NGOs defend admin spending

A leading non-government organisation (NGO) has pushed back against public perception that community groups waste donor funds on administration.

Fiji Council of Social Services executive director Vani Catanasiga said local NGOs are capped at 30 per cent for operational expenses — far lower than Government spending.

“If I remember correctly from our Monday discussions at a public finance workshop with the Ministry of Finance, your operational costs are almost 60 to 70 per cent as Government. That is unthinkable for NGOs,” Ms Catanasiga said yesterday.

She said NGOs applying for funding are strictly bound by operational cost limits set by donors, and proposals exceeding 30 per cent are rejected.

“Above 30 per cent, your proposal will not be considered. So you can be assured that the majority of the finance we receive goes into activities with communities,” she said.

Ms Catanasiga said the misconception is unfair and damaging. She said that what is often labelled as administrative cost includes essential groundwork, such as establishing community governance structures and ensuring women and young people are included before projects begin.

Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) executive director Emeline Siale supported this view, saying such costs are rarely factored into project budgets but are critical to long-term impact.

“Some of those administrative costs borne by civil society help build that momentum within communities,” Ms Siale said.

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