Managing NGOs for Older Persons in East and Southeast Asia: Lessons and Good Practices from the Field

The paper reviews the roles and experiences of non-governmental organizations for older persons (NGOs-OPs) in East and Southeast Asia.  It is based on case studies of selected NGOs from Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.   The study finds an increasing number of NGOs-OPs present in the region, working in diverse areas of service delivery, education, research, training, and advocacy.  Community-based older persons’ organizations or senior citizens associations are also becoming more active, with some organizations going beyond social and recreational activities, and venturing into policy advocacy and other areas traditionally served by non-community-based NGOs.  Most NGOs are taking on multiple roles simultaneously, e.g., adding advocacy to their other programs, while a few are beginning to focus on a specific target group, activity, or service.  On the organizational and management side, NGOs-OPs are also becoming more accountable and are taking creative and innovative steps in meeting the challenges of management.  To be sure, NGOs-OPs need to address important gaps, notably the lack of capability-building at the community level, the lack of follow-through in policy implementation, and the need to solicit critical, hopefully constructive feedback from the older persons they are serving.  Nevertheless, like the older persons they are working for and with, NGOs-OPs themselves are getting more active and growing wiser with age.