities
It is important for the State to not only hasten service delivery, but to also ensure that there is sufficient public participation in all the development processes. Effective and substantial development cannot take place via force, order and lack of understanding, but will happen when people participate and share their ideas, visions and responsibilities in a form that is understood by the participants. People from under-developed communities are usually willing to work with one another to meet their mutual interests and needs. What usually hinders their ability to do so is an obstruction in communication and the lack of opportunities, understanding and favourable circumstances. Non-State development agencies and the media can team up to at least help disseminate development-related information, highlight challenges and generate debates around these for purposes of helping communities craft their own solutions with minimal assistance from the State.
References
• Larisa Rankovic Media analyst& researcher, Kaml-Raj 2010, J Hum Eco 1 30(2) 2010,S.M Dhawan,
• White paper 1998,
• IRN Humanitarian News Analysis,
• TDRI Quarterly Review 1996, Martens, 2002:278
• http://www.idasa.org.za
Media plays a significant role in shaping public perception on a variety of fundamental issues. In some cases, the information communicated helps society make informed decisions regarding their social-economic advancement. It is, therefore, crucial for purposeful partnerships to be forged between the media and development agencies, such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in order to ensure that large segments of society are informed about developments happening around them through media channels such as print, community radio stations and community newspapers. For this to be meaningful and effective, the information communicated should be in a language understood by the target market.
The majority of people in underdeveloped communities lack the necessary skills and resources to attain rapid development. In many cases, their information options are limited. Under the circumstances, development-oriented civil society formations and the media need to help the State disseminate information regarding skills development and training opportunities that would improve people’s livelihoods. Moreover, while non-State development agencies can analyse the needs of a given community competently, the media could step in to help disseminate the resulting findings and recommendations to wider audiences and even the relevant State departments.
The Role of NGOs in Community Development
Some of the definitions of NGOs found in third sector literature make reference to major groups, pressure groups, interest groups, private voluntary organisations, independent voluntary sector, third sector organisations, grassroots organisations, activist organisations, non-profit bodies, and professional, voluntary, and citizen organisations (Martens, 2002:278). While the above descriptive terms do try to define NGOs, it is important to note that these organisations are not meant to solve all communities’ social-economic problems. Nevertheless, they largely endeavour to empower people and equip them with the necessary skills for survival and sustenance. Some of the programmes through which NGOs attempt to play this role are briefly discussed below:
Micro-finance: Microfinance programmes improve the economic well-being of communities by job creation and income generation. In the long run, this economic empowerment would contribute to sustainable community development.
Capacity building: NGOs strive to strengthen community capacities and impart skills that promote sustainable development through capacity building initiatives.
Self-reliance: Civic development agencies also help communities to discover their own potential and learn to rely on their own resources. Communities are trained on how to coordinate meetings, plan community activities and be more active and practical in community initiatives.
Role of the Local State
Developmental local government refers to a local government that is committed to working with citizens within the community. Its role is to find sustainable ways to meet their social, economic and material needs to improve the quality of their lives, particularly in under-developed communities. It should target those members and groups within communities that are most marginalised or excluded, such as women, disabled people and the very poor (White paper 1998).
According to the Constitution of South Africa, Act 108 of 1996, the object of local government is to:
• Promote democratic and accountable government for local communities.
• Ensure provision of services to communities in a sustainable manner.
• Promote a social and sustainable development.
• Promote a safe and healthy environment.
• Encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in matters of local government.
The question to be asked then is: Are local governments doing enough to ensure that these needs are met? According to a study done by the Institute of Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), South African citizens are dissatisfied by the quality and quantity of services provided by the local government, this is apart from the fact that the South African local governments have improved their service delivery incessantly over the past decade at a fairly fast pace—although evidently not fast enough according to communities that still remain under-served.
Since 2004 there have been violent protests over delivery of basic municipal services. Analysts assume the country’s high rate of unemployment has also led to social unrest and have even identified the recent xenophobic attacks as an extension of such protests. A significant number of people feel far removed from local government and from development.
Critical Role of Communities
It is important for the State to not only hasten service delivery, but to also ensure that there is sufficient public participation in all the development processes. Effective and substantial development cannot take place via force, order and lack of understanding, but will happen when people participate and share their ideas, visions and responsibilities in a form that is understood by the participants. People from under-developed communities are usually willing to work with one another to meet their mutual interests and needs. What usually hinders their ability to do so is an obstruction in communication and the lack of opportunities, understanding and favourable circumstances. Non-State development agencies and the media can team up to at least help disseminate development-related information, highlight challenges and generate debates around these for purposes of helping communities craft their own solutions with minimal assistance from the State.
References
• Larisa Rankovic Media analyst& researcher, Kaml-Raj 2010, J Hum Eco 1 30(2) 2010,S.M Dhawan,
• White paper 1998,
• IRN Humanitarian News Analysis,
• TDRI Quarterly Review 1996, Martens, 2002:278
• http://www.idasa.org.za