老司机视频

By Yomaira Lopez
M.A. Candidate 2018

Tuesday, 9 May 2017

Nobody wants to accept failure, but sometimes you can learn more from failure than from success. In the NGO world, accepting failure is much harder because of the intensity and the emotional/personal involvement brought to each project. However, an NGO working with Welthungerhilfe and Viva con Agua addresses some of their mistakes in trying to provide access to clean drinking water in India. 

The author of , Ajay Paul, has made a frank confession. For him, one of the main issues for this failure is that NGOs 鈥渋gnore policies鈥� and 鈥渄o not work with local government officials.鈥� Ajay says that one of his biggest mistakes was running his project 鈥渋n parallel鈥� to government projects, and a failure to 鈥渓ink up to or support local government plans.鈥�

In addition, 鈥渨hen the project is finished, we hand over the management of the pump to the water-user committee and walk away. But we haven鈥檛 worked with the local government, so it has no incentive to support the local community when the pump breaks down. The NGO that installed it is seen as the one responsible.鈥�

The article, along with a by David Damberger called, 鈥淲hat happens when an NGO admits failure鈥� -- based on a similar experience with Engineers Without Borders -- focuses on the repercussions when NGOs are not totally involved with the local community and the government. 

But perhaps it is the government that needs to work alongside NGOs? NGOs should not blame themselves for the follow-up with government officials. After all, one of the main goals of these officials is to develop their country and invest in infrastructure. The government should set goals to meet NGOs 鈥渉alf way鈥� to see better results from all sides.

In the article, the author recognizes success by saying that 鈥� .鈥�  Unfortunately, this doesn't seem to completely satisfy him.  At the same time, it is important for NGOs to come forward with their self-described 鈥渇ailings,鈥� because this is part of process to create better services for civil societies.

To read more about this issue: 

To watch the TED talk by David Damberger: 

Photo courtesy US Department of State