depressed and suicidal. It might be better for SVSG to help FLO do its work, rather than compete with it for funds and clients.” Ramona Boodoosingh, PHD on Violence Against Women in Samoa, Inquiry document 82 The issues arising from the dominance of SVSG are as a direct result of the Government failing to provide social welfare, essentially becoming privatized, and as a result leading to a lack of accountability, regulation and coordination. The aims and activities of SVSG are clearly well intentioned and without them many victims and perpetrators of family violence would be in a far worse position. Their work is to be applauded but it should not also be their role to regulate and coordinate the NGO sector, develop professional standards and monitor compliance. If the Government is happy to stand back and privatize the NGO sector in this way, it cannot simply absolve itself of all responsibility and let it take on a course of its own. This is because the risk of further harm to victims of family violence is high, and efficiency of the sector will not be achieved. 9.2.7.3 Challenges The case of SVSG highlights the predominant challenge for the sector as a whole. Because Government is lacking in the area of family violence, NGOs have no guidance, no structure and are left to fight it out for themselves in terms of space in the sector. There are no standards, oversight, nor coordination meaning potential overlap of work, unfair competition and inconsistency of message, all of which amount to ineffectiveness. These challenges have also been recognized by the Government itself. “The need for accountability measures to ensure quality service for all victims of violence is critical to ensuring quality and sustainability of the services by all providers.” Samoa Family Safety Study 2017, Inquiry document 46 Aside from the challenges arising from the lack of a comprehensive Government framework to address family violence, NGOs generally face a number of other difficulties:118     Core and programme funding; Professionalization and access to training; Absence of M & E systems; Positive working relationship with the Government. Aside from the overarching issues relating to the Government, one of the more concerning challenges for NGOs and the impact it has on service delivery, is the lack of national standards for counseling. The Inquiry has highlighted this issue at many points already but it cannot be emphasized enough that where counseling of victims and perpetrators is undertaken the risk for further harm is extremely high. Many NGOs provide this type of service to its clients as it is an area of extensive need. However, very few have 118 SPC and UNFPA. (2006). Samoa Family Health and Safety Study 2000. Document 83 in Inquiry anthology, accessible at www.ombudsman.gov.ws.