The Role of NGOs in the Aid Effectiveness Partnership: A Case study of Developmental NGOs in Ghana
Author
Christensen, Jeanette
Term
4. term
Publication year
2010
Submitted on
2010-12-01
Pages
69
Abstract
Donorers strategier har ændret sig med Paris-erklæringen om bistandseffektivitet, som foreskriver partnerskaber, hvor modtagerregeringer udformer nationale udviklingsstrategier, og donorer tilpasser deres støtte. Denne partnerskabsidé har gjort magtubalancer mere tydelige og ændret udviklingspolitikken, også for NGO’er. Specialet undersøger, hvad disse ændringer betyder for lokale NGO’er i Ghana, som har været foregangsland for flere initiativer. NGO’er møder nye bevillingskanaler, fordi nogle donorer harmoniserer civilsamfundsmidler via samfinansierede fonde (pooled funds), administreret af internationale NGO’er (INGO’er). Metode: data-triangulering med ekspertinterviews, sekundære kilder og teori. Specialet gennemgår ghanesiske NGO’ers historiske rolle og sammenligner med nutiden for at se, hvordan partnerskabsinitiativer har ændret deres rolle. Det undersøger også, hvordan asymmetriske magtrelationer påvirker partnerskaber, der skulle bygge på gensidig tillid. Konklusionen er, at den nye donorstrategi har påvirket NGO’ers rolle, men ikke som ønsket. I Ghana er gensidigt partnerskab urealistisk, fordi donorer bevarer beslutningskraften for at sikre “effektiv” implementering. Partnerskaber gennemføres kun delvist, og donorer styrer udviklingsstrategien. Det skaber uklarhed om NGO’ers rolle. Donorer opfordrer NGO’er til at lave forskning og advocacy om implementering, mens regeringen sjældent inddrager NGO’er i politiske debatter. NGO’er har erfaring med servicelevering fra donorstøttede projekter i 1990’erne (fx skolebyggeri og sundhedspleje), men regeringen—som nu opfordres af donorer til selv at stå for service—udnytter ikke denne kapacitet. Donorer fremmer også, at NGO’er er uafhængige “watchdogs”, og støtter etablerede NGO’er via pooled funds. Det skærper konkurrencen om midler og favoriserer større og “effektive” organisationer. Samlet set viderefører partnerskabsansatsen elementer fra den neoliberale Washington-konsensus med fokus på uafhængighed og effektivitet. Ghanaiske NGO’er kan dog ikke være reelt uafhængige; de er afhængige af donormidler og risikerer at blive donorenes forlængede arm.
Donor strategies have shifted under the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness, which calls for partnerships where recipient governments set national development strategies and donors align their support. This partnership idea has brought power imbalances to the surface and changed how development policy works, including for NGOs. The thesis examines what these changes mean for local NGOs in Ghana, a front-runner in adopting aid-effectiveness initiatives. NGOs now encounter new grant channels as some donors harmonize civil-society funding through pooled funds managed by international NGOs (INGOs). Method: data triangulation—expert interviews, secondary sources, and theory. The thesis traces the historical role of Ghanaian NGOs and compares it to the current situation to see how partnership initiatives have altered their role. It also examines how unequal power relations affect partnerships that are supposed to be based on mutual trust. The conclusion is that the new donor strategy has affected NGO roles, but not as intended. In Ghana, a mutual partnership is unrealistic because donors retain decision-making authority to ensure “effective” implementation. Partnerships are only partially implemented, with donors controlling the development strategy. This creates confusion about NGOs’ role. Donors urge NGOs to conduct research and advocacy on implementation, yet the government rarely includes NGOs in policy debates. NGOs have service-delivery experience from donor-funded projects in the 1990s (e.g., school construction and healthcare), but the government—now encouraged by donors to deliver services itself—does not draw on this capacity. Donors also promote NGOs as independent watchdogs and support established NGOs through pooled funds, which intensifies competition for resources and favors larger, “effective” organizations. Overall, the partnership approach continues elements of the neoliberal Washington Consensus by emphasizing independence and efficiency. However, Ghanaian NGOs are not in a position to be truly independent; they rely on donor funds and risk becoming an extension of donors.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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