NGOs AND POVERTY REDUCTION: A CASE STUDY OF DANISH AND GHANAIAN NGOs IN GHANA.

Addo, Geraldine Aku

4. term

Development and International Relations, Master

2017

2017-07-31

84

Udviklingsmodeller ændrer sig løbende som følge af bl.a. globalisering, og det påvirker, hvordan NGO'er arbejder med at reducere fattigdom. Selvom antallet af NGO'er er steget, og ekstrem fattigdom er faldet, lever mange stadig i fattigdom, hvilket udfordrer NGO'ers legitimitet. Denne afhandling undersøger NGO'ers betydning ved at se grundigt på deres arbejdsformer rettet mod fattigdomsreduktion og dens centrale elementer - ikke kun på målte effekter. Studiet er kvalitativt og bygger på interviews og et case-studie af tre udvalgte ghanesiske og tre danske NGO'er for at indfange deres opfattelser, aktiviteter og erfaringer. Analysen er inspireret af teorier om civilsamfund og NGO'er, ressourceafhængighed (hvordan afhængighed af ekstern finansiering former organisationers adfærd) og empowerment (hvordan mennesker får mere indflydelse og handlekraft). Resultaterne peger på, at NGO'er fortsat er betydningsfulde for fattigdomsreduktion i Ghana i et relativt åbent civilsamfundsrum. De spiller en kritisk rolle ved at forny og tilpasse deres udviklingsindsatser. Samtidig er troværdigheden under pres på grund af ambivalens og adfærd, der vækker mistillid. Forholdet til staten er overvejende konstruktivt og komplementært: venligt samarbejde, en stærk NGO-stemme for ansvarlighed over for de fattige og organisatorisk uafhængighed. Der findes stadig uenigheder, men relationen er forbedret sammenlignet med tidligere mere konfliktfyldte perioder. Afhængighed af internationale donorer begrænser ressourcerne for ghanesiske NGO'er. Efter at Ghana har fået mellemindkomststatus, er globale midler blevet mindre tilgængelige, så ghanesiske NGO'er er mere økonomisk pressede end danske. Donorer er afgørende - ikke kun som finansieringskilde, men også fordi de påvirker NGO'ers udvikling og strategier. En vej frem er at diversificere finansieringskilder for at understøtte arbejdet.

Development approaches are changing due to factors such as globalization, and this affects how NGOs work to reduce poverty. Although the number of NGOs has grown and extreme poverty has declined, many people still live in poverty, raising questions about NGOs' legitimacy. This thesis examines NGOs' significance by looking closely at how they operate toward poverty reduction and its key components, rather than only at measured impacts. The study uses qualitative methods, combining interviews and a case study with three selected Ghanaian and three Danish NGOs to capture their perceptions, activities, and experiences. Data collection and analysis were guided by civil society and NGO theory, resource dependency theory (how reliance on external funding shapes organizational behavior), and empowerment theory (how people gain influence and agency). Findings show that NGOs remain important to poverty reduction in Ghana within a relatively open civil society space. They play a critical role by renewing and adapting development approaches. At the same time, their credibility is weakening due to ambivalence and behaviors that create mistrust. Their relationship with the state is largely constructive and complementary: friendly cooperation, a strong NGO voice demanding accountability to the poor, and organizational independence. Disagreements persist, but the relationship has improved compared with earlier, more tense periods. Dependence on international donors constrains the resources of Ghanaian NGOs. Since Ghana attained middle-income status, global funding has become less accessible, leaving Ghanaian NGOs more financially constrained than Danish NGOs. Donors are pivotal not only as funders but also because they influence NGOs' development and strategies. A practical response is to diversify funding sources to sustain their activities.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

NGOs ; Poverty Reduction ; Development

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