PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 11 Challenges in influencing public policy: an NGO perspective

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 11 Challenges in influencing public policy: an NGO perspective Anil Shah The need Programme of Ministry of Rural Development in India has all the features of Participatory development aims to enable a participatory programme and NGOs can individuals, groups and communities to plan contribute to more satisfactory execute and manage development that implementation activities. improves their living conditions. They often · To ensure that participatory features are integrated into policy formulation, an NGO need technical, administrative, organisational, may try to associate itself to a programme financial and legal support in their endeavour. to influence policy changes. Some of these support services lie in the public domain and may be cumbersome or · To persuade public agencies to put issues obstruct the development processes. They that are important for a participatory therefore need to change. The need for the approach onto their agenda. For example, public to inform and influence policy changes by promoting gender awareness in development programmes. arises mainly from grassroots experiences: PRA often raises important issues that can be The action required to influence public resolved only through policy changes. agencies is arduous and daunting. NGOs need For example, in June 1990 ...