Conversations about Flexible Support for Governance and Accountability Work in India

To read the discussions that took place at the consultation, click here

During the past three decades, availability of flexible and long-term funding from international sources and select domestic sources enabled Indian voluntary organisations to access government programmes and funds for the socio-economic empowerment of the poor, build citizen awareness of their rights and undertake independent monitoring and advocacy of public services and institutions. The roles and contributions of civil society in addressing socio-economic inclusion of the poor and promoting accountable democratic governance in India have gained both ascendancy and recognition. This has been acknowledged by policy-makers as envisaged in the National Policy on Voluntary Sector (2007) (http://planningcommission.nic.in/data/ngo/npvol07.pdf).

In recent times, however, there has been a decline in the availability of flexible resources to civil society, particularly from international sources, which is constraining their ability to function in a capable, independent and accountable manner. Today, many civil society actors, especially at the district level, are facing this severe challenge. Although additional resources from the government are currently available, such funds often create dependencies on local political and official decision-makers (not to mention the growing menace of corruption in granting and release of such funds) for a supplementary service provision. This limits the independence and ability of civil society actors to act as effective pressure groups to catalyze greater transparency and accountability from public agencies and officials. In this context, there is an urgent need for greater flexible support from domestic sources, which unfortunately has not been forthcoming.

Many of us have been talking about this scenario. PRIA and Arghyam are co-hosting a conversation on 22 February 2013 to which select civil society actors have been invited to brainstorm concrete approaches to address this situation in the medium to long term in India. Ms Peggy Dulany, founder-chairperson of Synergos Institute, New York, will be attending. Ms Dulany has championed the cause of progressive philanthropy worldwide over the past three decades, especially to address systemic and underlying causes for poverty, exclusion and violence. Peggy has emphasised bridging leadership as a critical ingredient in effecting systemic changes. Synergos Institute (www.synergos.org) has promoted community foundations, social entrepreneurs and philanthropic circles globally.