AEGIS ECAS 2007 - View abstract

Panel	74. The Creativity of Practitioners for Development
Paper ID	226
Author(s)	Koch, Dirk-Jan
Paper	View paper (PDF)
Abstract	Setting Recent research on the country allocations of NGOs indicates that certain countries already receive substantial amounts of NGO aid, such as Tanzania and Nicaragua, whereas other countries, such as Nigeria and the Central African Republic, are largely bypassed. If the current pattern of aid distribution of NGOs persists, the predicted rising levels of funding will aggravate the already unequal distribution of NGO aid further. Research questions This paper tests to what extent clusters of NGOs are emerging and what the effects of a high concentration of foreign donors is on cooperation between NGOs. Does it lead to increased cooperation between NGOs and does it speed up capacity building processes ? Alternatively, does it lead to increased competition between local NGOs, resulting in an overlap of activities of local NGOs? This papers test the hypothesis that rising concentration of foreign funded NGOs leads initially to increased cooperation between these NGOs and has a positive effect on local NGO capacity building. However, if NGOs become too concentrated on the same themes and regions, this reduces cooperation and actually reduces the effectiveness of the organisations. Methodology This paper uses an innovative methodology to test the hypothesis. By means of a game simulation in the Arusha region of Tanzania, the researchers analyse how local organisations react to increasing and decreasing concentration. The results of these game simulations are juxtaposed to the results of a questionnaire to Arusha based local NGOs. Relevance to the workshop and panel This paper is an elaboration of the conference theme: ‘African Alternatives: Initiative and Creativity beyond Current Constraints’. It analyses how local organisations cooperate to reduce poverty and attract extra funding for their cause. The researchers deem that the paper fits best the panel ‘The Creativity of Practitioners for Development’ for two reasons (a) the paper studies the behaviour of local practitioners and (b) the principal author of the article is a practitioner. Research This research forms part of the International Cooperation Academy, a research alliance between the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Radboud University in Nijmegen. The aim of this research alliance is to bridge the gaps between research, policy, and practice. Dirk-Jan Koch (first author, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and PhD candidate at CIDIN) and Janno van der Laan (MA student at the Center for International Development Issues Nijmegen) execute this research, in conjunction with Prof. Dr. Ruerd Ruben. The field research will take place from January to April 2007. SNV – Arusha will host the research (contact person Josephine Lemoyane).

Clustering of NGOs: cooperation and competition in Arusha, Tanzania.