Independensi Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat (LSM) di tengah Kepentingan Donor

Abstract

The top-down development approach has been failed in bringing prosperity to Indonesia. The model of development approach by the NGO become an alternative model of development before. But this approach is also not free from problems, the indicator is from rapid development of NGOs cannot reduce the poverty in Indonesia. Each development agencies including NGOs cannot be separated from the various interests. Form of interest relationship happens between NGOs and Donors.This study would like to answer the question that is donors infleunce of the independence of NGOs. In order to answer the research question, the writer is using qualitative method. The financial arrangement network, action, interest, motives and NGOs ideology are the main focus of this study. Two NGOs are observed, namely Lembaga Kajian untuk Transformasi Sosial (LKTS) and Lembaga Pertanian Sehat (LPS). The first NGO is more dependent to international donor where as the second is more dependent to local donor. The first NGO is working at region wide, while the second on local level. This study resulted that LKTS and LPS were dependent in the financial aspect. LKTS was also dependent in action aspects but LPS was independent in this aspect. The NGOs differences were in independences financial aspects and the action. They appeared on the characteristics of the donor, where LKTS collect funds from foreign donors with a greater interest agenda while LPS collect funds from the community in a participatory management of the trust to LPS. In addition, Factors that affected the independence of NGOs to the characteristics of donors were the change that also influenced by internal factors, namely: 1. Militancy of NGOs’ ideology, 2. Fund, 3. NGOs Achievements be the strength variabel in negotiations. Shifting in NGOs Ideology orientation was not directly caused by the donor, but because of the greater increased in financial needs. This occured because of the NGOs’ increasing demand activities (Operational Costs, developing events, staff, and other budget support). Needs should be fulfilled by NGOs to be able to maintain its existence. In the development perspective, NGOs did not necessarily become a social movement organization which realised the dream of success bottom up approach. NGOs that had established its first platform as an independent institution from outside interests and the interests of a civil (civil sphere) appeared to have the problem in dependency on the donor in the field of financial and actions. In addition, NGO had also experienced in shifting ideology orientation.