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Legitimization: Our key to Success
Related to country: Nigeria

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“He who comes into equity must come with clean hands”

One critical role Civil Society Organizations play in the world today is ensuring that the voice of public service users are heard in the policy making, commissioning and delivery of the services. This is why CSOs are referred to as being part of “global governance”

While CSOs are referred to as the Third Sector in Europe and in the US, ours are still battling with meeting the public’s cognitive acceptability and our challenge? Legitimization of who we are, what we do and how our work effectively impacts the public.

Every CSO despite whichever thematic area they focus on, are expected to live up to their professed value and mission of mobilizing the people and resources through commitment to social values and mission coupled with holding businesses and government accountable. However, there is a challenge when corrupt officials begin to question the credibility of those expected to hold them accountable.

I have been around the country and each time I introduce myself as a development practitioner, there’s a stern look that greets me as if to say “so you are one of them”. “NGOs get money from donors but don’t work” are some of the comments I get. As little and insignificant this comment could be, CSOs need the public’s cognitive legitimization and if they are not getting it, then they are not legitimized.

Legitimization simply refers to “the right to be and do something in the society”. It is grounded in the perceptions of the public and stakeholders in the society in which the organization is embedded in. Legitimization can be viewed in the following ways as it concerns CSOs:
- Legal certification and compliance to regulatory requirements
- Conformity of CSOs activities to social norms, values and standards
- Proving to stakeholders that their values and conditions align with the latter’s interest and;
- Meeting the people’s expectation in terms of their perception of how CSOs work impact the society.

There is a great need for CSOs in the country to address these issues as they impinge on our credibility. There is a need for us to strike a balance between our activities and the values we profess. There is a need for us to be accountable. Accountability as it refers to the responsibility of answering for performance expectations to stakeholders and to the people. With the current state of our nation especially now that everyone is craving for positive change, one would expect CSOs to be actively involved in assisting and enhancing the cause but when those who rely and hold on to the status quo are immune to the “sting” of CSOs, where then lies our fate.
We need to work together to achieve our legitimization. We need common structure and regulations of our activities, we need to shun individualism. Our togetherness brings effective impact.
In the United Kingdom, CSOs have proven through continuous partnership and common regulations that they are legitimate and this has earned them a strong voice in the governance process. This has therefore earned them a Minister in charge of the Third Sector. We need more partnerships, we need a code of conduct as a common means of regulation and we need more accountability.

I will not pretend that I am not aware that one of CSOs greatest challenges is funds meant for sustainability. However, I feel that with more partnership and common regulations we could find alternative means of funds to sustain our developmental initiatives and jettison donors that give in order to dictate our actions and activities depriving us of exhibiting our true character and mission. For instance, some CSOs in Europe are involved in rendering public services and they earn some funds for their services without conflicting legal provisions but I asked myself how that is possible? Well, I feel that our common regulations can speak for us in this wise.

In conclusion, we need a voice and confidence to form a successful dialogue with government. We also need to vigorously demonstrate our legitimacy in the future of our society. This will be achieved if only we work closely and with common regulations.

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind”
- Bob Marley
Best Regards,
'Kayode Ajayi-Smith,
Youth Action Ambassador,
Young People We Care,
www.ypwc.org
+2348055316398, 07025813561
Young People We Care (YPWC) is a registered youth-led and
youth-focused, non-profit organization that is headquartered in Ghana
and has satellite offices in the UK, Canada and USA. The organization
is operated by young people (ages 15–30) and adult allies working on
youth and development related issues worldwide. At YPWC, we are
passionate about sustainable development, the realization of the
Millennium Development Goals and the promotion of a culture of peace
and universal human rights for all. Visit us at: www.ypwc.org

September 22, 2009 | 11:04 AM Comments  0 comments

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