Non-governmental organisations and philanthropy: The Colombian case

There have been three distinct phases in the evolution of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Colombia. The first was dominated by foundations supported by the church and by private benefactors attending to society's welfare needs. In the second, associations created and sponsored by the state assisted in the efforts of small, neighbourhood communities, women's groups and labour unions. A final, recent, phase has been dominated by economic development and housing agencies, NGOs' involvement in education centres and community development, and research centres concentrating on social issues. At the current time, corporations, associations and foundations are the legal structures through which NGOs are constituted. Beyond providing these legal structures, the 1991 Colombian Constitution recognises the role of NGOs and establishes that the state has the obligation to support them and to recognise them as legitimate actors in the policy process. Changes currently affecting NGOs in Colombia include their increasingly close links with the state, and difficulties arising from a relative lack of funds from sources promoting international co-operation.