Anti-poverty Efforts of Non-Governmental Organizations and the Poor

Authors

Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Allameh Tabataba’i, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the efforts made by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Tehran to alleviate destitution. It also attempts to answer the crucial question of whether these actions are consistent with the realities of the poor's lives.
The research method used is qualitative content analysis. The sample consists of 29 participants, including NGO representatives, individuals intimately involved with the poor, and the poor themselves. This research employs the organizational ecology theory, institutional theory of poverty, spatial approach to poverty, social exclusion, weak ties, capability poverty, and poverty traps as theoretical frameworks.
The main findings of the research include the struggles of the poor in meeting their daily needs, the heavy social damages and crises in the lives of the poor, the legal ignorance of the poor, the limited reach of services provided to the poor, the mismatch between the programs and services offered by NGOs and the crucial realities of the lives of the poor, and the difficulties faced by NGOs in addressing the daily challenges of the poor.
The results indicate that the realities of the lives of the impoverished are complex and diverse, and that the programs and services provided by NGOs are frequently misaligned with these realities for a variety of reasons. Volunteers and the poor assert that these organizations are only concerned with alleviating the symptoms of poverty, providing irregular and insignificant assistance for subsistence, and ignoring absolute poverty and the need for comprehensive assistance. This has made it difficult for the impoverished to gain access to housing, resolve social issues, and improve their cognitive abilities. These organizations have only scratched the surface of poverty and have been unable to address major issues such as housing, addiction problems, legal challenges faced by women and orphaned and neglected children, physical and mental illnesses, school fees, etc., which are the most significant obstacles faced by the poor

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  • ·         Abolfazlian, N. (2017). The role of religious NGOs in Poverty alleviation: Empowerment approach. Master's Thesis. Supervisor: Mehdi Khodaparast Mashhadi. University of Ferdowsi, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences. (In Persian)

    • Ajamoglu, D., & Robinson, J. (2013). Why Nations Fail: The Roots of Power, Wealth, and Poverty. Translated by: M. Mirdamadi & M. H. Naimipour. Tehran: Rozaneh Publishing House. (In Persian)
    • Aldrich, H. (1979). Organizations and environments. California: Standford University Press.
    • Bureau of Social Welfare Studies. (2022). Poverty monitoring in 1400. Ministry of Labor, Cooperative and Social Welfare. (In Persian)
    • Chambers, R. (2016). Rural development: giving priority to the poor (supporting vulnerable groups). Translated by: Mustafa Azkia. Tehran: Tehran University Press. (In Persian)

    ·         Ghasemi Pakro, M. (2011). People's participation in the shadow of non-governmental organizations. Tehran: Mellat-e Ma. (In Persian)

    • Granovetter, M. (1983). The Strength of Weak Ties: A Network Theory Revisited. Sociological Theory, 1, 201-233. https://doi.org/10.2307/202051
    • Hemayatkhah, M., & Ramezani, A. (2023). Analyzing the Process of Empowerment Clients (From the point of view of the Workers of the support and Charitable Institutions of Mashhad). Quarterly of Social Studies and Research in Iran, 12(2), 331-348. https://doi.org/10.22059/jisr.2023.343269.1308 (In Persian)
    • Higher Institute of Social Security Research (2020). Investigating the situation of poverty and inequality in Iran between 1380 and 1398. Observation and Evaluation Group. (In Persian)
    • Hamidian, A. (2016). Inequality, poverty, social exclusion (1st Edition). Tehran: Sociologists. (In Persian)
    • Kamrozman, P. (2018). Dollarization of poverty. Translated by: M. Niazi, S. Piri, & H. Piri. Tehran: Methodologists and sociologists. (In Persian)
    • Lotfi Khachaki, B. & Imani Jajermi, H. (2019). Studying the obstacles of introducing social issues to the society by non-governmental organizations using the grounded theory method. Social Studies and Research in Iran, 9(1), 131-160. https://doi.org/10.22059/jisr.2019.280354.859 (In Persian)
    • Sajjadi, M., Yousefi, M., & Khosrovizadeh, M. (2016). Investigating the mutual relationship between property rights and poverty with emphasis on Islamic economic literature. Knowledge of Islamic Economics, 2(16), 61-82. (In Persian)
    • Saifuddin, A. (2006). NGO perception of poverty in Bangladesh: Do their Programmes match the reality? Master Thesis. Bergen University, Norway). Retrovied from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.
    • Sen, A. (2002). Development as freedom. Translated by: V. Mahmoudi. Tehran: Dostan. (In Persian)

    ·         Taghadosi, N. (2019). Legal empowerment of the poor (concepts, principles and methods): removing obstacles to development through the rule of law (1st Edition). Qom: Islamic Law Publications.·         Tusi, N. (2009). Evaluation of the approach and activity of non-governmental organizations related to the welfare organization of Tehran city in poverty alleviation. Master's Thesis. Under the dynamic guidance of Alaa Al-Dini. Tehran: University of Tehran, Faculty of Social Sciences. (In Persian)

     

Community Development (Rural and Urban)
Volume 15, Issue 1 - Serial Number 28
October 2023
Pages 135-152

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics