Syria
20th October 2005
Islamic Studies Centre, Damascus
Country Background
Charitable work has a long and widespread history in Syria. Since 2000, local NGOs have developed a more prominent and formalised profile, despite various restrictions on their activities. However, none of the local NGOs are active on an international scale. Knowledge transfer and co-operation between local and international organisations within Syria remain poor, and there are still very few international NGOs working there.
The workshop
The Damascus workshop was the first and smallest of the series of workshops but the participants were very enthusiatic. The Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Syria attended - a sign of the unifying force of The Forum, and the amicable relations between religious groups within the country. For most organisations the workshop was a unique opportunity to sit with government officials and directly express their concerns in an atmosphere of open dialogue.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- Syrian NGOs are doing too little to address the needs of illiterate people who are often the poorest in the country.
- Islam and Muslim organisations face prejudice and negative publicity.
- NGOs have real difficulty in mobilising volunteers.
- Local NGOs have poor access to and make little use of technology such as the internet. This affects their PR and internal communication capabilities
- NGOs feel that their dealings with government are hampered by bureaucratic processes which are not amicable to the running of such organisations
Recommendations
The negative impact of the actions of a few figures in the Muslim world must be countered with condemnations and explanations of the true teachings of Islam by NGOs and The Humanitarian Forum.
International NGOs present in Syria should form real and meaningful partnerships with local NGOs which could positively impact on capacity-building. This would also allow for charities to update and professionalise.
Concepts such as volunteerism should be taught in schools to raise awareness of their importance.
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Yemen
23 October 2005 Ministry of Planning and International Co-operation, Sanaa
Country background
The government of Yemen actively supports NGOs and their work, and involves them in programmes undertaken by its Social Fund for Development which was established in 1997. The Fund delivers technical assistance to communities through NGOs.
A new law, passed in 2001, saw the NGO sector flourish, with 2,941 NGOs receiving licenses by mid-2004. It is not mandatory for NGOs to apply for a licence to operate in Yemen and the government is in the process of further eliminating regulations that may hinder NGO formation. However, the government extends substantial benefits to licensed NGOs, including tax cuts and subsidies.
There is currently a 3 year leadership programme for young women in Yemen, supported by an international NGO. This demonstrates growing beneficial links between the international and local NGOs.
The workshop
The Sanaa workshop was opened by the Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmed Sufan with speeches given by the Minister of Endowments and Guidance, His Excellency Mr. Hamoud Ubbad, the Ambassador for Great Britain, Michael Gifford, and Dr Hany El-Banna, amongst others. Over 80 participants attended, including representatives from human rights organisations.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- Illiteracy is a widespread problem in Yemen. It affects poverty levels and also the reach of print communication
- Many organisations are not democratically led
- Media are not involved in promoting the work of the NGOs
- Most NGOs face difficulties when transferring funds
- International NGOs often fail to understand the specific local cultural realities of Yemen and some come with pre-conceived judgments and generalisations
Recommendations
The efforts of Muslim-run NGOs worldwide should be united so as to pool resources, set codes of conduct and improve professionalism. NGOs expressed an interest in studies being carried out on the role, administration and setup of charitable organisations in Islamic history.
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Turkey
29th October 2005, Doga Centre, Istanbul Country
Background
The NGO sector in Turkey is gradually coming of age and benefiting from increased popular support and greater political tolerance. Young people are becoming more active in civil society, which is flourishing.
A new category has been added in the government’s Five Year Development Plan which focuses specifically on providing assistance to NGOs. The public is participating and tend to channel their scrutiny of political processes through NGOs.
Although the trend is decreasing, there is a strong scepticism of anything ‘Islamic’ or ‘Muslim’ in Turkey, so faith-based organisations face more difficulties than secular ones.
The workshop
The Istanbul workshop was held with the support of the International Council of Awqaf and NGOs (ICANO). The head of ICANO, Professor Naci Bor, said “For the last twenty years we have been waiting for an opportunity like this.” Representatives of 53 national Muslim and secular NGOs attended and government spokespersons joined in the discussions, although there was no media presence.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- Some NGOs who are close to government are seen to be favoured over others, although these NGOs change with successive governments
- NGOs face considerable bureaucracy and procedural difficulty
- Critics see certain well-known individuals ‘hijacking’ NGOs to boost their own image, thus undermining the purely charitable and open nature of these organisations
- NGOs in Turkey face severe funding difficulties
Recommendations
NGOs should be accredited by international bodies, or even UN agencies so as to gain the trust of donors and governments. This would also help NGOs be better regulated and would improve the efficiency of their programmes. Muslim-run NGOs need to be organised in an umbrella organisation as soon as possible to unite and counter the negative post-9/11 accusations and suspicions levelled at them.
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Sudan
12th December 2005 BP Centre, Khartoum
Country background
Information on the NGO sector in Sudan is sparse. The information that does exist relates to the problems faced by international NGOs working in Sudan, but not national Sudanese organisations. Sudan has suffered acutely from the post 9/11 panic over Muslim-run NGOs and funding from international organisations has almost entirely dried up. This has had a severe impact on humanitarian work in the country.
The workshop
The Khartoum workshop was very well attended, with over 140 organisations represented. All expressed hope that The Humanitarian Forum had planted the seeds for dialogue and co-operation.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- Sudanese NGOs feel isolated from the international NGOs working within their country
- NGOs also feel isolated from government processes, especially from laws that affects their operations
Recommendations
The laws regulating voluntary work should be revised in accordance with the culture of accountability and transparency.
The Humanitarian Forum could play an important role in encouraging the government to have a more positive attitude towards national NGOs, providing structured training programmes for all NGOs without discrimination.
A permanent secretariat should be established in Sudan to promote the aims of the Forum, such as capacity-building and accountability training. NGOs should co-ordinate themselves and hold workshops and seminars for each other. At the same time, stronger links should be forged with international organisations that could provide training for home-grown NGOs.
Codes of conduct should be developed so that international NGOs can see that local organisations are trustworthy and ready for partnership and that any suspicions they may have are unsubstantiated.
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South Africa
28th March 2006, Sunnyside Park Hotel, Johannesburg
Country background
It is estimated that the NGO sector in South Africa employs as many people as the national government and that there are between 55,000 and 100,000 organisations active within civil society. Many of these have orientated themselves towards development projects, with education being the focus of one fifth of activities. Muslim-run NGOs in South Africa have been active for almost three centuries. However, the sector is often not characterised by unity and co-operation but conflict defined by religious and cultural barriers. This situation further entrenches negative stereotypes of Muslim-run NGOs although Muslims are well represented in national government. Since 1995, many private and international donors have chosen to channel their funds through government rather than NGOs. The government currently receives half of all donated funds.
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Pakistan
6th December 2005 Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad
Country background
The role of NGOs in Pakistan initially gained momentum following independence in 1947, and the country has experienced a boom in NGO activity in recent years. Funds from community contributions, local donors and government total an estimated 1.5% of the country’s GDP and have helped create a well developed civil society sector.
Some critics claim that the impact of NGO work is not proportional to the funds given. However, generalisating about the work of Pakistani NGOs is unhelpful, as they can range from small village schools to multi-million pound development organisations.
The workshop
Taking place soon after the earthquake which devastated huge areas of Kashmir and the north of Pakistan, the workshop was a timely opportunity for NGOs to meet Pakistani government representatives. They all enjoyed a free exchange of concerns and recommendations in the event of future emergencies.
The event was opened by His Excellency, Shaukat Aziz, Prime Minister of Pakistan, who spoke about the role of NGOs in Pakistan’s development and what government support could be provided in their relief and development efforts. He was keen to express the government’s gratitude to international NGOs for their assistance after the recent disaster, but also expressed pleasure that so many local organisations had achieved such a great deal. He said that “What everybody wants is transparency,” to ensure that all actors have greater confidence in local NGOs resulting in better service delivery. The workshop was attended by Ministers, the Prime Minister’s special advisor, ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of 95 leading national and international NGOs.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- NGOs face decreased commitment and dedication from both volunteers and staff. This may be a reflection of poor leadership, lack of experience and/or facilities for NGOs.
- No specialised training for NGO workers, notably for skills such as proposal-writing or gender mainstreaming
- Donations from local communities have decreased owing to increased suspicion of Muslim-run NGOs
Recommendations
There is a need for a greater focus on gender equality both within the NGO sector and in the work it carries out. Participants recommended the decentralisation of the system governing NGOs to ease bureaucratic hardships, and for the regulations to be updated.
The motivation and dedication of existing personnel and volunteers of NGOs needs to be enhanced. Many local community organisations felt that it was necessary for larger NGOs to impart their knowledge and experience to smaller organisations.
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Lebanon
10th December 2005, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Beirut
Country background
Lebanon is often cited as having the largest and most active civil society in the Middle East. By and large they face few constraints as the government has a ‘hands off’ approach. However there some argue that there should be an increased state role in the existence of NGOs, through the provision of clear legislation outlining their rights and obligations.
In Beirut alone there are more than 1,000 registered NGOs and 60% of health centres are run by them. The NGO sector gathered strength during the 1975-1990 civil war and yet there is no tradition of peer co-operation.
Workshops
Successful conferences and workshops have been held, specifically on transparency and accountability in Lebanon.
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Malaysia
29th November 2005 Grand Plaza Parkroyal, Kuala Lumpur
Country background
Malaysia has a long history of charity and its collection of ‘zakat' is steadily growing each year. In 2003, 408 million Riggit (over £60 million) was collected.
The NGO movement in Malaysia is relatively new. The government encourages their role in society, provided they adhere to the Malaysian constitution and regulations. The number of NGOs has increased over the past two decades but despite the country's relative wealth, there is a shortage of funds for their work. Fundraising is done on an informal individual basis rather than in a widespread, organised fashion. There is a poor awareness of the role of civil society in promoting social development.
The workshop
The Kuala Lumpur conference was attended by a Member of Parliament, Dato' Dr Haji Mohamed Fuad, with strong representation from staff of the British and US embassies. Over 50 leading national NGOs and two International NGOs working in Malaysia participated in lively and open discussions. Dato' Dr Haji Mohamed Fuad spoke of the importance of partnership, saying "As partners from the Muslim world, we should be able to speak the language of the international humanitarian community".
Key issues faced by NGOs
- Widespread misunderstanding of Islam, particularly after 9/11 when suspicions of Muslim-run NGOs have become increasingly prevalent
- NGOs have little experience of dealing with the media which is essential to challenging negative perceptions of faith-based NGOs
- There are sometimes negative relations between NGOs.
- Beneficiaries in disaster affected areas of foreign countries have complained of Malaysian aid workers behaving like tourists
Recommentations
NGOs should publicly commend each other's work. Malaysia is in need of standard operating procedures for NGOs, which could be designed by a government-regulated body or agency that would oversee humanitarian NGOs. This needs to be combined with an easing of some of the bureaucratic procedures of government. Within NGOs, leadership tenures should be time-restricted, such as a maximum of five years.
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Kuwait
26th March 2006 Safir Hotel, Safar
Country background
Only a few years ago, there was only one international NGO and fewer than 60 national NGOs registered in Kuwait. This is now changing as the government takes a friendlier stance, offering subsidies for the operating expenses of licensed organisations. Despite this positive development, some NGOs wait years to receive the license as the government wishes to avoid overlap in the services provided by different NGOs.
The workshop
The Safar conference was organised by International Islamic Charitable Organisation and held under the auspices of the Minister of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (although a wider government presence was missed). NGOs from surrounding countries participated united with Kuwaiti organisations to discuss shared problems. Keynote speeches were delivered by the Head of the International Islamic Charity Association, Youssef Al-Hajj; the Head of Islamic Relief Worldwide, Dr Hany El-Banna; the Deputy Head of Mission for the British Embassy, Jamie Bowden; the Head of Regional Office of Middle East, North Africa, Iran and Afghanistan for UNOCHA, Ivo Freijsen; and Senior Advisor, Sustaining In-Depth Dialogue of the World Economic Forum, Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- Pervasive lack of confidence in Kuwaiti NGOs is hindering partnerships
- Lack of respect and understanding between cultures
- Low attendance at international NGO gatherings
- There have been strong tensions between Muslim-run charities and some Western governments since 9/11. Of all the countries visited for workshops, Kuwait has experienced some of the most acute financial transfer problems for its charities.
- The role of women in NGOs is almost negligible
Recommendations
To improve transparency and dispel myths, representatives of Western governments and NGOs should visit field projects run by Kuwaiti-based charities. At the same time, a legal umbrella for Muslim-run charitable organisations and accounting regulations are needed. Participants also felt that the media has a vital but as yet unfulfilled role at the forefront of encouraging and promoting charity work.
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Jordan
13th February 2006, Four Seasons Hotel, Amman
Country background
In recent years, the number of international NGOs in Jordan has risen dramatically. The Jordanian government has encouraged the growth of local Jordanian NGOs, offering guidance on regulation whilst encouraging partnerships. There is a heavy emphasis on micro-credit and economic development initiatives.
Jordan has various online databases and discussion forums for the NGO community that encourages better co-operation than in most other countries.
The workshop
The Amman conference was very well attended, with many ambassadors in attendance. The Minister of Social Affairs expressed sincere interest in the Forum, promising to do his utmost to take action on the recommendations.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- Local laws and tax requirements make the establishment and running of NGOs difficult
- Very few people carry out voluntary work; general awareness of the subject is low
- The national media is not keen on highlighting the positive achievements of NGOs who themselves may have difficulty in clarifying and declaring their goals
- Women's participation in NGO structures and activities is still poor
- Jordanian NGOs' participation at international conferences is low.
Recommendations
As fundraising is such an important issue in Jordan, fundraising committees should be established in each organisation to counter the lack of financial support and to seek financial resources from wealthy Muslim-majority states.
Raising awareness and encouraging research on volunteerism and charity work from an Islamic perspective would mobilise more staff for under-resourced NGOs.
A code of ethics should be developed based on the Qu'ran and Sunnah. Centres specialising in the training of NGO staff could provide an invaluable service for improving staff skills and capacity. International conferences should be better attended by Jordanian organisations.
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Indonesia
26th October 2005, Bumikarsa Hotel, Jakarta
Country background
The NGO sector in Indonesia only began in the 1970s, yet it boasts over 8,000 active and creative organisations. There is no national forum for co-ordinating Indonesia's NGOs, aa fact largely due to the sheer diversity of NGOs and their interests.
All NGOs wishing to register with the government must state that they agree with the Pancasila (the Five Principles forming the philosophical basis of the Indonesian state, as set out in the 1945 Constitution.) They are also officially referred to as 'Lembaga Swadaya Maysarakat' (Self-Reliant Communities) since the name 'Non-Governmental Organisations' seems to imply alternative sources of power to the government. This official name leads to problems of perception and consequently the government is unwilling to see NGOs as partners in development.
However, many organisations enjoy widespread support for their activities amongst their beneficiaries as there is strong emphasis on beneficiary participation in projects.
The workshop
Media interest at the Jakarta workshop was high. For many NGOs this was the first occasion they could meet and learn about each other. Participants expressed how pleased they were to be brought together at such an event. The Representative for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Nurul Islam, attended. He spoke out about the public image of Indonesia, saying, "Indonesia is still portrayed as a centre of terrorism. I protest this accusation as it is neither true nor right that Indonesia, with a Muslim population of 87.12% is being accused in this way."
Key issues faced by NGOs
- funding from domestic funding agencies is difficult to obtain, particularly for smaller NGOs
- Many NGOs have a low profile because of a lack of capacity and capability for public relations and marketing
- Mainstream media do not portray Indonesian NGOs positively, nor do they encourage the role and activities of faith-based Muslim NGOs. This undermines the trust local communities have in them
- Poor understanding of true Islamic values
- Reluctance to form a code of ethics for the NGO sector. Weak human resources
Recommendations
A code of ethics would demonstrate a commitment to self-regulation, professionalism and accountability, which would do much to change the government's image of NGOs. Capacity building around PR and communication strategies and effective fundraising would increase NGO potential. Beneficiary communities should be educated about the Islamic values that drive the work of Muslim-based NGOs so as to dispel any misconceptions.
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Egypt
11th February 2006, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Cairo
Country background
In the last decade, there has been a heavy focus on improving certain aspects of the NGO sector in Egypt; building capacity on transparency, accountability, good governance and other key concepts. An NGO Service Centre has served over 600 NGOs and the Social Fund for Development, (which is managed by the World Bank) has attracted $1 billion in a decade and a half. Egypt’s NGO sector is a major partner in this project. A recent estimate showed that the sector’s expenditures account for over 2% of GDP.
The workshop
The Cairo conference had the greatest number of participants (almost 400) and attracted coverage by Al Jazeera and the main Egyptian media outlets. More than 150 development NGOs attended, including UN agencies, international Muslim and non-Muslim NGOs and local Egyptian organisations.
Key issues faced by NGOs
- There is weak leadership within NGOs causing many organisations to lack clarity about their mission, vision and project strategies
- Fundraising efforts are weak at best and the public knows little about the work of NGOs and consequently is not motivated to donate to them
- The laws that NGOs must operate within have been criticised for being too restrictive
Recommendations
The NGO monitoring systems that are in place in Egypt should be unified under one organisation. A culture of evaluation needs to be encouraged and supported through training. At the same time, project proposals should become more professional in order to gain funding. Participants felt that to retain independence, NGOs should diversify their income sources.
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Bangladesh
1st December 2005 Sonargan Pan Pacific Hotel, Dhaka
Country background
Civil society in Bangladesh is amongst the strongest in South Asia. NGOs operate in 78% of villages and almost one in ten primary schoolchildren attend a school run by an NGO. The government encourages NGO activity and many smaller organisations have increased their programmes so that they have a nationwide scope. Consequently there are innovative counter-poverty initiatives across the country. In total, there are over 2,000 development NGOs in Bangladesh, a few of which are amongst the biggest in the world. However, the smaller ones struggle with limited human resources. Despite the large number of organisations, the range of services on offer are surprisingly homogenous; 90% of branch offices provide credit services. The private sector is growing rapidly and the free press has indicated positive expectations for a strengthened and more effective NGO sector.
The workshop
Media attention was high at the Dhaka workshop, despite it taking place just two days after a suicide attack in the city and on the same morning as another attack. Consequently many ambassadors and representatives of international NGOs could not attend but expressed their keen interest in the aims of the WHF.
Key issues faced by NGOs
NGOs are not planning and implementing sufficient long-term sustainable development programmes. This is partly a result of weak management ‘Islamic' NGOs are suffering from negative stereotyping which is hampering their fundraising efforts Monitoring and supervision of projects is weak Academic training is lacking for development personnel Gender inequity and a lack of promotion for women's rights negatively impacts on social progress. It was felt that Muslim NGOs should be at the forefront of advocating for women's rights
Recommendations
The participants felt that considering the suspicion surrounding ‘Islamic' and ‘Muslim' organisations, the Forum should issue statements condemning terrorism. The Forum should also disseminate posters, leaflets and other publicity highlighting the peaceful nature of Islam and its positive aspects. On a wider scale, the Forum should compile and distribute Islamic texts relating to relevant social issues to raise awareness of the Islamic philanthropic heritage amongst the international NGO community. Delegates also saw that it would be beneficial for the efficiency of NGOs and for their relationships with government and donors, if a monitoring body was established that was specifically aimed at Muslim faith-based NGOs.
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