Study on the Relationship Types of Non-Governmental Organizations with the Government

Elisa Gotesman , Rodica Pamfilie, Ioana Ceaușu, and Adrian Bercovici

Abstract:

In this paper we refer to the growing phenomenon of collaboration between governments and other sectors, NPOs in particular. This collaboration appears as part of the growing world trend of privatization of public services. The phenomenon helps promote global and local economy in developing and developed countries. We aim to define global types of collaboration, find which macro environmental factors influence them and what the role of local authorities is. Furthermore, we will examine the types of collaborations between NPOs and government in Israel and will define six types of formal collaboration. For a better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of formal collaboration we interviewed 5 NPO CEOs, 3 CEOs of leading consulting firms working on this specific issue and the Director of Cooperation in the Ministry of Finance in Israel. In addition, we present a case study of informal collaboration between an NPO and the government in Israel between the years 2016-2017. In this case study we interviewed five NPO staff members who took part in the collaboration, and three senior representatives of the Ministry of Education who managed the collaboration with the NPO. The purpose of the interviews was to understand why they collaborated in this manner and what the achievements or difficulties of the process were. The study we conducted in Israel shows that the formal collaboration between NPOs and the government is based on: specific regulation or existing regulation, collaboration through a third party or as a joint venture, collaboration with exemption of tender or by tender. Each type has different advantages or disadvantages which NPOs managers should take in to consideration. The government in Israel is taking steps to rationalize the management of the formal connection from its point of view. In the informal collaboration we found that both the NPO and the government are looking to gain knowledge. Though, the gap of different work rate of each party can be a problem in maintaining this collaboration.