NGOs rebuked for not being transparent

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo slammed on Tuesday 24 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for not being transparent in the way they spend donors' money.

"The 24 NGOs have received a fair amount of money from foreign donors, but we haven't seen any real results. Many children are still malnourished, while many people are still struggling with poverty," said the governor, as quoted by provincial spokesman Umbu Saga Anakaka.

The amount of money received by local and foreign NGOs operating in the province, according to the East Nusa Tenggara Development Planning Board, was Rp 119 billion (US$15.5 million) last year. NGOs often work in fields that help the poor as well as in child and maternal health.

Separately, the director of Womintra Foundation, Susi Katipana, said NGOs did account for their spending by producing financial reports that could be audited by donors.

Susi, whose NGO focuses on people's financial betterment, assured that all aid handed over to the NGOs had reached its targets. -- JP