The organizational dynamics of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have become increasingly complex as they have evolved from small local groups into sophisticated multinational organizations with global networks. Alnoor Ebrahim's study analyzes the organizational evolution of NGOs as a result of their increased profile as bilateral partners in delivering aid. Focusing on the relationships between NGOs and their international network of funders, it examines not only the tensions created by the reporting requirement of funders, but also the strategies of resistance employed by NGOs.
Author(s): Alnoor Ebrahim
Year: 2003
Language: English
Pages: 192
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Contents......Page 7
Figures......Page 8
Tables......Page 9
Acknowledgments......Page 10
Abbreviations......Page 12
Introduction......Page 13
1 The making of NGOs: the relevance of Foucault and Bourdieu......Page 19
Discourse on development......Page 22
Structure, agency, and reproduction......Page 26
Summary......Page 31
Sadguru......Page 33
AKRSP (I)......Page 35
Activities of AKRSP (I) and Sadguru......Page 36
Links with Northern organizations......Page 39
Aga Khan Foundation......Page 40
Ford Foundation......Page 42
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation......Page 43
Summary: NGO-funder relationships......Page 44
3 NGO behavior and development discourse......Page 46
The “basic needs – integrated rural development” era, 1974–80......Page 47
The rise of “participation”......Page 50
Participation and professionalism, 1980–86......Page 51
The era offoreign funds and consultants, 1986–93......Page 53
Consultants......Page 54
Funding conditions: environment and gender......Page 55
Reverse influence: from local to national and global......Page 57
Liberalization, civil society, and recent changes......Page 59
Conclusions......Page 62
4 Interdependence and power: tensions ver money and reputation......Page 64
AKRSP (I)......Page 65
Sadguru......Page 68
Dependence on money......Page 72
Perceptions ofrelationships......Page 75
Relations between the NGOs and AKF......Page 76
Relations with the European Commission......Page 79
Relations with other international funders: NORAD and the Ford Foundation......Page 80
Analysis: interdependence and capital exchange......Page 82
Conclusion......Page 87
5 Information struggles: the role of information in the reproduction of NGO-funder relationships......Page 89
Information flows: product and process data......Page 90
Paying attention......Page 93
Physical and financial progress......Page 94
The baseline monitoring mission and logical framework analysis......Page 97
Summary: comparing the influence of target and monitoring data......Page 106
Strategies of resistance......Page 107
Symbolism, selectivity, and professionalization......Page 108
Conclusion: the reproduction of NGO-funder relations......Page 113
Appendix 1: Information types......Page 116
A typology of learning......Page 119
Types of learning......Page 120
Levels of learning......Page 121
A basic learning cycle......Page 122
A stimulus–response model of learning......Page 126
Sadguru’s physical achievements......Page 129
Forming a lift irrigation program......Page 130
Forming a checkdam program......Page 134
Alternative explanations for the growth of Sadguru’s programs......Page 136
Double-loop learning: Sadguru’s training institute and forestry program......Page 137
Forming a development program......Page 140
Productive efficiency and learning......Page 142
Learning by exploring in AKRSP (I)......Page 148
Changes in standard activities......Page 155
Information and accountability......Page 156
Promoting new thinking in NGOs: a strategic review of AKRSP (I)......Page 158
Conclusions......Page 160
7 Challenges ahead: NGO-funder relations in a global future......Page 163
Global discourses on environment and development......Page 164
Interdependence and reporting......Page 167
Organizational change through learning......Page 169
Challenges ahead: the future of reporting and learning......Page 170
1 THE MAKING OF NGOs: THE RELEVANCE OF FOUCAULT AND BOURDIEUT AND BOURDIEU......Page 172
2 THE NGOs AND THEIR GLOBAL NETWORKS......Page 173
3 NGO BEHAVIOR AND DEVELOPMENT DISCOURSE......Page 174
4 INTERDEPENDENCE AND POWER: TENSIONS OVER MONEY AND REPUTATION......Page 175
5 INFORMATION STRUGGLES: THE ROLE OF INFORMATION IN THE REPRODUCTION OF NGO-FUNDER RELATIONSHIPS......Page 176
6 LEARNING IN NGOs......Page 177
7 CHALLENGES AHEAD: NGO-FUNDER RELATIONS IN A GLOBAL FUTURE......Page 181
References......Page 182
Index......Page 191
