This study explores the changing interface between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments in Asia and the Pacific in their common quest for social justice in a world of increasing uncertainty.

In the main part, this study reviews the recent experience of government-NGO interaction in a sample of countries and areas around the region: Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong (China), Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Vanuatu.  Each country review considers the following aspects of evolving NGO-government relations: the historical background to the NGO presence; the legal and regulatory framework, including registration procedures; coordination mechanisms, including apex organizations; funding arrangements; tensions between advocacy and service functions; and progress towards effective NGO participation in development policy-making, planning and implementation at the national and local levels.

This study presents a "state-of-the-art" survey on a subject that should be of interest to all social development policy makers and practitioners, whether in the government or non-governmental sectors.  It seeks to assist those personnel in gaining an appreciation of the major issues and a grasp of the options that may be put into play.  Although its information base is distinctly Asian-Pacific in scope, its findings and conclusions may be found relevant to other regions as well.