 | NGO Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice (Commonwealth Foundation) |
 |  | (introduction...) |
|  | Part I: NGOs: what they are and what they do |
| | 1. The rationale and purpose of this report |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 1.1 The origins and scope of this report |
| | 1.2 An overview of the report |
| | 1.3 The purpose of this report |
| | 1.4 The importance of NGOs |
| | 1.5 The global dimension |
| | 1.6 The local dimension |
| | 1.7 NGOs, government and civil society |
| | 2. The historical context |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 2.1 Care and welfare |
| | 2.2 Change and development |
| | 2.3 The historical evolution of NGO/government relationships |
| | 2.4 Welfare pluralism |
| | 2.5 The emergence of alternatives |
| | 2.6 New concerns |
| | 3. NGOs defined |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 3.1 Diverse current ways of defining NGOs |
| | 3.2 Defining ''NGO'' for the purposes of this report. |
| | 3.3 Is ''NGO'' the right term? |
| | 4. NGO activities described |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 4.1 The spectrum of NGO activities |
| | 4.2 Who and what |
| | 4.3 How |
| | 4.4 The diversity of NGO activities |
| | 5. A typology of NGOs |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 5.1 Why a typology is needed |
| | 5.2 Component 1: A descriptive typology |
| | 5.3 Organisational terms |
| | 5.4 Main forms of control |
| | 5.5 Location between government and civil society |
| | 5.6 Level of operation |
| | 5.7 Legal forms |
| | 5.8 Links with parent and subsidiary bodies |
| | 5.9 Links between NGOs |
| | 5.10 Component 2: An organisational typology |
| | 5.11 Organisations in civil society which engage in NGO-type activities |
| | 5.12 Fraudulent NGOs |
| | 6. The governance and operation of NGOs |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 6.1 The accountability of NGOs |
| | 6.2 Improving NGO governance and operations |
| | 6.3 Management |
| | 6.4 Human resource development (HRD) and training |
| | 6.5 Reviewing, monitoring and evaluating |
| | 6.6 Information |
| | 6.7 Networking and alliance-building |
| | 7. The legal and institutional frameworks within which NGOs operate |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 7.1 Freedom to associate |
| | 7.2 The political dimension |
| | 7.3 The law |
| | 7.4 Regulation |
| | 7.5 Collective, external and self-regulation |
| | 8. The framework of relationships within which NGOs operate |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 8.1 A complex pattern of relationships |
| | 8.2 Relationships with government: key issues |
| | 8.3 Relationships with government: ways forward |
| | 8.4 Relationships with funders: key issues |
| | 8.5 Relationships with funders: ways forward |
| | 8.6 Other strategies to strengthen relationships |
| | 9. The international dimension |
| | (introduction...) |
| | 9.1 Forms of international linkage |
| | 9.2 Funding links |
| | 9.3 Operational links |
| | 9.4 Partnerships |
| | 10. Conclusion and introduction to the guidelines |
| | Part II: Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice |
| | 11. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of Governments |
| | 12. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of NGOs |
| | 13. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of funders |
| | 14. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of ''North'' and international agencies |
| | 15. Implementing the guidelines: A plan of action |
| | Part III: References |
| | Annex 1: The process of research and consultation |
| | Annex 2: List of those submitting information, consulted, or responding |
| | Annexes |
| | Annex 1: The process of research and consultation |
| | Annex 2: List of those submitting information, consulted or responding |
9.4 Partnerships
Partnership describes a relationship in which the parties involved acknowledge each other as equals. In consequence they have mutual respect for each other. Partnership means working together to find solutions and achieve goals. It also assumes a willingness to learn from each other, for while equal, the parties may have different but complementary skills, experiences. It means sharing power and pooling resources.
While comparable terms such as project partner, counterpart organisation or partnership are often used to describe relationships between North NGOs and funders and South NGOs, these words often tend to be hollow. In addition, North-South relationships usually involve only NGOs and funders in the North which have international operational or funding interests. Many local and national NGOs in the North are parochial in their outlook, and regard links with the South as the preserve of the international bodies, and as irrelevant to their needs.
It is encouraging to note, however, that this is changing. This is in large measure due to the impact of pressure from southern NGOs and international NGO networks, including the growth of international associations in which both northern and southern members participate as equals.
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