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The Daily Star Roundtable

Time for business-NGO partnership

Star Report
A partnership between the Non-government Organisations (NGOs) and the business sector can spur development to each other's benefit as well as that of the people.
This was observed by the participants at a roundtable organised by The Daily Star on Business-NGO Collaboration for National Development yes-| terday at a city hotel.
i They listed areas like devel j opment of vaccines for poultry.
I drugs for livestock, tissue culture. animal feed and other products where the NGOs and the business sector could work as partners.
Other areas identified were management training, trade skills, education and health to produce good labour pool that would cut costs and generate employment
The participants observed
that the corporate world and the NGOs should tie-up in their own interests as funds are drying up in the developed world, making it difficult for NGOs to generate funds to carry on their poverty alleviation work in the developing countries.
They noted that NGOs could provide services like linking the poor milk producers to dairy firms for better marketing. training pools of skilled labours for industries and trades.
But the participants also stressed on streamlining the taxation system, particularly exemption in certain areas to help businesses to grow and NGOs function better by gener ating revenues for development funds from business ventures.
They cited examples in Philippines. South Africa. Zimbabwe and Britain where
NGOs and private sector partnerships have produced good results.
The Roundtable, moderated by The Daily Star editor Mah-fuz Anam was participated by Shah Abdul Hannan. Secretary, Internal Resources Division. Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. Managing Director. Palli Unnayan Karma Sansthan. Khushi Kabir. Executive Director, Nijera Kori, Sak-lahuddin Ahmed, Director. BRAC. Lutfullahil Majid. Managing Director. Grameen Ud-dyoag. Aroma Goon. Executive Director PRIP Trust. Ahmedul-lah Mia. Executive Director. UCEP. Rokeya Rahman. MIDAS. Shahldullah Khan. Managing Director, Business International. Maj Gen (retd) Amjad Ahmed Chowdhury. Managing Director. Property Dev Ltd. and PRAN. Alauddin A Majid, Man-
aging Director. BASIC Bank. Jaya Pati. Kumudini Welfare Trust. S H Kabir. Chairman. Renata. Jane Nelson, Director Research and Policy. Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum (PWBLF), Christine Gent. Fair Trade Department. Body Shop, UK. Amani Abu Zied, Social Fund for Development. Egypt. Jonathon Joson. Philippines Business for Social Progress and Henry Jackelen. Manager. Private Sector Division, UNDP.
Introducing the participants Mahfuz Anam said the Prince of Wales' visit to Bangladesh has provided the opportunity to have the PWBLF in the meeting that would help provide new dimensions on the partnership between the NGOs and the business, how they could help each other, cutting across the psychological barrier and information gap.
Narrating the Philippines experience Jonathan Joson of the Philippines Business for Social Progress said that 183 companies contributes one per cent of their pretax profit for community development.
The project, launched about 27 years ago, generates a fund of three million dollar annually, eighty per cent of which is returned to the business organisations for community development work in their own areas. PBSP carries out its social development projects with the rest of the money. The businesses also provide incentives for their workers who contribute in various projects of skill development in the community. he added.
Jane Nelson said, similar projects are functioning in some other countries including Britain, contributing to social development.
A similar programme has also been initiated in Hongkong. Besides Zimbabwes is planning to undertake such initiatives, she added .
Giving her experience in some of these countries she said that leaders of community development projects were alsb entering into policy dialogue with the government, helping the pace Of development in those countries.
In South Africa, she added . the community development, work also Included crime control besides health and education. In Britain a total of 250 companies .were participating in apprentice training for skilled workers.
Amani Abu Zied noted that her organisations contributes to the grassroots level community development projects, working as an autonomous agency under the Prime Minister’s Office of the country. Of the total fund generated by the SFD of Egypt 40 per cent is channeled through the NGOs. another 40 per cent is piped through the local government while the rest 20 per cent is channeled through the central government, she added.
The orgranisation. set up 1990. had people skeptical and suspicious but soon gained their confidence. It now receives funds from 18 donors including the World Bank, European Union and Arab Fund For Development. she said.
Christine Gent described the experience ' of Body Shop in sourcing its products all over the world providing an outlet for people to sell their skills and ideas.
Shah Abdul Hannan , welcoming the idea, however observed that- there should be a level playing field for NGOs in business ventures or tie-ups
while completing with other businesses instead of asking for tax benefits as they currently enjoy for development works. He also promised them to help in this regard. He suggested that NGOs should concentrate on Primary health care, education and social work.
Ahmeduallh Mia described the successful programme of UCEP in training skilled man power, providing them with avenues for jobs, benefiting businesses which could be expanded with their cooperation.
Lutfullahil Majid said that the businesses and NGOs are coming up together as his organisation. marketing hand-woven fabrics, is finding more buyers who were initially reluctant to buy. Even the Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association is coming forward to cooperate with Grameen Ud-dyog in setting up a design institute. he said.
Maj Gen (rtd) Amjad Khan said as an agro-business en-treprenuer he is looking for NGOs to form a partnership benefiting all sides and the people and to gain access to new technology and to extend buy back facilities.
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed narrated his organisation's contribution in cutting across rural poverty, creating Jobs by providing funds for NGOs at three per cent interest. Some 139 partner organisations are working with PKSF since its inception in 1990. having a recovery rate of 98 pier cent, benefiting over 500.000. mostly landless and women, working under a 110 million dollar fund from the World Bank.
Salehuddin Ahmed, citing a ten-year-old government circular asking them to become selffinancing, said it prompted them, including BRAC to go for commercial ventures. But the BRAC programme is benefiting both poor artisans and businesses. like suppliers of pencils
and day old chickens in millions. Now it is looking for helping milk producers. We do not want unfair tax advantages but the NGOs and businesses must evolve a partnership and strategy to explore avenues in dairies, vaccines, tissue culture, animal feed, seed multiplications. Business potentialities there are enormous and then will benefit the people, he added.
Alauddin A Majid described his bank's lending to 14 NGOs at 7 per cent rates, without collaterals.
S H Kabir stressed on better understanding among the NGOs. the business sectors and the government.
Henry Jackelen said the UN could play a catalytic role in bringing the NGOs and business sectors together.
Jayapatl said there are about 50 organisations providing skills in different trades like plumbing, wielding etc.
Rokeya Rahman narrated her experience in MIDAS and stressed that business sectors and NGOs should get together for their benefit.
Khushi Kabir noted that NGOs are a better watchdog in the society and can train the workforce better. She also stressed cooperation between businesses and NGOs to help each other.
Arooma Goon, citing the PSSB experience, said it Ts becoming a movement and in Bangladesh "we should have a partnership between the business and NGOs.’’