NSF Chief: Some NGOs in Mauritius Profit from Keeping People Poor

The head of Mauritius's main state welfare body has made a pointed accusation against parts of the non-governmental sector, saying that poverty serves the financial interests of some organisations that claim to fight it.

Pouba Essoo, president of the National Solidarity Fund (NSF), said in an interview with Le Defi Media that certain NGOs fail to measure the real impact of their work and show little urgency in helping beneficiaries become self-sufficient. Her view is that for some actors in the sector, persistent poverty is not a problem to be solved but a condition that justifies their continued funding and existence.

The NSF is a government body under the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment. It channels public money to vulnerable individuals and families across Mauritius, often working alongside registered NGOs and community organisations to identify and support those in need.

For the 2025 to 2026 financial year, the NSF has allocated 70 million Mauritian rupees to assist approximately 3,500 beneficiaries through a range of programmes. Those programmes cover areas such as housing support, social reintegration and livelihood assistance, though specific breakdowns were not detailed in the interview.

Essoo's comments reflect a tension that has long existed in social policy circles globally: when organisations depend on donor funding tied to the existence of a problem, there is a structural risk that solving the problem becomes less of a priority. In Mauritius, where the NGO sector receives a mix of government grants, corporate social responsibility contributions and international funding, accountability for outcomes has become a live debate.

She did not name specific organisations but called for greater rigour in how NGOs are evaluated, suggesting that impact measurement should be a condition of continued support rather than an afterthought.

What this means: For the thousands of Mauritians who rely on welfare support, Essoo's remarks signal a possible shift in how the NSF and the government approach partnerships with civil society. If stricter impact assessments are introduced, NGOs that cannot demonstrate measurable progress in lifting people out of poverty could find their access to public funding reduced. For taxpayers and policymakers, the debate raises a fundamental question about whether the current system is designed to reduce dependency or to manage it indefinitely. The 70 million rupee budget for 3,500 beneficiaries works out to an average of 20,000 rupees per person for the year, a figure that underlines the scale of the challenge and the importance of spending those resources effectively.

Source: Le Defi Media