Given the changing environment of public administration, the roles played by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will continuously evolve. NGOs are considered to be major role players in this era of governance as; in some instances, they fill the vacuum created by governments’ inability to honor the social contract, particularly in developing countries. However, the role of NGOs in the development process does not come easily, as they are faced with a number of challenges and opportunities. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the changing roles of NGOs in development, focusing on the case of a country like South Africa. Using a qualitative method, the chapter relies on a review of the available literature on the roles of NGOs in developing countries with a specific reference to South Africa. Explanatory case studies are considered to ascertain the role NGOs play in development. Specific cases of NGOs operating in local government in South Africa are examined with the aim of highlighting their contribution to the development and also identifying some of the challenges and opportunities available to them. The chapter concludes by suggesting some avenues that could be explored to enhance the role of NGOs in development in South Africa.
In the last two decades, a worldwide consensus has emerged about the limits of what can be achieved by public sectors and the need to relieve the public sector of a number of functions that it could share with other role players or for which it has proved to be particularly not capable to achieve or unsuitable. This development has called for the need to consider alternatives for public service delivery thus looking at the private sector and non-profit organisations (NPOs) for solutions in the pursuit of a number of development objectives. Since the '90s, NPOs have played a significant role in supporting citizens at various levels. For the sake of this article, an emphasis is placed on NPOs' role in the countries of the Sub-Saharan African region especially those that are considered to be fragile, weak or failed states.
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