Motivation to Work on Battlefield

Doing or not doing something is always influenced by human being's intrinsic forces that popularly known as motivation. World is full of miracles – supported by unmatched enthusiasm all are derived by motivation. Some people even can not think about the subject but few can people can change same thing into reality! So, what is the difference over there? Of course the answer is none other than motivation.

Motivation is a highly subjective, tailor made theme for every individual. It is contextual, emotion laden as well as highly diversified in nature. Time, age, situation and what not affects its sensitivity? More or less- degree could be different but every small factor could have big influences on motivation.

Nepal faced 12 year challenges of socio-political conflict. Nepalese people – despite of lots of grievances with the conflicting parties dragged their life during this situation. Not only that, people did not let their rays of hope vanished. They wept, laughed and survived – hoping for better future in the days to come!

I aim to dedicate to salute Nepalese people's motivating factor in this article for the conflicting decade. From the high freezing Himalayas to sizzling Terai people kept their emotions alive and welcomed each day though smelling gunpowder and waved their hand for each sunset. Farmers, workers, entrepreneurs, service holders and all of the above public at large keep their acts moving and developed their new means of life. Nepalese development field especially community development sector was one of the hardest hit sector by the conflict. Government machineries were portraying development institutions as a complementary development vehicle next to government. This obviously meant expectation towards Nepalese development agencies like NGOs though they could support very little in context to running their operations. The laws and bye laws were confined within piece of paper that even did not have showing-off value. Expectation of people was fairly raised up especially of the natives of remote areas.

It was a remarkable masterpiece of work of Nepalese NGOs during the conflict period that they parallel development activities with the intensified conflict. I am not going to focus how they did it rather why they did. What was their deep rooted motivation that kept them moving? This will be my focused discussion in this article.

Since I was also a working professional in the Nepalese development sector, I had chances to interact, feel, share and act with the development people as a routine work. I got opportunities to feel and study about the motivational forces on that basis they used to move to the battlefield aiming to deliver development outputs to their target community. I will try to furnish and elaborate the inspiring factors of motivation that they expressed in response to my studious curiosity. My eye was on the both sides of motivation individual as well as organizational; though associated to each other but their differences also matters.

I eyed first towards organizational motivation to work. Nevertheless the conflict deepen, many new, enthusiastic people joined to Nepalese development sector mainly by incorporating new non-government organization. The nation wide number of NGOs skyrocketed from 7,000 to more than 20,000 mere in less than five years. All this shows substantial number of people eager to come in development to serve the nation under the banner of NGOs. There may be other sides of coin; we will discuss on it later. I was curious to ask everyone development worker that do they think the number of people are increasing to work even in the armed conflict situation? Does the skyrocketing number of new NGOs formation signify this?

Many people perceive Nepali NGO runners are of risk taking nature. Despite of the deepening conflict they tend register more new NGOs so that they can work with the conflict affected community. Therefore, we can view them as risk takers. Behind the risk taking attitude what motivation did the people had? This is the centre theme of discussion of this article.

There is mixed bag of answers about the question of motivation of Nepalese NGOs. The NGOs are supposed to be non-profit organizations. They have their own by-laws and regulations that should not be contradictory with Nepalese laws. Being a non-profit, not religious, non-political organization, ideologically it must be a service delivery entity. Service to the nation, uplifting the marginalized, under developed people's life is major source of motivation to them. No one NGOs will deviate with this official version of their motivation source. However, from public at large, from donor's side and even the Nepalese government has allegation that NGOs differ from their declared objectives in practice. The allegation are : they work for profit earning, utilize the development money for their lavish needs like building and vehicles, window dress the activities they performed, camouflage their poor performance with good documentation etc. Center of all allegations has two fold conclusions, elite class collect fund and utilize for their private needs; middle class works through NGOs to manage for their livelihoods.
It is not in the scope of this research to finding fact of the allegations but explore the motivational factors of the Nepalese NGOs. Other way around, the allegations are associated with the motivational side of the NGOs.

Many donor agencies of Nepal blame Nepalese NGOs are being means of money making for specific groups is not completely baseless. Ranging from freelancer's article to international agencies like European Union, all more or less agree on the allegations. Notwithstanding the social aspects, this research is tried to concentrate more on psychological aspects, individual and organizational both – despite of the life threatening armed conflict is grooming up, why the Nepalese NGOs are putting more efforts to paralleling the development activities? Research study shows that Nepalese development workers – regardless of executive members or employees of NGOs are obliviously more sensitive on their livelihood issues. Fulfillment of daily needs is still remains a great motivator for Nepalese people.

I had privately initiated a tea party cum workshop in a small team of respondents of 32 peoples from different NGOs. One basic question was asked about their interest of formation of their NGOs. The main aim of this workshop was to know the reason of increasing trend of NGOs registration and working in Nepal. The registration of NGOs can be viewed as a main event to start the work supported by the motivational forces. Why people want to register and work even in the critical security worsening situation? Its answer can provide the glimpse of their motivation in nutshell. Result showed that majority of the people want to create self-employment for them and do the noble social work side by side. Such indication, especially in country like Nepal where unemployment problem is severe has deepen meaning, that is – striving access into the relatively easy money, the development fund for the sake of self-employment and social work both. Another critical question could be about the weight of the interest on self-employment and social work. This can be next topic for study which I do not like to mix up here.

Point to note is Nepalese law of land permits registration and work if and only if they agree and unanimously declare that they will work as non-profit organization. Considering this, NGO executive committee members are not supposed to get any benefits. NGO people's motivation for forming and running NGOs in Nepal seems having contrary interest as set by laws. This first option was given to provide their response that even though the laws says otherwise, people are really interested to their livelihoods first and they are utilizing the facilities given of NGOs registration and work in self-employed status under the mask of legal status of non-profit making NGOs. This option is responded by the 58.82% of the participants.

Second choice of the NGO formation objective is responded as group interest. The group interest could be social or to act and develop in a group manner. This is anyway somehow wider choice given to the respondents. This choice is not much severely contrasted with the legal provisions of Nepal because present Nepal law allows to be united for the group interest, form and run NGOs for this purpose even though this is bit narrower than the pure social ambit. This choice hit 23.53% votes.

Third option was in the true ambit and in line with the Nepal law, that is, NGOs formation is to be done purely social purpose. This category gathered 17.65% of the total votes in initial survey.

This question of hidden motivation to work even in the worst working condition sounds bit unofficial but was seeking honest answers to study about NGOs prevailing motivation. Though implied motivation is not documented, it might be deep rooted than the formal objectives. An experienced member of NGO only can diagnose and only honest can express it. However, option was given to those respondents who want to response can keep their name unexposed. This was well explained before asking the questions in workshops. Honor was given to them for maintaining their privacy.

What could be their type of hidden motivation? This question may attract different dimensions of answers but this falls beyond this research objective and thus dropped off. Linking to the motivation factor of NGOs and their representatives working, why they are interested to set implied objectives in the organization is important. A critical question again, it was put optional whether they wish to answer but if they wish, honest answer was requested. This is because motivation is not limited to be influenced by official factors only.

In the workshop findings, discussing with few NGO representatives, it was tried to categorize the possible reasons of having motivation though unofficial in an NGO. Many participants had opinion of the implied objectives has developed more domination of unofficial motivation in the NGOs working over their formal motto. Underdeveloped countries like Nepal, educated people do face survival problem by using their skills that opens up all the tricky ways. Less availability and access in resources boosts livelihood crisis that force to enter NGO founder to set up implied objectives.
Some participants said that to fulfill NGO founder's high ambition in terms of not only livelihood but ranging to political will and efforts, NGOs could be a starting point of their road map. In such case NGO founders purposefully deviate to formal goals of NGOs in practice.

Sometimes many situational factors like but not limited to; political, social, economical, life threatening violation of law and order, institutional propaganda may lead to set implied objectives in organizations in practice. Over dominating bureaucracy can force to institutions to save their existence through deviating with formal objectives.
Major cause of Nepalese NGOs forcing to work by deviating with their official objectives seems situational factors. Though this word "situational factors" bears diverse meanings but in context to Nepal it indicates towards the 12 years long armed socio-political conflict. The security situation and law and order situation was terribly slackened during the research period. Nepalese NGOs were in the position of "do or die" for their existence that might compel them to adopt unofficial activities for survival.

Second major factor pointed is NGO founder's interest plays role to set implied objectives in an NGO. The founder's interest can be explained in different dimensions such as political will, high ambition of name and fame and so on. It is not much explored because it falls out of this study scope.

In the "others" category, two respondents have specified different reasons. They are:
· Implied objectives are mainly set to run NGO in a sustainable way.
· NGOs working in environment sector have to set implied objectives because the government rules are so rigid and conservative. So the NGOs working on environmental issues set beyond the official objectives sometimes rather than the given options in questionnaire.

Official purpose of establishing an NGO though quite clear, observers often complain they differ in practice. To make an honest assessment of goals, general perceptions about the nature of NGO's nature was sought so that a more realistic perception could be established. Whether Nepalese NGOs have more likely motivation factors as business entities i.e. making profit; or as social organizations i.e. purely social motive of somewhat alike blend of both were the given options for responding.

It was kept in mind that respondents may not will to give harsh answers that directly indicate they tend to make profit but may respond in a more tactical way qualifying nature of Nepalese NGO's motivating factor in general.

The responses of perceived nature in terms of working of NGOs were responded as following.

Like as purely business organization 3.94%
Like as purely social organization 33.86%
Like as blend of business & social organization 55.12%
Others (to be specified) 7.08%

More specific responses in "others" category of the above mentioned table are as following aligned with their motivating factors. (Repeated ideas are clubbed together.)
NGOs are mixing up social motives as well as reducing unemployment of their own to the some extent.

NGOs are propagating as development vehicles but they tend to be gradually adopting business fundamentals. It is hampering their formal objectives and to the nation's social sector at large.
Like getting employment opportunities for themselves through social service.
Promotion of rights-based approach and social empowerment are taken as their motivating factors.

The analysis clearly indicates that purely business entities like motivation factors in NGOs though exists but in minority. However, mixture of business and social like organizations motivation are quite substantial. This indicates purely social objectives as declared during the time of NGOs establishment cannot represent true cause of running NGOs. In a great extent, NGOs do have other factors of motivation than social factors.

There are very well established principals exist in motivation that explains why people be engaged in their act. However, motivation may differ in individual and organizational level. Organization, being a united entity of several thoughts, objectives, ideologies and actions is obvious to have different motivation factors than individual; level.
We gone through some established principles of motivation in management and quickly compare the results drawn from this study.

More than organizational, motivation is stronger in individual's motives. Persons who are working for Nepalese NGOs obviously may have diverse motivation factors. We seek some qualitative data with the respondents so that we can have idea – what mostly motivates them. We had given some common answers related to motivation to choose as well as state other factors of motivation if the closed options do not cover their choice. The responded answers are furnished under the table below.

For livelihood 15.13%
Career building / enhancement 25.66%
Service delivery to society 48.69%
Time pass / waiting for better opportunities 5.26%
Others (to be specified) 5.26%

As some respondents said that a single response cannot cover their working motto of association with NGOs, they were allowed to choose many as they are applicable to them. Likely, few of them do not like to answer as well. According to above table, most people have social reasons of working in NGOs. Anyway, despite of in any category the respondents fall, the social desire seems a major motivation factor to them.

Second most motivating for working individuals seems the hope of career building and enhancement. In Nepal, jobs in NGOs sector is relatively high paying than government sector, the better career option is also motivating to people.

Livelihood opportunity through working in NGOs takes third position as a motivating factor. Few people also perceive that it is a waiting through working till they get better opportunity.
Other motivating factors of individuals uncovered by the closed options given in questionnaire are as following.

Helping to people by engaging them in income generation activities and help in conflict minimization.

* Self-satisfaction and sustainability of the organization.
* For positive change in society.
* Enhancing of skill of working with community.
* Self capacity building and for progressive change in society.
* For personality development.
* For exposure and representation in international level.
* For right establishment of conflict-victims.

To find whether the respondents have ever experienced a well motivated situation during their professional life, we had questions relating to this. It was expected to answer this question only is "Yes" or "No" form. 95.2% people say "Yes" and rest people had not yet experienced a well-motivated situation while discharging their profession.

Further stretching the factors of motivation – who responded they have experience of well motivated, we tried to dig out further what had motivated them that gave feeling of well-motivated. This was also a cross verification of the motivating factor related answer which was expressed by themselves previously.

When they fulfill their basic needs 8.70%
When they fulfill their safety needs 1.45%
When they got respect / leadership chance 46.38%
When their love / affection need fulfilled 5.07%
When they realized self-satisfaction 34.78%
Any other situation (to be specified) 3.62%

This was a multiple option question and was somehow aligned with the Maslow's need hierarchy motivation theory. It seems the working people of Nepalese NGOs has given top priority of gaining respect, moving towards higher leadership; therefore this segment stands in top row. Self-satisfaction is the second most demanding factor for motivation. Basic need fulfillment grabs third priority.

On top of the individual motivational factors, we suppose that the level of motivation will depend upon on many factors and varies person to person. Other situation when people felt highly motivated mentioned are as under.

* Felt when self capacity has been enhanced.
* Highly motivated when freed from mental tension.
* “When I found I have done good social service.”
* When the responsibility assigned was satisfactorily discharge.
* When public encouraged me for my work.

One of the meeting points of individual motivation and institutional motivation is the person’s feeling that keeps someone motivating to continue working with the NGO. Certainly there will be organizational goals that not necessarily would be same as of the associated individuals with the NGOs. I tried to dig out the key component that is primarily responsible for motivation of either employees or other associated persons with NGOs. Following is the tabulated data of findings.

Opportunity to lead 27.16%
Monitory perks 10.49%
Higher responsibilities 29.63%
Career enhancement 28.40%
Other 4.32%

As this is a multiple choice question, respondents chosen more components they feel energized at their work. Higher responsibilities in the work are rated as most demanding factor followed by career enhancement and leadership opportunities in Nepalese NGOs. Monetary perks got relatively low rating for motivation generation. It shows that in Nepalese NGOs people are demanding more qualitative attributes rather that money.

Some people specified other points as well that motivates them in their work. They are furnished as under.
· Desire to minimize social backwardness.
· Work evaluation and praise for good job done.
· Achieving the set results.
· Trainings provided to enhance soft skills.
· Empathy for women.
· Public’s faith on the organization.
· Self-satisfaction

Considering the above findings, it is no wonder if we say Nepalese paralleling development in the battlefield has their own set of motivation more inclined with the general motivation principles and haunting for individual livelihood, carrier development. It is further mixed with the organizational prosperity and love of nation and community.

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