Research paper on ACF international

Political, legal and governmental aspects

Political and legal factors are important for ACF International since many actions need the help of the state, especially when long-term effect is needed, e.g. in health care or educational sphere. However, ACF International is not directly depending on political decisions, and thus if adequate governmental support is absent, the organization can turn to domestic companies or seek the help of other international NGOs. In fact, the presence and development of NGOs in the target country is as important for ACF International as governmental support.

Armenian government and economy are strongly related to Russian system, and thus its rigid structure and bureaucracy might impact the implementation of the programs of ACF International. The opportunity of seeking support from other world organizations and countries (e.g. from WTO members) should be used to reach the objectives of ACF International. In Philippines, the government is actively fighting malnutrition, and it will be quite effective to partner with state structures to address the causes of hunger.

In Bolivia, illicit drugs are a major problem and contribute to health problems of the population. In Colombia, extreme violence and strong criminal groupings hinder social development, and in these countries ACF International can only unite with more successful neighboring countries in Latin America to oppose crime and to help the society progress. There aren’t many NGOs in Lebanon, and thus making connections with world organizations and helping to establish local initiatives to combat poverty is a good opportunity for ACF International there.

In Niger, high rate of corruption and ineffective policies make collaboration for ACF International doubtful. Here it would be more effective to combine efforts with other powerful international organizations and neighboring countries to address malnutrition steps. The threats arise from crime groupings and general ineffectiveness of infrastructure in Niger.

E. Other external factors

The state of NGO’s and their activity are the major external factor which is important for realizing the mission of ACF International. One of the goals of the organization is to help the communities become sustainable and to unite effort with local organizations to make long-lasting changes. In Armenia, about 3% of people are involved in nongovernmental organizations, and their readiness to help is a great opportunity for ACF International. The major threats are the lack of funding for nonprofits in the country, and the lack of experience in the nonprofit sector. It is possible to overcome this threat through educating Armenian volunteers and attracting international communities to fundraise for Armenian nonprofits.

In Philippines, the nonprofit sector is growing and ACF International already established partnerships with 3 organizations. NGOs in Philippines are effectively interacting with state programs, and thus it is possible to achieve significant effect in a short period of time. Possible threats in this sphere may come from unsupportive officials at middle levels and showcasing habits. Nonprofits in Bolivia are rather weak, and most NGOs operating in the country are international. It might be useful to help create strong insider organizations and to provide the necessary education to their representatives. The major threat here is the lack of help from the government and the rigidity of state sector.

Colombia has a diverse history of nonprofit activity, and the nonprofits are often autonomous from the governmental structures, which makes collaboration with these organizations very desirable. ACF International should use this opportunity as much as possible. NGOs in Niger are very weak, and most of them are foreign initiatives, and thus an opportunity for ACF International is to help strengthen educational and health care network, and possibly to support and unite local initiatives.

Conclusion

The analysis of five groups of factors affecting external environment for ACF International has shown that for different countries, the causes of malnutrition can vary, as well as the activities of the chosen organization. Most often, malnutrition and hunger are related to the lack of clean drinking water and the lack of sanitation facilities. Another factor affecting malnutrition is poor state of agriculture and ineffective use of land (resulting in land erosion). Poverty and economic decline also cause nutritional problems; problems in education and health care spheres accompany economic problems, and vise versa.

Among other important factors, there are political and legal influence on ACF International, and the existence of local NGOs as well as their effectiveness. The opportunities and threats of ACF International are also different for every country. Most often they are related to improving access to water and sanitation, helping to launch health care and educational centers, and providing emergency help in the regions where natural disasters often cause economic suffering and malnutrition. The threats faced by ACF International relate to the lack of state support for their initiatives, poor infrastructure and the lack of professionals able to implement the programs, opposition of criminal groups and the effects of bureaucracy on nonprofit activities.