Northern rehabilitation and development:

Call for transparency and accountability of INGOs

Local NGOs ask donors why they are sidelined:

Chaminda Perera

National Non Governmental Organisations which are in operation in Sri Lanka for several decades are asking the international donors and the United Nations agencies why they are being sidelined in the disbursement of aid for rehabilitation and development projects in the North.

These organisations are particularly concerned about the possibility of an influx of INGOs into the country to undertake projects without any transparency and accountability as it happened in the aftermath of the tsunami of 2004 December.

They are of the opinion that the bulk of the disbursement should be provided to the local NGOs and local expertise should be hired for the projects.

Sewa Lanka Organisation Chairman Dr. Harsha Kumara Navaratne

expressed dismay over foreign funding INGOs such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to meet the basic requirement of the civilians in welfare camps and villages.

“The IOM has no mandate to meddle with this issue,” he said.

He said most INGOs show reluctance to enter into agreements with the Government to implement projects in the country.

The Sewa Lanka organisation had launched several projects for the uplift of the people after the tsunami.

Dr. Navaratne said the country has experts who are capable in meeting welfare centre requirements.

“Certain INGOs are contemplating to bring down foreign experts to uplift the humanitarian situation in Vavuniya. I see no reason why they should bring down foreign experts when local personnel have the full potential to meet any situation,” he said.

He said most INGOs will leave the country within two to three years after their funds are exhausted. “The National NGOs are accountable to the government. The Parliamentary Select Committee on Non Governmental Organisations and other State agencies asked us what we did utilising enormous funds given by the donors,” Dr. Navaratne said.

These national NGOs which have been serving of Sri Lanka for over a decade, pointed out that over 100 INGOs came to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami and no one knows what they did in Sri Lanka.

Consortium for Humanitarian Agencies Executive Director Jeevan Thiagarajah said, many INGOs funded by foreign Governments and individuals have arrived here and carried out humanitarian assistance programs of their own without consulting the Government.

Thaigarajah said these INGOs should discuss with all stakeholders and come to a consensus before projects are launched.

He said there should be transparency in their dealings.

“They should be made accountable to the Government. These organisations are funded by individuals and the foreign Governments but they show reluctance to cooperate with the Government in implementing projects in Sri Lanka,” he said.

“The INGOs should discuss with the UN agencies, donors, Government, civil society representatives and local NGOs which are well established in the Sri Lankan soil with regard to humanitarian assistance programs and draw up a strategy which is purely meant for welfare of civilians in camps,” Thiagarajah said.

He said there should be a concerted effort by all stakeholders to uplift the condition of civilians in welfare camps. “The Government has succeeded in providing facilities to civilians in welfare centres and the Government’s consultation and guidance cannot be spared,” he said.

Thaigarajah said local NGOs are having a critical dialogue with the Government on various issues and all local and foreign NGOs are represented by them.

“We represent them when there is an issue but when resources are divided we are not represented,” he said.