台灣曾經是被西方國家援助的對象，然而今日已成爲提供國際 援助與發展技術的國家，這段發展的歷史脈絡與台灣的政治、經濟 與社會因素的演變息息相關。自50年代初期至60年代中期，美國政 府基於國防、經濟等因素曾提供台灣相當數額的軍事與經濟援助。 然而，在同一時間，台灣也接受來自美國及其他已開發國家慈善及 社會發展性質非政府組織(NGOs)的金錢、物資與發展技術移轉等 的援助。本文首先論述NGOs在國際救援與發展角色的理論觀點， 以解釋爲何國際NGOs能在開發中國家扮演人道救援與發展的角 色，及其組織在此領域中具備的優勢與劣勢。接著從歷史的角度分 析從事國際救援與發展工作的NGOs爲何會在50至70年代選擇台灣 爲其提供救援服務的受援國之一，而爲何國際救棱NGOs又在70年 代中期開始紛紛從台灣撤離。接著論述，在國際NGOs離開台灣後 所留下來的慈善、社會福利及其他發展事項的空間被本土興起的 NGOs所填補，此中的政治經濟與社會結構改變的影響因素。最後 本文分析台灣本土NGOs在90年代初期開始，對有需求的國家與地 區開展國際救援工作，同時以一實證研究結果説明台灣本土NGOs 從事援外工作所呈現的特質，並指出台灣政府在援外政策與舉措上 與民間NGOs的互動關係。

Within the past five decades, Taiwan has undergone a transition from being a recipient of western aid to becoming a contributor to international aid and development technology. This transformation of roles is the result of closely linked factors involving a historical chain of events in Taiwan’s political landscape，and an evolution in the domestic economy and society. In addition to the direct aid provided by the U.S. government, it is worth noting that during this time, aid and assistance from charitable non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the United States and other developed nations also presented a substantial contribution. In the first section, this article reviews the theoretical perspectives with regard to the roles played by NGOs in international relief and development. Then, based on the theories reviewed, the author applies the historical approach to explain why many international NGOs would provide relief and development services to Taiwan during the period from 1950s to the mid-1970s, and why those NGOs one by one terminated their projects and withdrew from Taiwan since the mid-1970s. Next, the author portrays the scenario after the mid-1970s that shows Taiwanese indigenous NGOs have increasingly developed themselves to have the capacity to take over the space of charity, social welfare and community development left by those international NGOs. Finally, the analysis is focused on the reality that more and more NGOs in Taiwan turn their attention and concerns to the issue about international relief and development and generously provide foreign aid services to the needed countries since the very early of the 1990s. Some of the preliminary findings from an empirical study are presented, showing the distinctive features of Taiwanese NGOs whose primary or partial tasks are related to international relief and development.