Vystomojo bendradarbiavimo politika yra neatsiejama ES, Lietuvos ir viso pasaulio užsienio politikos dalis, kuri apima tiek geografines, tiek temines paramos vystymuisi formas. Todėl būtent pilietinio sąmoningumo pagrindu turi būti skatinamas visuotinių problemų suvokimas, žinių bei gebėjimų ugdymas, partnerystės tarp įvairių lygių sprendimų priėmėjų ir NVO plėtojimas vystomajam bendradarbiavimui įgyvendinti. Dalyvavimas, kaip priemonė, siekia užtikrinti, kad bus atsižvelgta į visų grupių interesus ir integruoti bendrus aspektus į sprendimo priėmimo procesą. Dėl to yra svarbu, kad bendradarbiavimas ir NVO dalyvavimo formos būtų grįstos skaidrumu bei pasitikėjimu, taip užtikrinant sklandesnį institucijų ir visuomenės įtraukimą į vystomojo bendradarbiavimo politiką. Lietuvoje nevyriausybinės organizacijos susiduria su finansavimo, informavimo, atstovavimo ir eile kitų problemų, kurioms spręsti yra reikalingas bendras, sisteminis požiūris į vystomąjį bendradarbiavimą. Visuomenes veikia įvairūs iššūkiai, kurie yra sąlygojami socialinių ir ekonominių pokyčių, globalizacijos, politinių konfliktų bei technologijų tobulėjimo, todėl reikalinga nustatyti priežastis, kurios lemia realų atotrūkį tarp objektyvios partnerystės tarp institucijų ir organizacijų Lietuvos vystymo politikos įgyvendinime. Darbo tikslas – ištirti nevyriausybinių vystomojo bendradarbiavimo organizacijų atstovavimo galimybes ir neįtraukimo priežastis įgyvendinant Lietuvos vystomojo bendradarbiavimo politiką... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Development cooperation policy is an integral part of foreign policy of EU, Lithuania and the whole world. It includes both - geographic and thematic development aid forms. Therefore the understanding of global challenges, knowledge and skills education, the partnership among various levels of decision-makers and NGOs in the development of development cooperation should be built. Participation is a mean to ensure that the interests of all groups would be taken into account and integrated in the decision - making process. Therefore it is important that the cooperation and participation of NGOs would be based on transparency and trust. This can ensure equal inclusion of institutions and society in the implementation of development cooperation. Lithuanian NGOs face funding, information, advocacy and a range of other issues which can be solved by a systematic approach to development cooperation. Today societies are affected by various challenges, which are conditioned by the social, economic changes, globalization, political conflicts and technological development. According to these issues it is necessary to analyze the reasons which lead to the gap between the objective partnership of institutions and organizations in Lithuanian development policy. The aim of the paper is to explore the possibilities of non-governmental organizations‘ representation and involvement issues in the implementation of Lithuanian development cooperation policy. To achieve the aim, following... [to full text]

This dissertation view a sample of projects conducted by two different non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Dharavi, a slum-area in Mumbai, India, and examines how they con-tribute to children and youth ́s social development and empowerment. Due to the large global population of children and youths, as well as that a large percentage of the world ́s inhabitants reside in slum-areas, it is considered of importance to gain information regarding the social work that isbeing conducted with the focus. The field work is carried out through interviews and observations in the area. The focus is five different projects that are conducted by two different NGOs in Mumbai. This dissertation display how the two theories, empowerment and social development, are connected to each other as well as the positive impact the NGOs have on the participating childrenand youths. The findings of the field work lead to an understand-ing in which ways NGOs can help children and youths to reachempowerment and how they contribute to the social development of the participants. The research shows the impact the organizations activities have on the children and youths lives. / Denna uppsats granskar ett urval av projekt som genomförs av två olika icke-statliga organisationer i Dharavi, ett slumområde i Mumbai, Indien, och undersöker hur de bidrar till barn och ungdomars sociala utveckling och empowerment. Då en stor del av världens befolkning består av barn och ungdomar, samt att en stor del av den globala populationen lever i slumområden, anses det viktigt att inhämta information gällande det sociala arbete som bedrivs i dessa områden. Data till uppsatsen har inhämtats genom intervjuer och observationer från två icke-statliga organisationer i det valda området. Uppsatsen visar hur de två teorierna, empowerment och social utveckling, är kopplade till varandra och påvisar även det positiva inflytande de icke-statliga organisationerna har på sina deltagare. Resultaten av fältarbetet leder till en förståelse för på vilket sätt de enskilda organisationer kan bidra till att barn och ungdomar uppnår empowerment samt hur de bidrar till deltagarnas sociala utveckling. Forskningen visar den effekt organisationerna har på barnen och ungdomarnas liv.

This thesis attempts to provide a brief historical outline of the environmental movement in Taiwan and the unique political situation that has directly affected how the movement has progressed. Thereafter, it looks at some examples of environmental disputes that have occurred in recent years, paying special attention to the ways the environmental movement has interacted with the government. This provides the background to frame the analysis, which will shed light on the reasons for the current state of distrust and antagonistic interactions between the environmental movement and the government. Finally, the thesis evaluates whether such interactions with the government is helpful for the environmental movement in achieving its goals, while suggesting other possible models of environmentalism in Taiwan.

This study investigates the use of five broad accountability mechanisms by gathering the perceptions of charities involved in the Canadian effort to reduce under-5 mortality abroad. While annual deaths in children under the age of 5 declined from an estimate of over 24.0 million in 1960 to under 8.0 million in 2010, mortality reduction goals have been established and missed for decades. As worldwide economies worsen, the amount of funds available for development assistance can be expected to decrease. This study seeks to determine if having accountability mechanisms is perceived to improve organizational behaviour, results and/or reduce costs. It uses a mixed methods approach including: a literature review to gain an understanding of accountability, effectiveness, development and under-5 mortality; key informant interviews to gain an understanding of funders, charities and development; a survey to gather the information required to answer the research questions; and a multiple-case study to gain a better appreciation of how accountability is used and to gather evidence of survey responses. The study investigates: which accountability mechanisms charities have, why they have them and the associated accountability holders; standards body memberships; the relationship between accountability mechanisms and various organizational characteristics; and the perceived effects of accountability mechanisms on organizational behaviour, results and costs. The survey finds that: charities say that they adopt accountability mechanisms because it is a good management practice that is perceived to improve organizational behaviour and results while not incurring costs in excess of the benefits; charities are more likely to adopt accountability mechanisms due to internal pressures than external pressures; the use of accountability mechanisms increases with organization size; and there is a greater difference in use of accountability mechanisms between small and large charities than there is between medium and large charities. The multiple-case study confirms the survey results. This study fills a gap in the literature by providing a Canadian perspective on the use of accountability mechanisms and the relationships amongst them and their perceived effects on organizational behaviour, results and costs. As economic burdens increase, increased accountability may lead to improved results even with fewer dollars.

This study investigates the use of five broad accountability mechanisms by gathering the perceptions of charities involved in the Canadian effort to reduce under-5 mortality abroad. While annual deaths in children under the age of 5 declined from an estimate of over 24.0 million in 1960 to under 8.0 million in 2010, mortality reduction goals have been established and missed for decades. As worldwide economies worsen, the amount of funds available for development assistance can be expected to decrease. This study seeks to determine if having accountability mechanisms is perceived to improve organizational behaviour, results and/or reduce costs. It uses a mixed methods approach including: a literature review to gain an understanding of accountability, effectiveness, development and under-5 mortality; key informant interviews to gain an understanding of funders, charities and development; a survey to gather the information required to answer the research questions; and a multiple-case study to gain a better appreciation of how accountability is used and to gather evidence of survey responses. The study investigates: which accountability mechanisms charities have, why they have them and the associated accountability holders; standards body memberships; the relationship between accountability mechanisms and various organizational characteristics; and the perceived effects of accountability mechanisms on organizational behaviour, results and costs. The survey finds that: charities say that they adopt accountability mechanisms because it is a good management practice that is perceived to improve organizational behaviour and results while not incurring costs in excess of the benefits; charities are more likely to adopt accountability mechanisms due to internal pressures than external pressures; the use of accountability mechanisms increases with organization size; and there is a greater difference in use of accountability mechanisms between small and large charities than there is between medium and large charities. The multiple-case study confirms the survey results. This study fills a gap in the literature by providing a Canadian perspective on the use of accountability mechanisms and the relationships amongst them and their perceived effects on organizational behaviour, results and costs. As economic burdens increase, increased accountability may lead to improved results even with fewer dollars.

While many non-governmental organizations provide leadership training in inter-ethnic conflict management to Kenyan youth, relatively little is known about what goes into such training. This dissertation is a case study illustrating how the training structure operates. The purpose of this dissertation is to address the challenges associated with youth leadership training in inter-ethnic conflict management, how these challenges are managed, what differences the training makes, and how it is transferred back into the real-life of the youth. To better understand these issues, a two-month qualitative study was conducted divided in two phases involving trainers, youth participants, program designers, and community leaders. Twenty two interviews and 2 focus groups were completed. Results demonstrated four communicative challenges involved in the design of youth leadership training were: (1) audience analysis, (2) material resources, (3) participant challenges, and (4) diversity. Results showed that trainers addressed the communicative challenges by using the following management strategies: needs assessment, financial management, stakeholder education, and dialogue facilitation. The analysis suggested that the conditions that facilitate transfer of training were: participatory models, training organization, and trainee motivation. Similarly, conditions that inhibit training transfer included: resource constraints, youth motivation, environmental conditions, and diversity. Finally, results also suggested that the differences that leadership training made in the lives of the youth were: behavioral transformation, participant input, improved peaceful relationships, and skill development. Successfully managing the communicative challenges in the design and implementation of the training were the main goals of trainers, and the more they took ownership of these goals the more likely the training would be successful. This dissertation suggests that managing the communicative challenges associated with the design and conduct of youth leadership training is the first step to ensuring the training transfer for youth participants and achieving a workable leadership training in inter-ethnic conflict management.

This thesis presents an ethnographic study of a small local non-government organisation (NGO) negotiating its way through the complex, multi-layered, postconflict, post-emergency environment of Timor-Leste. This is an environment that remains dominated by the aid industry, an industry that initially came to restore order and provide humanitarian support in the violent aftermath of the 1999 independence vote and stayed on to build a new Timor, in many ways created in its own image. In this environment a small local NGO struggled to maintain not only its vision and mission, but to fit within a new set of externally imposed conditions and regulations in order to serve its communities' needs. / Using ethnographic data gathered in the field over eleven months, this study paints a picture of a post-emergency environment on the ground and in the daily life of a local NGO within that environment. Combining ethnographic and interview data from local and international aid and development practitioners, the study also identifies the internal and external challenges faced by the local NGO in navigating its way through this environment. The internal challenges faced are largely in response to externally imposed conditions, and include the adaptation to new language and communication technologies, new styles of leadership and organisation management, new financial accountability processes and procedures. All of these challenges are coupled with the lack of experienced and skilled staff. The external issues relate to interactions and relationships the local NGO has with the aid industry, and the issues arising out of these engagements including ideological differences, donor dependency, unequal relations, and externally imposed directives. / While acknowledging that these are very real challenges, this thesis argues that it is the underlying factors behind the presenting challenges that are the real barriers to the effective participation of a local NGO in the post-conflict, post-emergency environment. Using post-development writings and Foucauldian theories as a theoretical framework, this thesis explores how thought, ideology and action are governed and controlled by the subtle mechanisms of liberal governance, (particularly in their redefinition), and local language is appropriated and reconceptualised as a tool of governance. It is the inability to understand or detect these subtle mechanisms of governance that often limits the degree to which an NGO can be said to act self-determinedly, or in full awareness of the situation, as they navigate a path through this foreign and often baffling post-emergency environment. / This research adds to the emerging academic body of research on NGOs in postconflict, post-emergency environments. On a practical level it provides aid and development organisations and aid practitioners with a detailed 'insider's' view of the operations of a local NGO and the impacts on a small organisation of externally imposed conditions, regulations and hidden agendas. Finally, it provides field workers intending to conduct research in post-conflict, post-emergency environments with an introduction to the issues and problems associated with this type of research.

In October of 1998 the category 5 storm, Hurricane Mitch, struck Nicaragua, leaving in its wake mass destruction and devastation. Numerous aid agencies and social organisations poured funds into the country to assist in emergency disaster relief efforts, and to rebuild the lives of those who lost their homes and livelihoods (damnificados). El Mirador in the city of Matagalpa is one example of the many communities built with aid monies after Hurricane Mitch. This thesis uses qualitative data constructed from in-depth interviews with participants (community members in El Mirador) to understand the level of successful community development that has been achieved, the ability for longer term sustainability as a result of community development strategies, and the areas in which community development has failed. Through an examination of the relationship the community has with the NGO the Communal Movement, the question of long term sustainability becomes important. The most telling indicator (that development practice is unsustainable) is the unproductive coping mechanisms of community members as aid and social organisations withdraw leaving members with ineffective social networks and at times uncooperative behaviour. Added into this is the arrival of new members into the community, and squatters, who have only added to the feelings of segregation already apparent, as a 'them and us' mentality develops. This study provides a detailed case specific analysis of community development through disaster relief efforts. It highlights some of the consistent, broad inefficiencies as well as more location and situation specific difficulties of community development. Moreover, it adds to the growing body of literature researching how disaster relief can become more effective and sustainable in the longer term.

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) play an increasingly important role in the world and receive a growing amount of outsourced development work. Funding enables them to do the work necessary to provide aid. NGO work is influenced by the dependence on their donors and many NGOs increasingly take donations from private donors as a way to try to mitigate donor dependence and maintain neutrality in their work. However there is little research analysing this shift and the potential positive and negative effects. This study looks at dependence and efficiency in an NGO - private donor relationship. The objective is to contribute to the discussion about NGO dependency on donors by evaluating the positive and negative impacts of primarily private donorship on NGOs’ work efficiency. Little research has been done on the private donor relationship and this study is contributing to filling that gap. The study is a qualitative case study, with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) due to their private donor base’s recent increase. The data were obtained through interviews with MSF Sweden staff, other MSF primary source documents and secondary sources written by scholars on the topic of NGO dependency on their donors. The results of this study concluded that MSF works more efficiently with a primarily private donor base, due primarily to their increase in independence and control of their own operations. Since the shift from EU-funding, MSF can spend fewer resources on reporting and more on allocating the money to the field. A primarily private donor base has a positive impact on MSF and it is safe to say that other NGOs will likely follow suit. Further research should look into other NGOs to see whether a primarily private donor base benefits them too or if MSF is a one case exception.

Drawing from tourism studies, travel literature, and cultural studies, this dissertation uses textual analysis to explore the implicit ideological agendas of international development in a selection of popular narratives written to describe efforts of Spanish individuals to combat poverty in “developing” countries: Pura vida (1998) by José María Mendiluce, Una maestra en Katmandú (2002) by Victoria Subirana, Sonrisas de Bombay (2007) by Jaume Sanllorente, and Los colores de un sueño (2013) by Alba de Toro. This study provides a sociological framework for understanding the politics of production, distribution, and reception of such narratives and examines the discourse of individual altruism by juxtaposing the fields of mass tourism, international development and contemporary popular literature. Although development-themed narratives present themselves as depictions of charity work, they are also stories of touristic exploits. This dissertation explores how the colonial myth of the explorer is refurbished in narratives of altruistic development within the postmodern mood of “global consciousness”, which is triggered by globalization, commodification and a sense of uncertainty—factors that produce a relentless drive to “save the world”. Despite the postmodern gloss, however, these narratives exoticize “non-modern” scenarios in which the narrators (adventure development tourists) represent themselves as intrepid white saviors in the style of explorers, missionaries and survivors of the past. In this sense, these narratives depend on traditional travel literature tropes. The deliberate status of these popular narratives as commodities is highlighted, exposing their utility as marketing tools for NGOs. To this end, this dissertation connects the idea of “a good story” to a publishing objective. Reception is approached by exploring the role of interpellation: the subliminal ways in which readers become financial supporters within the context of “global consciousness” wherein altruistic impulses are commodified and incorporated into lifestyles. In this sense, literature plays a key role in formulating and naturalizing the discourse of development. This dissertation exposes the double mechanism at work in development-themed narratives: the pursuit of progressive development used to veil complicity with exploitation.