Non-Governmental Organisations and the Challenges of Effective Empowering-Oriented Services: Case Study of the Noela Lyonga Foundation in Cameroon

Abstract

From the late 1980s, Non-Governmental Organistions (NGOs) assumed a far greater role in development than previously. NGOs were first discovered and then celebrated by the international donor community as bringing fresh solutions to longstanding development problems characterized by inefficient government to government aid and ineffective development projects. This paper has been guided by specific objective sets out to examine if NGOs provide effective services to their communities and to identify the challenges faced in the process. This work will make use of the Civil Society theory. It advocates that, a civil society organization (CSO) or non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group which is organized on a local, national or international level; which have taken on the role of leading great movement of change including civil rights and gender equality and other parity movements. They raise awareness of social issues and advocate for change, empowering local communities to develop new programs to meet their own needs. Both secondary and primary sources were used to collect data. Primary data was principally collected through two semi-structured questionnaires containing close and open ended question, interviews and observation while secondary data was gotten from published materials from journals and books. It was realized from the field that, Non-Governmental Organisations have provided effective empowered services in Cameroon though they are some challenges encountered. As a recommendation therefore, The Noela Lyonga Foundation should improve on policies in striving for a more indecisive and participative part-time and full-time volunteer placement for those looking for jobs and during events to enable productivity improvement through team work and quality work life programs.

The foundation empowerment activities should improve on the credibility of their part-time and full time volunteer performance appraisals among others.