ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF NGO INTERVENTION OUTCOMES ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of NGO intervention outcomes on sustainable development in Nigeria. The research work is a position paper that relied on secondary data from journal articles, textbooks, industry reports, and national surveys. The independent variable is NGO intervention and its indicators are education, healthcare outreach, poverty alleviation and capacity building. The dependent variable is in three measures of sustainable development; encompassing economic development as represented by poverty reduction and employment; social development measured by health and literacy and environmental development reflected by resource conservation, ecosystem health, or climate resilience, thereby aligning with the Brundt land three‑pillar framework. Government failure serves as a time‑dependent moderator. The study integrates Sustainable Development Theory and Government Failure Theory to explain the relationship that exists between the variables. Findings from empirical and conceptual review revealed that education and capacity‑building interventions produce stronger long‑term outcomes than poverty alleviation programmes. Government failure moderates the relationship temporally in the short term, high government failure amplifies NGO impact by filling service gaps, whereas in the long term, it undermines sustainability due to the fact that state systems may not be strong enough to protect and sustain gains made by the NGOs. The study concludes that Nigerian NGOs should prioritise capacity‑building and education, invest in governance and monitoring, and adopt either community‑ownership or state‑backed strategic projects. Donors are encouraged to extend funding cycles for the long‑run and demand sustainability plans from NGOs, while policymakers should improve budget transparency and partner with NGOs to deliver sustainable projects. Consequently, the connection between appropriate NGO interventions and adaptive government responses to socio-economic deficit is critical for sustainable development in Nigeria. Sustainable development additionally requires that NGO interventions include environmental safeguards such as, climate‑smart practices and waste reduction to protect economic and social gains.