For years, scholars have investigated the effectiveness of aid dollars. Some scholars measure aid effectiveness at the country level in terms of achieving good governance, promoting democratic accountability, accomplishing growth goals, or attaining macroeconomic goals. This study looks at the aid flowing through nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). It posits that effective aid consists of resources and processes that promote sustainability. It attempts to uncover the meaning of sustainability for the NGOs and recipients that are involved in agriculture while surveying how the aid process works. It looks at NGOs and recipients, resource flow, and activities, and sought to understand the elements that could render aid more or less effective in achieving sustainability in agricultural sectors. This study uses a qualitative case study research strategy that focused on developing theory/hypotheses grounded in the data and the literature (Agranoff, Radin, & Perry, 1991). This approach is adopted because (a) the meaning and promotion of sustainability is a complex topic, (b) aid effectiveness is a multi-faceted puzzle, (c) NGOs represent a diverse group, (d) the collaborative process is complicated, and (e) the context (Haiti) is a challenging place. It uses a data triangulation process (Denzin, 1989, 1997) by combining different types of data and sources (personal interviews, observations, and documentation) to arrive at a convergent understanding of the elements that are more or less likely to influence the NGO aid process in the promotion of sustainability in agriculture. This study finds that most NGOs and recipients focus on one or two dimensions of sustainability (economic or environmental); the social or cultural dimensions are somewhat neglected. I also find that funding and funding horizons are two of the major issues that impede the promotion of sustainability in addition to communication and collaboration in the design of the plans, execution, and follow-up. Recipient education, paternalistic attitude, and poverty levels also play a major role in promoting sustainability. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver um estudo aprofundado sobre a problemática da participação no âmbito das Organizações Não-Governamentais, segundo uma perspectiva psicanalítica de sujeito, grupos e instituições. Assentada sobre o pano de fundo da racionalidade analítica em sua dimensão intersubjetiva e tendo como horizonte a articulação psicanalítica entre sujeito e grupo na compreensão dos fenômenos sociais, a problemática da participação é inicialmente abordada por meio da análise das características dos fenômenos, tal como descritos pelos diferentes conceitos de participação na literatura estudada das ciências sociais. Delineados dois fenômenos de naturezas distintas aquele referido ao ato racional do indivíduo balizado pelo enquadre institucional e outro referido à coletividade, com processos próprios e tendência à irracionalidade, insurgida às margens do enquadre institucional vigente com o objetivo de transformá-lo denominados participação, propõe-se uma releitura destes, sob uma perspectiva psicanalítica. Partindo-se da premissa de ser a participação, por definição genérica, uma relação intersubjetiva, compreendendo o sujeito em sua articulação mutuamente constitutiva com o grupo, ambos sob regência de uma causalidade inconsciente, os fenômenos denominados participação pela literatura estudada são lidos aqui como parte de um mesmo processo intersubjetivo que expressa a dialética instituinte versus instituído. A partir das definições de participação instituída e participação instituinte aqui propostas e intrinsecamente relacionadas, aborda-se a problemática da participação no âmbito institucional das ONGs. Por meio de pesquisa sobre os elementos que teriam servido de berço e de fonte de legitimidade para a constituição de tais organizações nos anos 1970 e 1980 no Brasil (Centros de Educação Popular, metodologia participativas de pesquisa, movimentos sociais e associativismo característicos da formação do Terceiro Setor), demonstra-se uma relação de origem destas com uma participação de caráter instituinte (popular, espontânea e transformadora). A problemática da participação delineia-se uma vez que, sustentando-se e legitimando-se na atualidade por meio de ideologias construídas com esses sentidos instituintes de origem (transformação social e proveniência da sociedade civil), tais organizações estão hoje imersas e amarradas na institucionalidade. Ao estabelecerem relações de dependência e serem atravessadas pelas lógicas provenientes das instituições políticas e econômicas às quais o nome ONG ainda sustenta uma negação constitutiva, essas organizações instituídas na cultura em busca da perenidade evidenciam o paradoxo de se afirmarem como agentes de transformação. Trazendo à cena o sujeito psíquico na compreensão dessa dialética instituído versus instituinte que caracteriza a problemática da participação, abordam-se, sob o prisma psicanalítico, os processos institucionais e as possibilidades de mudança tomando-se as instituições não apenas como formações culturais e sociais, mas como formações psíquicas, enfatizando-se a função que cumprem tanto de regulação das relações sociais, quanto de estruturação do sujeito psíquico. A fim de complementar o estudo teórico sobre essa problemática, com um intuito empírico exploratório, são analisadas três entrevistas realizadas com gestores de ONGs buscando compreender, a partir das falas, de que modo os sujeitos entendidos aqui como sujeitos do grupo, tal como desenvolvido por René Kaës lidam com os paradoxos de suas práticas participativas uma vez inseridos no âmbito institucional dessas organizações / The objective of this research is to develop a study of the participation within Non- Governmental Organizations institutional context, using a psychoanalytic perspective of subject, group and institutions. The initial approach of the analyses is based on the evaluation of several descriptions of the phenomena named as participation by the Social Sciences Literatures. Two phenomena of different natures are outlined: one refers to the rational attitude of the individual constrained by the institutional framework; the other refers to the group taken as a process by its own, bordering the established institutional framework and aiming to transform it. A different approach from a psychoanalytical standpoint is proposed in this work. Starting from the premise that participation is an inter-subjective relationship, both natures of the phenomena are here analyzed as part of the same inter-subjective process. Based on psychoanalytical concepts, it is considered that both of them implicate the individual as well as the group on its mutual foundation, and operate under the effect of the subconscious causality. But, one takes place within an institutional framework and the other happens beyond it. Those differences outline the dialectical relationship between the institution and the instituting process. The participation issue in the institutional NGO environment is analyzed based on the definitions of participation here proposed. Based on a research of the social and historical context of the NGOs foundation in Brazil (in the 1970s and 1980s), highlighting its essential elements, it is demonstrated that the most representative NGOs were created to provide support to popular participation. Considered as spontaneously emerged, this participation phenomenon that took place during the Brazilian dictatorship and the democratic transition, appeared as an instituting process aiming transformations of the established institutions of society. Once in a democratic context, the NGOs are believed to be the representatives of the civil society for participation in public matters, as well as the protagonists of a social transformation. However, this belief built by the heritage of its instituting origins, expressed on those ideologies of social transformation and provenance from civil society, counterpoint the current instituted characteristics of those organizations. The NGOs are now well set up in society within the established institutional framework. They are constantly seeking their own survival, tied up to their financial supporters and their interests, which raises the question of what are the real demands that are being responded to and how those organizations could really act as change agents. In this sense, the participation issue within the NGO institutional context expresses a paradox between an instituting meaning of participation as represented by those organizations, and its institutional reality. In addition to the theoretical study of this issue, together with additional exploratory goals, three interviews with NGO Directors are presented in this study. The objective of these interviews is to understand how the subjects, here considered as subjects within a group as proposed by Rene Kaës, handle the paradox of their participatory practices once they are inserted into the institutional context of these organizations

The purpose of this essay was to examine the Public Relation strategies in four PR-campaigns. The objects of the study were two commercial organisations, Carlsberg and Smirnoff, and two non-governmental organisations, Addict Aide and IQ, with alcohol as the pervading subject. The study intended to compare similarities and differences, persuasion tactics and discourse themes. To accomplish the object of the study the theoretical framework of James E. Grunigs Four models of Public Relations was used. Alongside Grunig’s theory, Relationship management theory was applied to understand social media's role as a strategy in the four campaigns. The method used was a qualitative content analysis combined with a semiotic image analysis, and a critical discourse analysis. The results showed that communication that's is based in two-way communication has the biggest chance of success. The results also showed that social media plays an important part as a strategy in organizations strategic communication and Public Relations endeavors. Both in reaching the target audience, but also in maintaining beneficial relationships between the organization and its audience. The essay’s conclusions were that the audience participation has become an important strategic part in the Public Relation field with the emergence of two-way communication. As well as the fact that cultural and social practices plays an important part in the construct of organizations PR-strategies.

In much of the developing world, the community is the arena of social interaction. Heterogeneity at this local level, combined with a weak state and economic underdevelopment, has been found to make communities particularly receptive to conflict. We know little about cooperation between members of different groups in such communities, and we know even less about the influence of actors, such as the village chief and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), that substitute for the state at this level. What role do the village chief and NGOs play in governing communities characterized by the influx of migrants? Do NGOs strengthen cleavages in heterogeneous societies? What is the role of the village elite in managing cooperation within a village? And which tools should researchers use to understand behavior at this local level? To answer these questions, this dissertation collected original data in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone. Specifically, this project builds on carefully designed lab-in-the-field and field experiments, as well as original survey and ethnographic data, to explore the political economy of heterogeneous communities. The first essay shows how local institutions in the DRC are resilient to outside intervention. Importantly, I find causal evidence that local institutions, not NGOs, are key in sustaining high levels of intra-village cooperation in the presence of migrants. The second essay shows that NGOs in the same context influence how individuals relate to their social categories. I find that NGO activity can strengthen social categories that relate to access to development resources at the cost of those that benefit local cohesion. The final essay explores discriminatory behavior based on social status in rural Sierra Leone. I find that classic experiments may be insufficient in understanding behavior at the local level. In summary, this dissertation emphasizes the importance of research tools designed to measure local behavior, and challenges the basis for current international interventions by showing the positive role of the village chief and by providing micro-level evidence for the possible harmful role that NGOs can play in heterogeneous communities.

The thesis deals with the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) by ensuring of public goods. In the theoretical part of this work author characterize the public goods and methods of their ensuring in Czech Republic, evaluate the role of nongovernmental organizations in society and ways of financing. Last chapter of this part is dedicated to cooperation between NGOs and regional authorities. In the practical part of this thesis author analyze the specific organizations in the region of Příbramsko, evaluate their social benefit and cooperation with municipalities.

Detention centres are a rather new phenomena in the Swedish institutional setup. However, due to the migration inflow of 2015 it is now rapidly expanding all over Sweden. So far, it has been only scarcely monitored and researched and mostly with a focus on the perspective of the detainee’s health or the employee’s experiences at the detention centres. Little is known about the role of the NGOs and how they collaborate with the Migration Agency to secure the rights for those who are detained. This study is a qualitative case study on one of the five detention centres in Sweden, namely Åstorp detention centre which is located in Skåne 20km from Helsingborg. Four interviews have been made with the Migration Agency and with the NGOs that are continuously visiting the detainees in Åstorp. By using data triangulation, the validity of the study has increased and principles from the rights-based approach have been used to highlight important aspects of the collaboration. One significant finding in this research is that the Migration Agency is willingly increasing the transparency by inviting an unlimited number of NGOs to monitor and secure the rights for the detainees, which in turn has led to Sweden's detention centres being referred to as a successful model for the rest of the world. This study has also showed a successful and mutual collaboration between the Migration Agency and the NGOs and even if their roles at the detention centres are different, all participants are working towards a common goal, to improve the conditions for those who are detained. Notwithstanding the relatively limited sample by including one out of five detention centres, this study contributes also, in a small way, to new insights of the situation in Sweden's detention centres and the importance of a successful collaboration between the Migration Agency and NGOs for the detainee’s rights.

Development evaluation is a booming business often seen as a development activity in its own right. Yet, not every actor in the field engages with evaluation. This is primarily due to inadequacies in time, data, resources and expertise. These challenges are prevalent among small nonprofits that arguably stand most in need to appraise their extensive efforts. In an accountability-focused environment, these organizations not only fail to assess adequately the impact of their work but also to evaluate reflectively their structure and implementation process. In response, the sociology and international studies departments at Brigham Young University set up an internship that trains students in evaluation techniques and then contracts their services to nonprofits that struggle to systematically evaluate their programs. Data collected from the student-evaluators and nonprofits showed that the evaluations influenced the organizations by helping the personnel learn, reflect on, discuss, and adjust their programs. In addition to finding evidence of the factors, mechanisms, and change processes that influence an evaluation's effect, this study extends the conceptual models within the influence literature by outlining the enabling role of students in contexts with high capacity constraints.

Projeto Axé is a non-governmental organization that carries out political-pedagogical work and art education for children and adolescents living in a street situation in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. I conducted an exploratory ethnographic study with Projeto Axé's Street Education program in order to observe its day-to-day activities and to conduct a utilization-focused program evaluation (Patton 1997) of its pedagogical praxis. This thesis will describe how ethnographic fieldwork methods are interwoven with the political-pedagogical approaches of Projeto Axé's Street Education program and explain how street educators attempt to construct citizenship with participants in the Street Education program. Findings are based on an analysis of data collected during three months of fieldwork, during which I observed the day-to-day activities of the Street Education program and formally interviewed seven street educators. Projeto Axé's street educators employ ethnographic fieldwork methods in order to more holistically understand the everyday lives of street youth, as well as the dynamics of "street culture" that emerge in the particular urban spaces frequented by street youth. The result is an anthropological understanding that serves as the foundation for street education activities, through which street youth are provoked to think critically about their everyday reality in order to transform it (Freire 1970). The construction of citizenship through Street Education is based on the "pedagogy of desire" (Carvalho 2000), a psychological-sociocultural theory of learning developed by the organization specifically for working with youth living in a street situation. Street education and the construction of citizenship begin and happen with the desire of street youth. The content of street education is not fixed or predetermined, but emerges out of a particular street youth's desires, needs, and dialogues with street educators. I conclude that, combined with Freireian-inspired political pedagogy and the pedagogy of desire, the use of ethnographic fieldwork methods by street educators is crucial for Projeto Axé's attempts at realizing radical transformations in the lives of street youth. Furthermore, Projeto Axé's anthropological approaches to the social and political inclusion of street youth increase the adaptability of its street pedagogy to the local socio-cultural realities emergent in other urban spaces.

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. / Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are perceived to be poorly performing partly due to their culture; the constructs of NGOs’ culture usually affect employees’ commitment and performance negatively, leading employees to leave the organisation. This discourages and demoralises employees’ mind sets to perform as expected which affects NGOs’ productivity, goals and competitiveness in a negative way. The study investigated employee perceptions in organisational culture constructs to selected NGOs in Cape Town in order to generate valuable information in understanding the role of organisational culture in the achievement of organisational objectives in NGOs. Mixed methods approach was used in this study as it allowed collecting of qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously and assessing different facets of complex outcomes in a richer way than one method alone. The study found that culture is set to boost employees’ and organisations’ performance, and that managers and owners in NGOs have knowledge of this. The study revealed that some criteria such as openness and the creativity view of the organisational culture are only considered positive to managers and owners of NGOs. This study found that managers and owners in NGOs believe the implemented organisational culture is very effective, positively affects and boosts employees’ performance. The employees, however, had a different perception; they feel excluded from the development of the organisational culture which in turn affects their commitment and performance in a negative manner. This study found that employees’ commitment towards organisational culture derives from the way it is designed and how it suits employees’ expectations. Aspects such as remuneration, a safe work environment and sustainability, were found to be important for employees’ performance and commitment. Therefore, it is evident that directing or developing NGOs’ organisational culture that focus on employees’ expectation such as remuneration and sustainable employees’ innovation and practice will receive more support from employees. Furthermore, the criteria are keen to improve the way employees perform and commit to the organisation. It was recommended that NGOs involve employees in the design or development of its organisational culture in order to have more information on employees regarding what to expect from them. Another major implication is that the issue of employee benefit or remuneration have to be addressed in order to maintain employees’ performance.

Development non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are under immense pressure to adhere to the programs and methods put forth by external donors, particularly if the NGOs rely on the funding to sustain their own organizations. Those external donors that represent neoliberal ideologies and enforce neoliberal practices, particularly in the area of microfinance, maintain a power that most recipient NGOs cannot evade. This becomes a difficult position for the NGOs to navigate as they try to accomplish good work in their communities. This research project is a study into the experience of one NGO, the Egyptian Development Organization (EDO), as it implemented microfinance programs in rural Egypt. The study revealed that EDO maintained an overall, structural orientation towards foreign donors and audiences, and employed discourses that appealed to neoliberal ideologies and practices. For the NGO, this orientation went beyond an accommodating lip-service and resulted in the institutionalization of demand-driven microfinance. Additionally, through decentralization EDO transferred risks and responsibilities to a more local level, and required the infusion of neoliberal ideologies into the practices and actions of microfinance borrowers even before their loans were disbursed. This thesis argues that a point of disjuncture occurs as the context of neoliberalism, specifically the aims of material accumulation through the mechanism of microfinance, meets the program participants practices of the development and preservation of social and human capital. This study found that microfinance program participants are both accepting and reproducing the rhetoric, often in ways that defy their own experiences within it. Their high rates of participation in microfinance, as evidenced by repeated and multiple loans, are pronounced considering that few have achieved the increased economic and financial gains promised by neoliberalism and microfinance. By conceptually conflating financial and non-financial capital gains, loan recipients were able to go beyond tolerating rhetoric that does not come to fruition, and justify continuous participation in the program. By perceiving investments into non-financial gains as valuable, the participants altered their livelihood strategies new ways that may or may not secure against vulnerabilities in the long run.