The role of NGOs in development co-operation is highly controversial. While they tend to discourage efforts towards good governance and empowerment of the poor if they are misused as a prolonged service provider arm by donor agencies, they have a crucial role to play in improving governance and empowering the poor by assisting in establishing a locally rooted and inclusive civil society.

Professor Dr. Theo Rauch
Centre for Development Studies (ZELF)
Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Theorauch@aol.com