Examining the Role of Non-government Organizations (NGOs) in Realizing Good Urban Governance(Case Study: Tehran Metropolitan City)

During the past century, the city management system has faced shortcomings due to weaknesses in civil and local institutions, absence of a well-defined organizational position within the national hierarchy, and lack of participation in planning as a result of centralized, top-down administration. Today, as a metropolitan city that is supposed to play an international role in the region and a national role in the country, Tehran is facing numerous problems and issues that stem from underdeveloped local communities and absence of good urban governance. Consequently, the present study seeks to address the role of NGOs as an institutional capacity in realizing and improving the governance process in line with increasing the participation of local communities.

Conducted with the purpose of examining the role of NGOs in realizing good urban governance in Tehran metropolitan city, this research employed the survey method and field studies. Data collection was carried out via distributing questionnaires among the sample population. The hypotheses of the study were then tested using statistical softwares such as the SPSS. The questionnaire included 35 items, out of which 10 and 25 items were specified to measure variables of NGOs and good urban governance, respectively. In this regard, 5 items were considered for each component of good urban governance which included participation, reliability, transparency, accountability, and efficiency. The scale of the study was validated by extracting the components of variables under measurement from the existing literature. Subsequently, they were localized using the comments of experts. Content validity and measurement scale were evaluated through qualitative reasoning. That is, the questionnaire used in this study had 3 content validities as the variables under measurement were derived from related research and constructs in questionnaires were correctly perceived by the sample population. To pretest the designed questionnaire, they were distributed among 10 experts and professors; next, following the correction and balancing of a few points, they were distributed among 30 individuals within the initial sample population; given the comments of this group, the relevancy of questions was ensured in relation to the sample population. Ultimately, the final questionnaire was designed and used for data collection.Results and DiscussionThe hypotheses were examined and the results are explained below:In the main hypothesis, it was stated that “NGOs play a role in realizing good urban governance in Tehran metropolitan city.” The significance level of F statistic value in regression test showed that NGOs are capable of playing a role in realization of good urban governance in Tehran metropolitan city at 95% significance level. Findings suggest that in order to realize good governance in cities as local environments, it is necessary to utilize capacities present in the constitution, century-long experiences of consultative localism (city association, Islamic council), and global experiences in the area of NGOs. Indeed, addressing the management of cities through a participatory approach requires an efficient framework which, according to the experiences of developed countries, is the good urban governance; an approach that is recommended by the UN as the global policy trustee in line with offering development. Accordingly, by increasing the social capital and accountability of local managers, emotional refining of the citizens, attracting social elites and guiding them in managing urban affairs, and providing social solidarity in Tehran metropolitan city, NGOs have provided the means for realization of good urban governance.In the first secondary hypothesis, it was stated that “NGOs play a role in realizing “participation” in Tehran metropolitan city.” The significance level of F statistic value in regression test showed that NGOs are capable of playing a role in realization of participation in Tehran metropolitan city at 95% significance level. In affairs such as participation and delegation of authorities, urban management needs to mitigate legal ambiguities and increase localized educational and research centers. Subsequently, the government can play an effective role in this process by carrying out a set of sociocultural actions such as producing educational contents for schools and universities, instructing teachers, judges, government staff, and law enforcement personnel, teaching the principles and frameworks on the importance of utilizing the participation of NGOs through media and particularly the IRIB, reviewing the current rules and regulations in Iran, and modifying bureaucratic procedures. Governments can also increase the authorities of civil institutions such as the NGOs and mitigate urban management issues with the help of the local citizens as local governments, using the indices of good urban governance.In the second secondary hypothesis, it was stated that “NGOs play a role in realizing “reliability” in Tehran metropolitan city.” The significance level of F statistic value in regression test showed that NGOs do not play a role in realization of reliability in Tehran metropolitan city at 95% significance level.

suggest that NGOs currently do not occupy a suitable position in Iran; accordingly, any collective movement considered as voluntary activities are at a declining level throughout the society. Therefore, despite the considerable willingness of individuals to participate in such activities, factors such as low levels of trust and reliability in the society and absence of common positive values has resulted in these activities to remain as mere mental desires rather than practical, objective actions. In these circumstances, NGOs cannot be expected to be significantly effective on the area of reliability.In the third secondary hypothesis, it was stated that “NGOs play a role in realizing “transparency” in Tehran metropolitan city.” The significance level of F statistic value in regression test showed that NGOs do not play a role in realization of transparency in Tehran metropolitan city at 95% significance level. There is an insignificant percentage of individuals within NGOs who believe in the effectiveness of these organizations on the transparency of the authorities; subsequently, an inconsiderable extent of willingness is shown to carry out activities in NGOs in line with establishing transparency among government authorities. It appears that in the current conditions, NGOs do not have a considerable effectiveness in realizing good urban governance due to issues that obstruct their activities along with the risks of engaging in political areas. As a result, to achieve success in increasing transparency, the entire government and non-government bodies and sectors including schools, universities, newspapers, the IRIB, and other mainstream media should work in harmony.In the fourth secondary hypothesis, it was stated that “NGOs play a role in realizing “accountability” in Tehran metropolitan city.” The significance level of F statistic value in regression test showed that NGOs are capable of playing a role in realization of accountability in Tehran metropolitan city at 95% significance level. By attracting social elites and guiding them in managing urban affairs, NGOs have managed to elevate the spirit of questioning among the members of the society; in addition, these elite individuals have managed to get their questions across to the government using modern communication tools including social networks. This has led to urban authorities to be held accountable, hence properly realizing this important aspect of good governance.In the fifth secondary hypothesis, it was stated that “NGOs play a role in realizing “efficiency” in Tehran metropolitan city.” The significance level of F statistic value in regression test showed that NGOs do not play a role in realization of efficiency in Tehran metropolitan city at 95% significance level. Such lack of effectiveness can be attributed to a number of reasons including structural inadequacies in NGOs, weak social trust in these organizations, economic issues present in voluntary activities, and absence of professional functions in NGOs in shaping the civil society.

Results showed that in general, NGOs do play a role in realizing good urban governance in Tehran metropolitan city; however, despite their effective roles in actualizing components of participation and macro accountability, they do not seem to have an adequate role in realizing components such as reliability, transparency, and efficiency. Ultimately, it should be pointed out that the structure of urban management in Tehran at local levels requires enhancing the role of NGOs and participation of local communities and multilevel and multi-agent governance in line with efficient and effective urban management whilst reinforcing indices of good urban governance including participation, reliability, transparency, accountability, and efficiency. Reinforcing good urban governance against a government-centered urban management approach requires a strong political will at the higher echelons of governance, particularly their belief in such pattern of administration.