INGOs
(INGOs) are bodies that serve to make an extension of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), by being situated and defined in an international scope (Boli, 2012). These bodies do not depend on the government and are either advocacy types that influence the governments into aiming at certain targets, while others are operational ones that serve in the provision of services (Teegen, Doh & Vachani, 2004). These bodies are majorly non-profit organizations, but get their financing from membership fees or being funded by companies across the globe. Their main goal is neither political nor economic but is concerned with communication, information, and projects that are practical in organizing global domains or being global change effectors. Some make rules that are applied to their members, like in sports (Teegen, Doh & Vachani, 2004). Others serve in bringing solutions to social problems by improving the living conditions, while others advance knowledge, protect the threatened communities, improve technology, create standards globally, advance knowledge or induce individuals, businesses or states to abide by specific principles (Boli, 2012).
In their course of work, INGOs are faced with numerous challenges. They face challenges concerning funding, working in hostile environments, and many times facing severe criticism from communities or governments that they counteract (Lewis, 2014). However, to add salt to the injury, the latest major challenge that has faced these international organizations is the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. This virus has rapidly spread to all parts of the world, ravaging peoples’ way of life, disrupting businesses, schools, and economic activities. Many people have been reduced to beggars, waiting for humanitarian help as their source of livelihood has been hit hard. It has therefore been the work of such bodies to continue with humanitarian help for the people in most parts of the globe despite the conditions. This paper will discuss the problems that have been facing these bodies before the onset of the pandemic, after the pandemic and their coping mechanisms. It has therefore called for effective management competencies to enable these organizations to continue delivering services all through as supported by Lewis, (2014).
Global Trends Affecting INGOs Before COVID-19
Hostility from Governments
One of the many challenges that have been faced by the INGOs has been hostility from many governments in their jurisdiction of work. The governments’ major role in their ruling is to promote sustainability always. No government can, therefore, work alone in this area. Therefore, it very crucial for all the governments worldwide to partner and work with other governments and organizations in ensuring that the issue of sustainability is being addressed and handled in a global context (Rubenstein, 2015). Governments have the responsibility of anticipating the demand for sustainable services and products. It is therefore a key role of the government to help the people and their countries in general to have a transition towards having a more effective economy and one that is less damaging. These governments, therefore, are supposed to lead in the war against unsustainability and harsh conditions by setting agendas for their citizens, industries, and economies (Rubenstein, 2015).
Majority INGOs have been, for a long time, been essential figures of governance globally as they have been participating in international meetings and summits, acting as watchdogs and institutional stakeholders (Teegen, Doh & Vachani, 2004). It is therefore no surprise as these international organizations have been a subject of criticism and harsh treatment from many governments, especially those that they have been in constant repulsion with. Despite having a lot of influence, many of these organizations have failed to be the voice of the people since their activists have been largely suppressed by many governments. Many organizations have been working on the grassroots, advocating for human rights as well as delivering essential services to citizens. Many have been speaking against abuse of human rights, equal distribution of resources, and democracy in governance. However, many have only been left to be a small voice that only speaks for very few people, despite being global and central organizations in the political processes (Teegen, Doh & Vachani, 2004).
Many organizations have even faced suspensions in some countries, an example being in Burundi, Africa. In October 2018, there was a massive crackdown on NGOs and INGOs despite the country having a population of about 3.6 million citizens in need of humanitarian assistance (Roby, 2018). The move caused many humanitarians to be concerned that the move served to silence them. Since 2015, there had been heightened tensions between the government and the civil society after the late former president, Nkurunziza, announced to vie for a third term in office, which was an unconstitutional move that sparked protests all over the nation, and an attempted coup. The majority of the NGOs and INGOs had since been under constant attack, with many activists not daring to leave their homes. The hostility from the government against these organizations was a discourse that was used in a move to legitimize the dictatorial move by the ruling power to get support from the population as discussed by Roby, (2018).
How COVID-19 has affected its Trajectory
In the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, nations everywhere are taking urgent measures in the spread of the virus, to delay its growth until a treatment or a vaccine is found. With the rapid spread of the virus, very few nations are likely to be spared. The pandemic has thus posed a major challenge to the governments and the humanitarian organizations with coming to a solution in promoting human health. The governments have been also faced with challenges of taking care of their citizens, especially those who have lost their source of livelihoods, and yet meeting the medical expenses for the infected people (Roby, 2018). They have therefore been forced to ease their restrictions and demands from the INGOs, and therefore having to change their hostility to these groups as they seek assistance in humanitarian assistance to their people. Governments across the globe have thus been forced to seek assistance from these organizations, hosting them in the view of getting humanitarian relief and medical assistance for their people (Roby, 2018).
High Poverty Levels across the World
Absolute poverty, abject poverty, deep poverty, extreme poverty, penury, and destitution were some of the terms that were defined by the United Nations. They refer to any condition characterized by a severe basic human needs deprivation such as health, food, sanitation facilities, shelter, safe drinking water, information, and education (The World Bank, 2020). This condition does not always depend on monetary income but also the ability to access these essential services. In the past, the majority of the people around the world have been living in abject poverty with the number standing at about 20% in 2015 (The World Bank, 2020). Surveys that have been ongoing around the world still points out the true situation on the ground that extreme poverty has not yet gone down, despite the massive fights and campaigns towards eradicating the menace. The United Nations Millennium Development Goal one was targeted to make sure a reduction of poverty was achieved by half. The Sustainable Developmental Goals then succeeded in this movement, aiming to end all forms of extreme poverty by 2030, a fight that every nation and organizations seem to be fighting against it by all means (The World Bank, 2020).
A multitude of international organizations are out there in the field presently combating extreme poverty actively seeking for its alleviation (Rubenstein, 2015). Some of these organizations include Save the Children, Concern Worldwide, Oxfam, and Overseas Development Institute, among others. These organizations are putting in a lot of considerable efforts in this fight but yet the challenges are countless. Despite these organizations working hard to provide affordable housing, scholarships, medical services, food provision, and other basic amenities, there remain a huge number of people across the globe living in poor conditions (Rubenstein, 2015). Identifying the ones who are poorest of them all is also another problem as the data that exists concerning poverty is varied. The challenge that has been posted to the international organizations fighting poverty has been the conduction of community consultations which normally takes time. What might be needed also by these people might not be available to them readily. For example, an organization working on improving the sanitation or provide funds to construct portable sources of water in an area. The other problem has also been the difficulty in making collaborations between organizations due to their modes of working which is usually different (Bond, 2020).
How COVID-19 has affected this Trajectory
With the COVID-19 outbreak, combined with the massive oil price drop, the extreme poverty elimination trend has been poised to reverse this year. This crisis has surely and will continue to pose an impact that is disproportionate to the poor people, as they lose jobs and losing their remittances as well (The World Bank, 2020). Besides, the pandemic has also caused a massive disruption in the public essential services such as healthcare and education. Due to a recession of the global economy as a result of the virus outbreak and the massive shutdown of industries, the poverty rates are expected to go up since 1998. This global crisis is set to erase major efforts that have been made in the last few years against poverty due to a great drop in the GDP per capita (The World Bank, 2020). The World Bank has made estimates that about 40 to 60 million people across the world will fall back to abject poverty this year, thus dragging the steps that were made by the INGOs in the fight to eradicate poverty. Also, the people across the world who live on less than $3.20 daily are set to increase from 0.3 to 1.7% in points from 2019 to 2020. This figure represents an increase of about 40 to 150 million people globally (The World Bank, 2020).
These figures are very volatile, and their effects could be felt differently across countries. Due to the virus, it has become increasingly hard to reach out to the extremely poor people, especially those living in fragile countries and precisely in very remote places. Therefore, the aim to reduce poverty further may not be accelerated as expected this year, therefore slowing the target of ending poverty by 2030. The virus has, therefore, caused a massive glitch in global poverty eradication goals, which are calling for intensified action from all governments and health organizations, headed by World Health Organization to combat the pandemic (The World Bank, 2020).
Funding
For international organizations that are driven my specific humanitarian missions, funding is always an enabler rather than a purpose, which usually provides the needed resources in achieving the desired impact. For the general public, to serve in making a difference and standing in solidarity with the communities and individuals served by these INGOs is for continued channeling monetary resources to these bodies (O’Connell, 2020). Income for the organizations is not usually everything but it is the vital driving force behind the continued existence. Many INGOs across the world face a major problem of trust and legitimacy with their shareholders, and majorly being combined with funding challenges, a factor that has even led to many of them collapsing and others becoming less relevant in their operations. Being non-profit organizations, these international groups rely on many sources, people, and groups to get their funds for the projects they run, paying salaries, operating and other types of costs incurred. Since their annual budgets are very hefty, efforts to engage in fundraising are crucial for their success and future existence. Sources of their funding may include dues from members, grants from federal, state, or local agencies, philanthropic foundations, or private donations (O’Connell, 2020).
How COVID-19 has affected this Trajectory
The COVID-19 pandemic has been unprecedented in its need and scale. In almost every country, sector, organization, community, or household, in general, is reeling from the negative impacts it has caused on the society and economy in general. The world has therefore changed fundamentally. Populations that are trapped in fragile conditions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa, Syria, and Yemen are most vulnerable due to the effects of this pandemic (O’Connell, 2020). Precisely, these people are in an acute challenge in terms of the economic and health effects, in addition to being at risk of cohesion and social order. The most difficult situation is that these international humanitarian organizations have themselves faced a very critical threat from this pandemic. They have been faced with financial constraints that have posed a risk on their operations and their ability to offer much-needed help to the people globally at the precise moment when their work is very crucial (O’Connell, 2020).
Strategies Adopted by INGOs to Adapt to COVID-19 Shock
The COVID19 pandemic has hit these international organizations hard. Many of them have had to go back to the drawing board and strategize on their mechanisms for thriving and surviving amid the pandemic. One INGO that has been hit hard is Oxfam, an international humanitarian organization. The organization has sought to maximize its humanitarian impact by shifting its operating power towards the South, in a move that will enable it to adapt to the brutal coronavirus impact (Oxfam International, 2020). The organization reorganized its operations globally, as it implemented a new strategic framework to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic financial effects. By strategizing on maximizing the operations in the south, the organization will be more effective in partnering with communities in the region to alleviate inequality and poverty as well as helping people in surviving humanitarian crises. This move will also help the organization to re-orient its teams in a move of working on solving issues that are dealing with local contexts specifically (Oxfam International, 2020).
In the mission of still providing humanitarian assistance to the coronavirus-stricken areas, organizations have also had to come with other means of making sure that they reduce the risk of contracting the virus, while also making sure that their assistance is felt. One organization that has taken a step to ensure that the humanitarian services are still flowing is NeedsMap, a nonprofit group based in Turkey as pointed out by Kumar, (2020). The group has capitalized on new thinking and come up with a method of “contactless aid delivery.” This organization came up with this interactive map where the affected people can ask for help and the willing donors can send money and supplies online, without necessarily having to physically deliver this assistance. Alternatively, a delivery person can deliver essential goods to people at their doorstep, without having to interact with them. The move is playing out well across many other jurisdictions, where now people who are isolated in homes, can receive help without necessarily having to put more people in the danger of contracting the virus (Kumar, 2020). For sure, the move is also in line with the WHOs recommendation, as well as the governments; directive of people maintaining social distancing to avoid accelerating the rates of infection.
Factors Affecting their Resilience
Insufficient Funds
It is the main factor affecting the majority of these organizations, especially at this critical moment that their services serve to be life-saving. An example of an organization that has been hit hard by the pandemic is Oxfam, which has been seriously impacted, thus being forced to shut down its operations in 18 countries. Some of these countries include Haiti, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Burundi. The organization announced on 20th May, on a move to cut costs by reducing their physical presence in these nations. The organization has faced a significant drop in its funding due to coronavirus, estimated to be about £434 million (Oxfam International, 2020).
Attack on Humanitarian Workers
Amidst this pandemic, there is increased attack and unfair treatment of the humanitarian personnel, and more so, the healthcare workers. The majority of the organizations’ workers have been facing increasing violence in their humanitarian work as pointed by Murdie & Bhasin, (2011). Since the WHO made a declaration of the coronavirus outbreak as a pandemic, there has been rising violence against the healthcare workers in the frontline against the virus. The majority of the attacks on this personnel have been due to the local fear by the people that they will spread the virus to the local people. Many workers have also protested the infection figures that have been largely contradictory in many countries, therefore being threatened seriously.
An example is Burundi, which saw four senior officials of WHO being expelled in the quarantine spots, and access to aid being blocked. One of the officials includes the representative of the organization in the country (Roby, 2018). An unnamed government official revealed that despite the government not giving a reason for the act, the main reason behind their expulsion was the management of the virus in the country, where the government saw the officials as ones who were “interfering” with their efforts. In Bujumbura, the nurses and doctors had said that the announced positive cases by the government were less than the actual number. In March, the human rights activists criticized the conditions at the quarantine centers, leading to several organizations that provide humanitarian services being blocked from providing any form of assistance, therefore complicating their work (Roby, 2018).
The flow of Food despite Decreased Working Hours and Border Lockdowns
Despite the coronavirus pandemic bringing all sorts of challenges in the provision of essential services, there is still a reason to smile. The challenges range from imposed curfews that decreased working hours and border lockdowns. Efforts are there to make sure these essential services are still flowing to people (The New Humanitarian, 2020). In many countries, especially those with ports to receive foreign goods and id, the number of berths available have been reduced due to the virus outbreak, to reduce its spread. The warehouses are also being forced to close earlier due to the curfews imposed as a control measure by the governments (The New Humanitarian, 2020). Initially, these instances used to slow the movement of food to people in need, in addition to the closure of the border, within the countries, to curb the spread of the virus through the movement of people, as well as the inter-country border closures.
As the humanitarian response to this state, the WFP, in conjunction with other INGOs, have resorted to set up regional hubs for centralizing movement of cargo and flights. This move has been widely used in African countries, serving the INGOs and other agencies. The move also helps in providing clinics for the aid workers and medevac services in case they are infected, to ease in the delivery of services. In Africa, two hubs have been set in Ghana and Ethiopia, with another coming up in South Africa as pointed out by The New Humanitarian, (2020). Many countries have also assured the humanitarian organizations that the supply of food to the people would not be affected by the closure of borders and lockdowns, by being classified as essential services in the time of this pandemic.
Management Competencies Required for Short and Long Term Survival
In the wake of the pandemic, the main concern for many humanitarian organizations is to maintain their operations sustainably. It has therefore resulted in making sure that wastage is reduced in every way possible for the organizations to survive this pandemic as well as in the future as supported by Bond, (2020). One organization that has embarked on a serious overhaul of its operations is Oxfam. The organization, first, has resulted to freeze the hiring of staff, cutting down travel budgets, and having the senior staff accept voluntary pay cuts. In the short term, the organization has been able to save much in terms of the operation costs, therefore redirecting the finds to more humanitarian interventions. In the long term view, the organization has sought to restructure its operations to contribute to effective running and operations. It has, therefore, resulted to cut down on unnecessary flights, and travels between countries, to save on money, as well as keeping a manageable number of employees all through (Oxfam International, 2020).
Secondly, the organization has sought to reshape its confederation’s affiliate network to secure long term financial stability and benefit. Since the organization operates globally, there is a need to ensure that services are running well and the entire operating countries feel the impact of their humanitarian services to the grassroots (Oxfam International, 2020). The management has therefore sought to improve the services being rendered by its affiliate members globally to make an impact. Through Chema Vera, the Interim Executive Director, the organization is looking at where to operate strategically to ensure the organization is a making significant impact (Oxfam International, 2020).
Lastly, through the reorganization of its global operations through the framework implemented strategically, the organization laid a ten-year plan of operating in a world that is rapidly changing. Through this plan, the organization seeks to work with communities and partners effectively in tackling humanitarian needs and challenges, starting with this coronavirus pandemic, going forwards (Oxfam International, 2020). The organization also aims at expanding its partnerships to ensure that there is cooperation with other bodies, well-wishers and donors like other organizations such as Bond, to help the organization in maintaining its operational costs as pointed out by (Bond, 2020).
Conclusion
International Non-Governmental Organizations have been in existence for a long period. These organizations have been battling various challenges in the process of providing humanitarian services to the people in need globally. These challenges have been aggravated further by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, therefore serving as a big blow to the organizations and the smooth running of their operations. The pandemic has made it difficult for services to continue reaching the suffering population due to restricted movements, and the fear of increased infections, thus making many people continue suffering the brunt of the pandemic. However, despite these challenges, these humanitarian organizations, in their call to alleviate human suffering, have had to strategize and come up with measures of surviving through this pandemic by ensuring that they remain operational now and in the future. This pandemic thus serves as a test for reviewing the means for ensuring sustainability is encouraged for the smooth operation of any organization, now and in the