ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the types and objectives of women-centered nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and grass-roots groups, their scope and range of activities and membership, and common characteristics. It focuses on the impact of women's NGOs on individuals, communities, the state, and broader social realms. The chapter highlights unresolved issues, including the integration of women in development, funding, expansion, leadership and management, and inter-organizational relations. Organizational management approaches should include a gendered structuring of time and space that reflects the needs and experiences of women employees and participants. The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) is unique among UN agencies in that it specifically funds women's projects, many of which are run by small NGOs or community groups. The chapter highlights trends and topics evident in the analysis of women-centered NGOs in the Third World. The women who have been part of the projects, not as beneficiaries but as participants, manifest important changes in their self-image and personal valuation.
