NGO support toolkit (English)  >  NGO Support Programmes 

Functions

There are a range of functions undertaken by NGO/CBO support programmes (NSPs) that aim to improve the effectiveness and impact of NGOs and CBOs. Not all NSPs will provide all of these functions. Indeed, a greater number of organisations (both government and non-governmental) now provide technical and financial support to community-level organisations, resulting in a greater pool of expertise and resources from which to draw. Furthermore, greater collaboration among stakeholders has resulted in NGOs and CBOs increasingly being supported through a variety of mechanisms that may involve more than one NSP. Thus the most important function of any NSP may be the supportive relationship it builds with its partner CBOs and NGOs, and its ability to provide, or leverage through partnerships with others, the support that is needed for the civil society organisations in its context.

A brief overview of the main functions of NSPs is provided below, but these are explored in more detail in different sections of this toolkit.

Technical support

Technical support refers to input provided to strengthen the programmatic work of individuals and organisations. This covers

• technical aspects of HIV/AIDS, such as HIV transmission and prevention, STI diagnosis, testing and counselling;
• programming areas such as participatory community assessments, project design and monitoring and evaluation;
• and organisational development such as governance, resource mobilisation, documentation, management and administration.

In addition to support on technical and organisational issues, NSPs may also provide moral support and mentoring to their partner organisations. Although largely intangible, moral support and mentoring can be the most valuable type of support provided. For more see technical support

Financial support

Many NGOs and CBOs receive grants from NSPs which are mainly international or national NGOs or foundations. There is an increasing amount of funding which is channelled through national co-ordinating mechanisms, either from bilateral donors' pooled funds or the Global Fund. Governments may also provide financial resources to NGOs and CBOs by making grants through an intermediary NSP or directly through a government body with NSP functions. NSPs often combine ongoing technical support with the provision of grants to help ensure that NGOs and CBOs are equipped with the skills and knowledge to implement the grant successfully. In some cases, the function of grant-making and providing technical support may be done by separate agencies, but to ensure maximum absorption it is critical to ensure that different inputs are co-ordinated and long term relationships can still be developed. For more see partner and project selection and grant management.

Institutional Change

NSPs are well placed to contribute to policy development and implement advocacy initiatives as they work with different sectors and at multiple levels. NSPs have an important function in ensuring that civil society and community perspectives and experiences are heard during policy-making processes, and that policies are grounded in field-based experiences and research. By drawing on the expertise and experiences of their partner organisations, NSPs can ensure that donors have greater understanding of the social, economic and cultural aspects of the epidemic and its effects on individuals and communities. Equally, by monitoring the external policy environment, keeping up to date with national, regional and global trends, and translating and disseminating this information to partner NGOs and CBOs, NSPs can help partner organisations to become aware of and respond to the changing pressures and broader-level contexts that affect their work. For more see institutional change.

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