8.5 Relationships with funders: ways forward

As in the case of NGO/government relationships, the way forward here is clearly in the direction of information, communication and dialogue. There are many good examples of funders communicating clear and detailed information about their policies and priorities. Few funders, however, appear to inform the development of such policies and priorities through dialogue with NGOs. While many funders communicate among themselves, this can have negative as well as positive effects, for dialogue among them can as easily reinforce "faddishness" as produce complementarity of diverse policies and priorities.

What funders need most of all to do is to establish mechanisms to include NGOs as partners in policy and programme goal-setting and decision-making.