NGOs appeal for financial help to continue community work

Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) say the COVID-19 pandemic has increased demand for their work in communities but they are being crippled by the lack of funding.

And they are urging Government and the private sector to provide a financial helping hand.

In a statement issued today, Secretary General of the Barbados Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (BANGO), Dr Marcia Brandon said that many NGO’s were on the ground in communities coordinating essentials, delivering meals, groceries, flowers and other necessities to improve lives, with little to no resources.

“With COVID-19, NGOs’ major concerns include more persons needing our services, whether our services are business and entrepreneurship development, health and wellness, homeless shelter, domestic and sexual abuse, mental health, community development, water, environment, counselling, elderly care, youth development, media, food security and safety among others.   While NGOs are flexible and nimble, with extensive on the ground and community expertise, and know-how to reach the people, many of them are presently using family finances to implement programmes to benefit others. Where will the finances come from to help existing and new beneficiaries in this new normal?” She questioned.

Brandon, who is also the Managing Director of the Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods (COESL), made a strong case for more consideration to be given to the impact of NGOs, stressing that while most are vulnerable and fragile, they continue to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the region.

“We know that many NGOs rely on grant funding to carry out their mandate; very few receive Government subventions, and when they do, it is not very substantial. Many corporations and foundations have come on board, over the years, to assist the third sector financially and with other resources, often as part of fulfilling their own corporate social responsibilities. But this is still not enough,” she warned

Brandon said BANGO has developed a five-point plan, which entails asking the Government for “an equal seat among the social partners” among other things.

“We will be inviting the Caribbean Development Bank to dialogue with us, at a mutually convenient time as soon as business resumes, or even before. This dialogue will be one, which explores working with the third sector to build its sustainability, to better impact the sustainable development of Barbados.

“We have started encouraging the Government of Barbados to give BANGO a hand up not a hand -out. This will help BANGO to help the third sector to build sustainability and scale up their impact. A proposal is presently with the Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations and we hope to hear from him as soon as possible, especially in light of this pandemic,” she said.

Brandon added that they will be asking the private sector to partner with NGOs on their corporate social responsibility and it will invite international development organisations to engage and exchange with all national NGOs.