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Authentic NGDO Partnerships in the New Policy Agenda for International Aid: Dead End or Light Ahead?

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  • Alan F. Fowler

Abstract

Since the 1970s, ‘partnership’ has been an aspiration for relationships amongst non‐governmental organizations involved in international development (NGDOs). Unfortunately, NGDOs have shown little ability to form equitable relations, or true partnership, amongst themselves. The first part of this article examines why. The new policy agenda for international aid emphasizes contract‐based relationships which will make real partnerships even more difficult to achieve. The second part of the analysis argues that trust‐based authentic partnerships remain vital for development, and outlines some steps that NGOs might take towards forming them. In the long term, however, NGDOs must radically rethink their roles, which calls for a transformation from intermediaries in a funding chain to facilitators of international co‐operation between the diverse groups which comprise civil society. NGDOs unwilling to take this step could be classified as hypocrites if they continue to employ the term ‘partnership’ for what is essentially old wine in re‐labelled civic bottles.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan F. Fowler, 1998. "Authentic NGDO Partnerships in the New Policy Agenda for International Aid: Dead End or Light Ahead?," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 29(1), pages 137-159, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devchg:v:29:y:1998:i:1:p:137-159
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-7660.00073
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    Cited by:

    1. Maganya David Otieno & Dr. Moses M.M Otieno (Ph.D), 2020. "Influence of Community Development Trust Fund Programme on Implementation of Community Environmental Facility Projects in Migori County, Kenya," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 4(9), pages 634-652, September.
    2. Yunjeong Yang, 2022. "Empowering or managing the locals? Within‐organizational power relations and capacity building of Korean NGOs in Cambodia," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(6), pages 1130-1144, August.
    3. Aveling, Emma-Louise & Martin, Graham, 2013. "Realising the transformative potential of healthcare partnerships: Insights from divergent literatures and contrasting cases in high- and low-income country contexts," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 74-82.
    4. Mujun Zhou & Guowei Yan, 2020. "Advocating Workers' Collective Rights: The Prospects and Constraints Facing ‘Collective Bargaining’ NGOs in the Pearl River Delta, 2011–2015," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 51(4), pages 1044-1066, July.
    5. Gina Porter, 2003. "NGOs and poverty reduction in a globalizing world: perspectives from Ghana," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 3(2), pages 131-145, April.
    6. Alan Fowler & Kees Biekart, 2013. "Relocating Civil Society in a Politics of Civic-Driven Change," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 31(4), pages 463-483, July.
    7. Kerstin Sonesson & Birgitta Nordén, 2020. "We Learnt a Lot: Challenges and Learning Experiences in a Southern African—North European Municipal Partnership on Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-25, October.
    8. Marike Bontenbal, 2010. "City Networking With The ‘Global South’: Dutch Policy And Practice," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 101(4), pages 462-472, September.
    9. David Horan, 2019. "A New Approach to Partnerships for SDG Transformations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-22, September.
    10. Stephen Morse & Nora McNamara, 2006. "Analysing institutional partnerships in development: a contract between equals or a loaded process?," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 6(4), pages 321-336, October.
    11. Edith van Ewijk & Isa Baud & Marike Bontenbal & Michaela Hordijk & Paul van Lindert & Gerry Nijenhuis & Guus van Westen, 2015. "Capacity development or new learning spaces through municipal international cooperation: Policy mobility at work?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(4), pages 756-774, March.
    12. Andrews, Abigail, 2014. "Downward Accountability in Unequal Alliances: Explaining NGO Responses to Zapatista Demands," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 99-113.
    13. Francis Amagoh, 2015. "Improving the credibility and effectiveness of non-governmental organizations," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 15(3), pages 221-239, July.
    14. Mabiso, Athur & van Rheenen, Teunis & Ferguson, Jenna, 2013. "Organizational partnerships for food Policy research impact: A review of what works:," IFPRI discussion papers 1305, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    15. Hans HolmE9n, 2002. "NGOs, Networking, and Problems of Representation," ICER Working Papers 33-2002, ICER - International Centre for Economic Research.

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