The Monetisation of Citizen Participation: Motives and Implications of Non-Governmental Organisations.

Abstract

ENAMU SIMON (2011-M092-20008) The Monetisation of Citizen Participation: Motives and Implications of Non-Governmental Organisations. Allowances on Service Delivery Monitoring in Akwang Sub-county, Kitgum District This study focuses on the monetisation of citizen participation and seeks to explore the motives and implications of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Allowances on Service Delivery Monitoring in Akwang sub-county, Kitgum district. The specific objectives of the study are to establish the types of monetary incentives provided by NGOs; examine the factors for the adoption of monetary incentives by NGOs; and to identify the implications of the use of incentives on citizen participation in broader development initiatives. This study used a qualitative research design. Qualitative data collected through individual interviews, observation and document review were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings were that NGOs provide monetary incentives in various forms and names. The most common incentives identified by respondents are transport refund, lunch allowance, sitting allowance, per diem, other unclassified allowances and funding for income generating activities (IGAs). The findings also provide a number of reasons for the provision of incentives by NGOs including motivating monitors; compensating monitors for the lost time and helping them meet their basic needs. It was also discovered that the perception of NGOs as wealthy, the apparent disconnect between community and NGO interests and the rise of a materialistic culture were fuelling the demand for allowances. The study findings reveal that the practice of providing incentives has serious and wide ranging implications for sustained citizen participation in development interventions. In the short term, it has and will spur conflicts among development actors, increase project costs and divert resources from direct project activities and objectives. In the long term, it is likely to undermine project sustainability, alienate citizens from participating in development interventions as well as deepen corruption practices. The short term recommendations are that citizens, NGOs, donor agencies and governments should open candid debate on the practice; NGOs should harmonise rates for various incentives; NGO umbrella organisations (Uganda National NGO Forum, DENIVA and district networks) should develop guidelines for provision of monetary incentives to citizens and that some of the unjustified allowances such as sitting allowance should be scrapped forthwith. The long term recommendations are that NGOs ought to educate communities to appreciate the long term benefits of their activities; stop paying participants in return for their participation and that Uganda‟s Ministry of Internal Affairs should institute a law that prohibits NGOs from providing allowances to citizens. Key Words: Monetisation, Citizen Participation, Motives, Implications, Non-Governmental Organisations.