REHABILITATION NOTES
STAGES IN THE EVOLUTION OF POST-WAR NGO IDEOLOGY

Stage I

In the immediate post-war period the NGO philosophy was centred around `relief work' in crisis situations such as floods, war, famine etc. Most such relief work was carried out in Africa by Christian missionaries.

Stage II

In the 70s the NGO philosophy changed to sustained development work through `self help groups' that provided services at the field level, for example the CBR volunteers. They were not autonomous groups, and the NGOs determined what they would do at the field level on their behalf.

Stage III

In the 80s, the philosophy changed again, and emphasis was on `advocacy'. Existing large institutions of the developing countries were influenced to develop strategies that favoured the poor. Activities of the WHO, UNDP and so on, implemented through the governments of the developing countries are examples of this philosophy.

Stage IV

In the 90s the philosophy has changed to `People-centred-development'. In this philosophy, autonomous, self help groups, which have well defined goals, were encouraged to take up development themselves, based on their perceived needs. The NGOs acted only as external catalysts and facilitators in this process. Examples are Disabled Persons International, Panchayath Raj system, National level associations of different marginalised groups and so on.

At present, any of these philosophies or all of them simultaneously, are seen in different development programmes.