* Analysis of transnational NGOs, the kinds of organizational changes they need to operate more effectively and how to achieve this change* Author an experienced practitioner and managerWhether they like it or not, relief and development NGOs are in the midst of a revolution. Faced with the challenge of managing their growing influence in international politics, these organizations are making operational decisions that will determine their survival. Those that find themselves hampered by the increased politicization of aid and demands on their accountability; those that struggle to define their work in a world that has only recently begun to recognize their authority, will fail to meet their goals. Those that are committed to flexibility, learning new technologies and rethinking their strategies and structure will see their organizations succeed. Author Paul Ronalds brings his experience as Deputy CEO of World Vision Australia to other NGO managers in "The Change Imperative," guiding them through the challenges they must overcome to maintain effectiveness in the 21st century. He covers the practical issues leaders are facing in areas such as advocacy, fundraising, technology, financing and human resources, but also the more ambiguous issues: legitimacy, state sovereignty, and political analysis. Ronalds book is a must-have for both students and managers pursuing influential careers in charitable, development and aid organizations.

The study examines the role of civil society in a weak state that is Bangladesh. However, this research has examined the involvement of one of the civil society organization (Non-government organizations - NGOs) in Bangladesh. Larry Diamond and Edward Shils have agreed that the civil society organizations are distinct from other groups in the society at least in four basic characteristics which are: concern with public ends, voluntary and non- profit making, non political and civil and tolerant. Two main NGOs in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) and Proshika Manabik Unnyan Kendra Proshika Human Development Centre] are the focus of the study. The study has found that the NGOs claiming to be part of civil society organizations do not exhibit all the above four indicators such as voluntary, non-profit making, non- political, civility and tolerance. Throughout the history of Bangladesh, the state has shown some reactions whenever the NGOs have gone beyond the traditional civil society concept.

The role of sport in international development has only recently begun to attract serious academic interest. The case study that is central to this volume offers an intriguing view of the interrelationship between sport and grassroots development. Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) is an innovative organization in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, that links youth with sport and developmental initiatives. From humble beginnings, MYSA has become one of the largest grassroots organizations in Kenya. MYSA affords some exciting avenues for research, particularly regarding the role of youth in development, the ability of sport to challenge gender stereotypes and the overarching question of the relationship between sport and development. As relevant now as when it was originally written in 1999, this book traces the early years of one of the most remarkable development organizations in the world. MYSA continues to go from strength to strength, and has even been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

There is a well-known assumption that more participation of women in politics is important for democracy. In this respect, Civil Society- the third branch of power has opened up space for women's engagement through the issue of good governance. Taking women's experiences from two civil society organizations, the study tries to reveal how different types of understanding on good governance and participation may shape the interest of the Civil Society Organization. By applying the concepts of civil society, good governance and participation as analytical framework, the paper critically analyzes how donor- driven concepts of civil society created problem in women's everyday life, jeopardize their transformative potentials. Finally, considering historical and contextual reality of civil society, the paper came up with a recommendation in favour of political society to bring gender justice through social movement.

The book discusses factors influencing the effectiveness of strategic management and leadership among NGOs. It is based on a study of strategic management and leadership practices in some selected NGOs. The study revealed that the level of implementation of strategic plans was low (46 percent). The major causes of the low implementation were the NGOs' inadequate financial independence from donors to respond effectively and autonomously to the needs and priorities of their beneficiaries; inadequate capacity of the boards, management, donors, consultants and communities to effectively practice and contribute towards strategic management and leadership. In order to improve strategic management and leadership, the book offers suggestions on how NGOs can improve their financial sustainability, develop organizational capacity and ensure more effective downward accountability to the communities they serve.

Since the end of apartheid and the election of the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa has undergone a process of political and social transformation. An increasing 'disenchantment' with the ANC has led to the renewal of grassroots advocacy, this time in the face of the democratically elected government. In order to maintain a system of checks and balances, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has used advocacy, legal channels and awareness campaigns to challenge the state and international companies to provide anti-retroviral treatment to HIV-infected persons and counselling and support to HIV-affected persons. By analyzing the structure, activities, goals and accomplishments of TAC, this work explores how it represents an innovation in social movements in post-apartheid South Africa. Further, it enters in a debate on how the 'naming' of social movements in South Africa has become increasingly politicized, thus affecting their activities and goals and how they are perceived by other political actors.

A study of the international NGO advocacy for social and environmental justice, this book looks at the fundamental issues of legitimacy, accountability and democracy that such activities involve and how they are manifested. It presents case studies on trade issues, labour rights, extractive industries and indigenous people in Asia and South America.

Curriculum Reform in Post-Soviet: Balancing the Local and Global Contexts of Schooling, investigated the social and political influences global organization such as the World Bank and Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia had over curriculum reform in Armenian secondary schools. The conceptual Framework for this study is a literature review of the theories globalization and nationalism, two theories that are relevant to the discussion of international influences on education. In addition, two important comparative education theories, educational vacuum and educational borrowing, were used as an analytical framework for the data. This qualitative case study employed the data collection strategies of document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and field observations. The data revealed that international standards have greatly influenced curriculum reform in the Armenian Secondary Schools. Further, my research found that the new effects on education were sparked by Armenia's desire to become part of the European Union.

An inspiring mission to rescue young people from drugs and violence with music
At a time when interest in Brazilian culture has reached an all-time high, and the stories of one person's ability to improve the lives of others has captured so many hearts, this unique book takes readers to the frontlines of a battle raging over control of the nation's poorest areas. "Culture Is Our Weapon" tells the story of Grupo Cultural AfroReggae, a Rio-based organization employing music and an appreciation for black culture to inspire residents of the favelas, or shantytowns, to resist the drugs that are ruining their neighborhoods. This is an inspiring look at an artistic explosion and the best and worst of Brazilian society.

Environmental activism in contemporary Russia exemplifies both the promise and the challenge facing grassroots politics in the post-Soviet period. In the late Soviet period, Russia's environmental movement was one of the country's most dynamic and effective forms of social activism, and it appeared well positioned to influence the direction and practice of post-Soviet politics. At present, however, activists scattered across Russia face severe obstacles to promoting green issues that range from wildlife protection and nuclear safety to environmental education.

Based on fifteen months of fieldwork in five regions of Russia, from the European west to Siberia and the Far East, Red to Green goes beyond familiar debates about the strength and weakness of civil society in Russia to identify the contradictory trends that determine the political influence of grassroots movements. In an organizational analysis of popular mobilization that addresses the continuing role of the Soviet legacy, the influence of transnational actors, and the relevance of social mobilization theory to the Russian case, Laura Henry details what grassroots organizations in Russia actually do, how they use the limited economic and political opportunities that are available to them, and when they are able to influence policy and political practice.

Drawing on her in-depth interviews with activists, Henry illustrates how green organizations have pursued their goals by "recycling" Soviet-era norms, institutions, and networks and using them in combination with transnational ideas, resources, and partnerships. Ultimately, Henry shows that the limited variety of organizations that activists have constructed within post-Soviet Russia's green movement serve as a "fossil record" of the environmentalists' innovations, failures, and compromises. Her research suggests new ways to understand grassroots politics throughout the postcommunist region and in other postauthoritarian contexts.

How could a human rights organization survive in a repressive regime? This book investigates the emergence and survival of a human rights organization in the repressive Suharto regime in Indonesia. Based on extensive fieldwork soon after the fall of Suharto, this book documents the rise of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH), and its subsequent internal disputes, and its role in the emerging civil society in Indonesia. This book also proposes a new approach to understanding civil society by examining the interaction between the state and society, and how social actors in their relationship to the state find ways not only to survive in an authoritarian regime but also to actively influence the state.

Whether or not Islamic organizations should be transformed into political parties has become an endless debate in Indonesia. There are times those who tend to bring Islam into politics gain strong supports as in the case otherwise. This book demonstrates that Muhammadiyah has participated in the Indonesian process of democratisation by means of exercising political ijtihad derived from its religious worldview. NU has been exercising ijma'- based political participation. By creating religious justification to their political policies Muhammadiyah and NU have played significant role in the ongoing process of democratization in Indonesia. This book is a breakthrough of the study of Islamic organisations in grasping a national picture of the role of Islam in Indonesian politics since it goes beyond Java. It convincingly argues that political behavior of Muslims in the outer islands is not too much influenced by fanaticism or "irrational" loyalty as the general case in Java. This book is especially useful for those whose interests are moderate, traditionalist and modernist Islam in contemporary Indonesian politics.

This study explores the role of a corporate- community partnership in making Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) a mechanism that creates shared value for both business and society. The investigation seeks to shed light on how a partnership can ensure business benefits in terms of satisfied CSR objectives for a company, as well as beneficial outcomes in terms of development in the host-communities. The concept of CSR has caused businesses world wide to pay increased attention to social and environmental performance. For those companies operating in developing countries, these responsibilities are frequently defined in terms of contributions to sustainable development. While the corporate rationale for CSR has been firmly identified by previous research, there are more uncertainties regarding CSR's outcomes and consequences for the beneficiaries of CSR initiatives in the host-society. Some companies have therefore chosen to engage in partnerships in order to contextually tailor their CSR interventions, improve corporate-community dialogue, and ensure an appropriate response to local expectations about a company's social and environmental responsibilities.

Examining the history of social movements and non-state socio-political action, this volume shows how Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have proliferated in Britain since 1945, and how they have raised new political agendas, revived associational life, and arguably re-politicized generations disillusioned with the politics of the ballot box.

What goes on inside a non-governmental organisation, and how does it develop over time? In spite of an abundance of NGO studies, surprisingly few investigate this. NGOs, in spite of the general meaninglessness and blurred nature of the term, tend to be taken for granted as bounded entities that act rationally to achieve their aims, and as units for analysis on a par with "the state," "civil society" and "the poor." This book explores the inner life of one Indian NGO - Unnayan - in Calcutta from the 1970s till the late 1990s. The study attempts to transgress often artificially constructed boundaries between segments in society and interpret social and political NGO activism in a fluid and shifting urban environment. The focus is Unnayan's institutional development and its nature of personal and associational interaction. The study reveals intricate webs of relationships, and a universe characterised by subtle domain formations, where loyalties and micro- alliances cut across the organisation - and out of it - in multi-layered ways, and where individuals competed for influence and authority.

This book questions many key assumptions about the efficacy of NGOs and civil society in development. It provides suggestions on how to improve NGO performance and how NGOs can better link with local African initiatives and agendas. Beginning in the 1980s, sub-Saharan Africa witnessed a veritable explosion of NGOs and CSOs engaged in efforts to develop the subcontinent. Often praised for their commitment, flexibility, close contact with grassroots movements and marginalized groups, these organizations have become the darlings of donors and the UN system. During the same period, however, rural Africa has sunk deeper into poverty. The massive NGO engagement appears not to have made any meaningful progress. ""Snakes in Paradise"" breaks through the generalizations and neat theories to discover why these efforts have failed. Focusing especially on those local NGOs that are frequently overlooked by studies that cover the major international players, Holmen uncovers a NGO landscape that is considerably more ambiguous than the popular development literature would have people believe.

* Examines differences between faith-based and secular nonprofit organizations in the context of international development* Based on fieldwork and over 100 interviews with FBO staffers in respective countriesLocal faith-based NGOs (FBOs) are a major force in international development. Almost all religious traditions call followers to charity and non-profits are often the perfect vehicles for such work. FBOs are seen as having long-term commitments to local communities, focus and spiritual strength in the face of difficult conditions, and compassionate staff members. Indeed, there is a growing body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of faith-based health and social services. However, history has shown that religious faith also carries the potential for violence and exclusion. Especially for FBOs working in countries plagued by religious conflict, this reality can highlight dubious and harmful undercurrents in their work. "For the Love of God" examines the ways history and religious identity influences FBOs in Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Bosnia Herzegovina and finds that they often reinforce rather than transcend schisms found in the larger society. Based on over 100 interviews with FBO staffers in these countries, Flanigan reveals the darker, more ambivalent side of altruism.

This book examines how international aid donors and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) can assist countries in the Asia-Pacific region achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The book examines the progress countries have made towards the MDGs and highlights the need to tailor the goals to individual country circumstances.

This book describes how to develop a methodology for the evaluation of qualitative development cooperation programs within information and opinion building, using Swedish development NGO (non-Governmental organization)Svalorna Latinamerika and its projects in Nicaragua as a case study. Svalorna Latinamerika works with popular empowerment, through information and opinion building, in order to achieve sustainable development. There is a consensus about the absolute necessity of information and opinion building to support sustainable development, according to Svalorna Latinamerika. One of the conclusions is that the main purpose of evaluation, to constantly develop the program and thereby strengthen the cooperating organizations, should furthermore guide the choice of methodology for evaluation. This should be a consistent methodology with supported by a toolbox of specific methods from which one is to be chosen depending on if it is an activity, effort or goal that need to be evaluated.

Human rights play a crucial role in today's international relations. They provide standards to which states must conform when dealing with their own citizens. Non-governmental human rights organizations remind states of their obligations in that field. Without this, human rights would have drifted to the bottom of the international agenda.

Museums are unique educational organizations. They serve to preserve, present, and interpret historical, cultural, artistic, and natural phenomena. Yet, as with all successful enterprises, educational and otherwise, museums must be attentive to performance, productivity, and operational practices. Perceptions of Success examines the museum as a learning organization, and examines what makes a museum successful "from the inside out" by examining employee perspectives.

Since the early 1990s, China has witnessed an influx of international NGOs, many of which have Christianity as their foundation. The presence of international Christian agencies in China, however, is not new. Christian missionaries went to China in the age of imperialism. Historians argue the work of missionaries was inextricably linked to the idea of a 'civilizing mission'. This book critically assesses the idea of a Christian 'civilizing mission' over time, and explores the relevance of the idea to the contemporary context. By examining the non-Han people's perception of international Christian agencies, this book advocates the importance of engagement through in-depth dialogue between international Christian NGOs and ethnic communities.

The World Social Forum has become a space for organized citizens to come together for different purposes (support, updates, education, coordination, campaigns, etc.). It has also become a sign of a massive aspiration for the global spread of democratic principles. Its intercultural complexities have not deterred participant organizations from experimenting with new forms of participation and action. The way in which populations from distant corners of our planet have engaged in an open dialogue within the WSF calls also for new ways of understanding such political engagements. This work offers an insight through an anthropological perspective, which suggests a way to observe and analyze complex intercultural dialogues on our common future.

Charities and nonprofit(NP)organisations are an accepted feature of Australian civil society. In 2006-07 it was estimated there were 700,000 in the nonprofit sector. The most economically significant NPs employed 995,000 people. In 2008, 87% of these were women. This workforce gender profile has not changed throughout the sectory's history and it has significant implications for how care work is conceptualised, valued and included in broader society, politically, economically and culturally. This is a feminist critique of women's experience of working in charities. It explores the Australian context, feminist philosophy, ethics, leadership, spirituality, power and business reality of charitable work as women's work; with its impact on the recipients of charitable services. This book offers an interpretation of the underlying assumptions of Australian charities' philosophical constructs, the different role they hold in society and a feminist perspective of the women's experience who work within them. Anyone who works with charities or is researching the sector and its contribution to Australian life will be interested in the book