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Motivations behind citizen aid: Norwegian initiatives in The Gambia

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  • June Fylkesnes

Abstract

Little is known about citizen aid initiatives originating in Norway, and they are not recognised as part of the official Norwegian development aid. Citizen aid initiatives are personal and small, and by themselves they do not raise large sums of money, nor do they individually have a large-scale development impact. But collectively, their influence on sponsors in Norway and on aid beneficiaries in the Global South might be substantial. Through qualitative interviews, this study explores the motivations of Norwegian founders of citizen aid initiatives, who run small development projects in The Gambia. The study finds that they are motivated by the very characteristics of these citizen aid initiatives which set them apart from formal development organisations. These include the initiatives’ small size, which allows for a personal closeness to and control over the projects. These features are often interconnected with motivations stemming from the founders’ personal experiences. The study finds that, inasmuch as the founders see the need for beneficiaries to be supported, they also experience a need to help themselves. The founders’ identities, as helpers and givers, are both formed and continually reinforced by their personal involvement in this specific type of aid work.

Suggested Citation

  • June Fylkesnes, 2019. "Motivations behind citizen aid: Norwegian initiatives in The Gambia," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(10), pages 1799-1815, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:ctwqxx:v:40:y:2019:i:10:p:1799-1815
    DOI: 10.1080/01436597.2019.1656061
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    Cited by:

    1. Logan Cochrane & John-Michael Davis, 2020. "Scaling the INGO: What the Development and Expansion of Canadian INGOs Tells Us," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-14, August.
    2. John‐Michael Davis & Liam Swiss, 2020. "Need, Merit, Self‐Interest or Convenience? Exploring Aid Allocation Motives of Grassroots International NGOs," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(8), pages 1324-1345, November.

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