ABSTRACT

The last few decades have seen a large increase in the number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating globally. NGOs can play an important and significant role in the developing world. Limited financial resources and poor (or basic) infrastructure allow NGOs to provide a supportive role in managing, implementing and delivering health- and non-health-related programmes and policies (Kates, Morrison and Lief, 2006). NGOs are also better placed to act as an intermediary body between a local community and the local government. They can provide a neutral platform to encourage dialogue and facilitate community and citizen-authority engagement between the different actors.