*{NGOs: Ultimate Global Regulators? [http://www.weforum.org/site/knowledgenavigator.nsf/Content/NGOs%3A%20Ultimate%20Global%20Regulators%3F?open&topic_id=300600000&theme_id=300]

            28.01.2001

            Annual Meeting 2001}

            The 1990s was the decade of the non-governmental organization or NGO, Michael J. Elliott, Editor-in-Chief, E-Countries, USA, said. It was in those years that they moved out of the shadows and into the mainstream of the debate about global issues and problems. Their emergence as a potent force has raised questions about how accountable and representative they are.

            How do you define what an NGO is, in the first place? Jagdish Bhagwati, Professor of Economics and Political Science, Columbia University, USA, noted even the Keidanren, the Japanese business association, says it is an NGO. It is a "self-serving" term, the Indian-born economist said. He also questioned how it is possible to include some NGOs in the global dialogue, while excluding others. And he cast doubt on the ability of certain NGO leaders to claim to speak on behalf of a wider constituency than the organization they represent. "Some people claim to be speaking for the working class in my country, India, but I want to hear [directly] from [Indian workers]."

            Jean-François Rischard, Vice-President, Europe, World Bank, said there are two types of NGOs " operational NGOs and advocacy NGOs. It is the latter that have been gaining in power and influence. They have rallied behind the anti-globalization movement. The challenge for government and business is to engage these NGOs in a meaningful way.

            NGO accountability became an issue in late 1999 after the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle was badly disrupted by street protests, Claude Martin, Director-General of the WWF International, said. Many in the media reported that the demonstrations were the key reason for the collapse of the WTO talks. In reality the failure resulted from European intractability over agricultural issues and African countries and other developing nations wanting a greater voice. Martin argued that "NGO" is "a completely useless term." While surveys indicate that NGOs enjoy greater credibility than government or business, NGOs nonetheless have a perception and accountability problem.

            Kumi Naidoo, Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, USA, said that there are good NGOs and there are bad ones. NGOs must perform or perish. If they do not do good work, they will lose public support. That is how they are made to be accountable. The standards of accountability should be the same as for business and government. Burkhard Gnärig, Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children Alliance, United Kingdom, said that his organization is run like a business, with audits and management accountability. "We feel we are put under a large magnifying glass."

            NGOs must have the network and capacity to deal competently with the issues on their agenda, according to Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labour Organization. The best movements will thrive in the market place of ideas. The environmentalist, women’s rights and human rights movements are the most successful examples. There is no need to cast doubt on how representative NGOs are. They don’t have to be inclusive. Those who are organized should not be required to represent those who aren’t. 

            During the discussion, Vandana Shiva, Director of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology in India, said that NGOs should not be held to higher standards than government or business. Rischard said that the legitimacy of any advocate would depend on their knowledge about the issue in question. Those with the knowledge will have the legitimacy. Daniel C. Esty, Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy in the US, agreed. "Accountability is a red herring," he said. "People who say silly things won’t be listened to for very long." Another participant called for greater transparency among NGOs. Finally, the role of the media as the arbiter of NGO quality was posed, in turn raising the question of the media’s accountability.
             *{Contributors:       Bhagwati Jagdish
                  Elliott Michael J.
                  Gnärig Burkhard
                  Martin Claude
                  Naidoo Kumi
                  Rischard Jean-Francois
                  Somavia Juan
                  Tauli-Corpuz Victoria}