Information Technology and IT enabled services for NGOs
– Sundar Vadaon
Social Development has become a very important sector in 21st century. NGOs corporate sectors, social outfits, individual philanthropy, International development organizations, and charitable organizations have become very important areas of development. One of the emerging trends in social development is to make the NGOs as professional organizations.
To enable the NGOs to become professional organizations capacity building of NGOs, in the areas of building up the organizations, creating infrastructure, managerial skills, financial management, technical expertise, subject matter specializations, Management information system, impact assessment, social audit, stake holders satisfaction and stake holders participation in decision making are required.
To enable the NGOs to be able to re-orient their approaches, and become professional organizations, Information Technology has a very important role to play. IT & IT enabled services will enable the NGOs to prepare a long term plan including geographical areas of operations, projects to be implemented, various subjects being handled and application of Geographical information systems (GIS) and Geographical Positioning Systems (GPS) in the areas of Integrated Watershed Development and Natural Resources Development. One of the important applications is that, analysis of socio economic data of communities in the villages in which the NGOs are functioning is to be take-up. Even the Household survey in the areas of operation and participatory assessment, of the poverty prioritization of Watersheds in the villages, the IT enabled services are to be utilized.
In order to implement rights based campaigns in the areas of Human rights, child rights, women rights, Disabled rights, youth rights and the right of the senior citizens it will be highly useful in terms of the provisions of various acts like Right to Information Act, legislation schemes and programs which are available for various sections of the society as per IT enabled services.
In the areas of demographic trends, analysis of poverty ratios, analysis of literacy rates, analysis of development indicators, IT enabled services are highly useful in achieving Millennium Developmental Goals. Information Technology will be very handy in planning for development indicators in any area of operations.
In the Joint Forest Management, Integrated Watershed Development, Wastelands Development, Satellite Based GIS and GPS will be highly useful and their applications will enable us to implement the watershed development on a scientific basis.
Similarly in Disaster Management and in taking necessary precautions against cyclones, Tsunamis, Katrinas and other natural disaster IT enabled services are of the great use.
In the areas of agriculture and Animal Husbandry, weather forecasting deciding appropriate crops to be grown, market intelligence and the International trends of agriculture, the Information Technology has a very important role to play.
Similarly under self help groups in the areas of saving thrift, loaning, marketing of the products, financial management etc., Information Technology has a very great role to play. In education, in promoting education for all more so, education of the disabled and areas of Integrated Education Inclusive Education and special education for the children such as visually impaired hearing impaired, and mentally handicapped Information Technology has a great role to play.
Information Technology enable creation of educational packages for various categories, where-in education has been childe friendly and accessible, so as to enable the child to learn in a very fast manner.
In the management of the organizations, with particular references to Human resources Management and in evolving training plans, Information Technology has an important role to play. In addition, services such as, Payroll package, MIS and financial management of the organizations, Information Technology can be of great help.
In the training programs for Capacity Building to give skills to various functionaries in the organization, technical expertise, sharing of knowledgeable information, success stories, case studies, etc., the Information Technology has a very important role to play.
Regarding information, Education and communication, the campaign of publicizing the activities of the organizations through websites etc., Information Technology has tremendous role to play. In addition, in the project formulations, management information systems, impact assessments, social audit, in judging the stake holders satisfaction, in communication with various organizations, instantaneously, through Email and in learning about work of various organizations internationally, IT has a great role to play.
Further, in promoting multi secotral coordination and convergence between Government and the NGOs in communication with donor agencies, in donor services reporting, documentation of the projects implementation, appraising the donors regarding the stages of implementation of projects, distance education and training, e-Governance, e-Commerce and e-Impact assessments, Information Technology has a great role to play.
While the organizations and functionaries are busy with their day to day activities, happenings all over the world in terms of the conferences, workshops, seminars and deliberations that are being happening and to enable the organizations to have information at the door steps, IT has a great role to play.
In resources mobilization in the areas of individual philanthropy, Government funding from international donor agencies and corporate, IT applications are of immense values.
Ultimately, Information Technology and IT enabled services will enable the NGOs to become professional organizations, knowledge based organizations with appropriate capacity building, Government and NGO collaboration, multi sectoral coordination, convergences and making the organizations to be very powerful, productive organizations on the path of the sustainable organizations and sustainable development.