NGOs, the state and development in the Maldives

Abstract

Popularity of NGOs has risen over the years as important and necessary organizations of civil society. They have become known for their participatory approach to community development and also seen as vehicles of democratization. Nevertheless, collaboration between the NGO sector and the government for maximum benefit has also become a more recent phenomenon advocated by many development activists. Hence, I explore the NGO environment of Maldives to understand the relationship between the government and the NGO sector. I chose to analyze the Maldives as a case study, because it is my home country and so far there is no research carried out in Maldives in this area. Also I also believe that although general research in the sector can provide insight to the environment of NGOs, individual countries have their differences that need consideration. This paper is based on field research carried out in the country using semi structured interviews carried out with NGOs and the government and perusal of policy documents. The local NGO sector in Maldives has grown and diversified over the years. Although there are some issues of capacity that need to be addressed, overall, local NGOs play an important and necessary role in the development of the country. The NGO-government relationship seems to be mixed. While the government has adopted a collaborative approach with the NGO sector, the current NGO legislation limits NGO effectiveness in the country. At the same time, efforts to improve the NGO sector are slow and at times rhetorical. While the state is also keen to work with NGOs in service delivery, NGOs working in advocacy and human rights are at times seen as a threat.