‘Building capacity of NGOs needed’

At a time when 80 per cent of around 11,000 NGOs in the country are first-timers and seeking support from or partnerships with the corporate sector, capacity building of these companies is the need of the hour, said Gayatri Subramaniam, chief programme executive and convenor, NFCSR, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), here on Thursday. Gayatri was speaking this at a national conclave organised by the Charities Aid Foundation India in partnership with United Parcel Service Foundation, aimed at creating an enabling environment for building capacities of NGOs in the country. The conclave, which marked the successful completion of the project titled ‘’Streng-thening Growth of Not-For-Profits through Inclusive Partnerships”, covered wide-ranging issues.

Faced by the NGOs and the corporate sector in implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, focusing on the need for ensuring credibility in the NGO sector and capacity building of local NGOs, both of which are essential for more inclusive and impactful CSR projects. Eminent decision-makers from NGOs, government representatives and corporate sector shared their best practices. at the conclave.

Gayatri pointed out, “NGOs need to foster good relations with corporates by incorporating proper mechanisms and expertise. Their strengths must be integrated to create multiplier effect to their projects in order to ensure maximum impact. The need of the time is to carve and develop a new relationship for best results. Capacity-building of NGOs is definitely the need of the hour.”

“Corporates want social returns on their investments, an auditing basically. Capacity building helps to create that transparency and accountability,” she added.

Dr Mala Bhandari, founder director of the Social and Development Research and Action Group (SADRAG), felt that cross-section partnership would help create a bridge between the two sectors.

On behalf of the corporates, Tanuja Birla, senior director of AON Corporation, said, “To deliver more effectively, it is crucial to build capacities of NGOs as part of the larger goal of benefiting the society.

Others from the corporate sector admitted that CAF India is playing a crucial role in mentoring the NGO partners. "In a way, CAF India is guiding, managing, reviewing and monitoring their work. They are acting as the third eye. They are the channel which ensures that the work is being done effectively," one of the panellists said.

Meanwhile, CAF India identified considerable gaps in the NGO sector. CAF India CEO Meenakshi Batra said, “To deliver on the development agenda, it is important to invest in capacity-building of the NGOs. Having worked in the philanthropy sector for the last 18 years, we have witnessed gaps in various areas of NGO management ranging from governance to compliance and overall management to reporting. We are thankful to UPS Foundation for providing the grant support for building capacities of local NGOs in Delhi NCR.”

A series of capacity-building workshops were also held in Delhi NCR in the run up to the national conclave, which addressed NGO management, financial compliance, governance, FCRA laws, effective management of CSR projects, proposal writing, importance of documentation, communication and fundraising strategies.