Adaptability in NGO-projects Learning’s from NGO-projects managing food security in unstable environments Frida Kypengren Frida Kypengren, 2017-12-29. Master thesis in Development studies, Department of Government, Uppsala University. Words: 19 914 Supervisor: Elin Bjarnegård, Department of Government, Uppsala University. Abstract: The shift to a human security perspective has put food security on the agenda in development cooperation.
In this world private actors are increasing their presence and a larger amount of aid is channeled through these organizations. However, there are little studies made on private actors in development cooperation, especially NGOs. The purpose of this study is therefore to deal with the theoretical uncertainty of NGO assistance and develop existing theory in order to confirm or dismiss previous assumptions. Previous research stress that NGO-projects are adaptable i.
ability to change and adjust to manage sudden challenges, such as conflict. To what extent are NGO-projects to be classified as having adaptable project structures, and how is that manifested in aid within the area of food security? An ideal type was set up to measure adaptability involving three indicators: flexible, responsive, and inclusive. The empirical material was collected through interviews with project staff and project reports. The projects showed higher levels of adaptability than expected, also when controlling for two other cases.
An adaptable project is recognized by its decentralized decision-structure, flexible budget, quick response, and access to remote areas. Keywords: NGOs, private actors, development cooperation, non-governmental aid, adaptability, human security, food security, conflict, climate change. 2 Table of Contents Introduction. 8 Introducing a human security perspective.
8 Emerging security threats. 9 The privatization of aid. 14 Adaptability and its project form. 15 Preconditions for adaptability.
18 Why NGOs succeed…. 20 …And some fail. 21 The benefits of an adaptable project form. 29 Case selection and limitations.
29 Interviews as research method. 37 To what extent are NGO-projects adaptable?. 52 Implications for future development cooperation. 63 3 Abbreviations CCM Collective Conflict Management CSO Civil society organization DNGO Domestic non-governmental organization ECOSOC United Nations Economic and Social Council ESRC Economic and Social Research Council INGO International non-governmental organization NGO Non-governmental organization ODA Official Donor Assistance OECD Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development PO Partner Organization SCA Swedish Committee for Afghanistan SIDA Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency UIA Union of International Associations UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Program 4 Introduction We live in a globalized world that is more interconnected than ever.
The channels can be of many kinds and go through many different actors creating a large network or global community combining people from around the world. Likewise, an emerging global concern is for example climate change. As Murdie puts it “No act of terrorism generates economic devastation on the scale of the crisis in water and sanitation” (Murdie 2014: 128). Flooding, draughts, migration, and irrigation are some examples of emerging security threats, so called soft security issues, which can result in conflict over scarce resources.
Inherently, they have also begun to receive attention from world politicians. Affecting the individual security of many people the new threats is putting sustainable development on the international agenda and showing the need for adaptable assistance. The larger focus on soft security issues has shifted the focus from a traditional security perspective to a human centered approach with focus on the individual. However, states alone may not always able to provide necessities such as food and water to their citizens, especially in countries with weak institutions.
When states are unable to ensure security for their citizens, the role of non-state actors becomes important. “Save lives – become a monthly donor” is just one example of how private actors are reaching out to the public to increase their funding. These actors, which could be either companies wanting to make a difference beside their primary mission or civil society organizations with the prior mission to enhance the life of the poor, have gained attention. In an OECD report it is stated, “addressing the needs of the developing world represents a huge opportunity for business, the leading companies of the future will be those that do business in a way that addresses the major development challenges” (Davies 2011: 5).
Year 2006 between 300 000 and 350 000 non-governmental actors were active in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and a lot speak for an increase recent years (Ahmed & Potter 2006: 41). Hence, it is important that states as well as non-state actors see to these changes when designing future assistance and policies. However, there is yet little in-depth or comparative analysis of the evolving relationship between Official Donor Assistance and the private sector (Davies 2011: 17) and very little is known about the actual effects of international NGOs across countries (Murdie 2014: 5). 5 From a human security perspective, this paper is therefore going to shed light on the role of non-state actors in developing and low-income countries with the intention of contributing to existing research on development cooperation.
With the emerging security threats ability to adapt to different contexts are of utter importance. But adaptation will require investment, and in some cases will be suitable for private sector investment (Rosegrant & Cline 2003: 33). Thus, I argue that one possible reason that makes private actors especially successful in achieving food security is the adaptable project form of NGO-projects. Accordingly, a large amount of aid is channeled through the private sector and civil society since they are known as being adjusted to local contexts.
In an article from 2016 in the Swedish news paper Svenska Dagbladet the minister of international cooperation and climate, Isabella Lövin, verify the new possibilities that comes with non-governmental aid: “Now we are strengthening the capacity of the Swedish aid so that we, through flexible means, are able to do more for the human rights defenders. Therefore, we are strengthening local ownership in developing countries as well as the dialogue with civil society and other actors involved. Only aid that is adaptable to local settings and where recipients are genuinely involved will give sustainable results” (Lövin 2016). However, there are others that are not as opportunistic as the Swedish minister arguing that there is increasing evidence that NGOs do not perform as effectively as had been assumed in terms of reaching the poor (Ahmed & Potter 2006: 251).
“NGOs effectiveness has been largely exaggerated and is assumed rather than demonstrated” (Ahmed & Potter 2006: 251). It seems like there are uncertainties of the role of NGOs in today’s discussion of effective assistance. New models of aid that support and give incentives for entrepreneurs in developing countries are needed to spur innovative and concrete solutions for how to improve people’s lives (Davies 2011: 22). The previous quote by Isabella Lövin summarizes the general thoughts of government officials on non-governmental cooperation, which is that NGOs can work as substitutes to the bureaucratic and often slow moving processes of the state.
However, a lot has been stated outside the frames of science and the academic world. With that said, I want to systematically justify and perhaps also neglect some of these arguments in order to improve existing theory. The purpose of this study is therefore to deal with the theoretical uncertainty of NGO assistance in order to confirm or dismiss previous assumptions. Furthermore, it is going to examine the parts, where different actors in the development sphere are pointing at a gap between bilateral sponsored projects and NGO- 6 projects.
A gap where NGO-projects are assumed to have a project structure that is better adjusted to emerging challenges. By developing theory the study will not only contribute to existing theory, but also to world politics when designing new development cooperation programs. Testing if NGOs are adaptable, the research question I intend to find an answer to is: To what extent are NGO-projects to be classified as having adaptable project structures, and how is that manifested in aid within the area of food security? The introduction chapter has tried to introduce the existing debate in security politics and development cooperation. It has also emphasised why this is important to study from a theoretical point of view as well as from a political perspective.
As previous section has argued the role of private actors is particularly interesting in today’s politics. The next chapter is going to give an overview of previous research within security politics and global development cooperation. The third chapter is instead outlaying the theoretical framework of an adaptable project structure and how it can be measured. Definitions of private actors and adaptability will also be outlined.
In chapter four the methodology is clarified, explaining case selection and limitations, data collection and the implications of doing semi-structured interviews. Thereafter, the empirical findings is presented and discussed following the analytical framework set up in the previous chapter. Lastly, a summery of the main parts of the study is made, ending with some concluding remarks and suggestions of future studies. 7 Previous research Introducing a human security perspective In order to understand the role of private actors in relation to emerging security threats and impact on international assistance, it is important to first explain the shift from traditional security to a human security perspective.
A longstanding definition of security has been “ a situation or condition of being free from the threat of harm” (Swain & Jägerskog 2016: 2) and it was the great state that was to ensure the safety of the people. Thus, focus was on military forces and the capability of the state to secure the nation and what lied within its borders. The enemies were those that threatened the strength of the state. The Second World War and the Cold War are two examples that highlight the ideas of this perspective.
Later on, the concept was broadened to regional security meaning “the absence of a threat to the order and stability of the international or regional system, to countries, or to individuals (Swain & Jägerskog 2016: 2)”. The change of the term security meant challenging the traditional ideas of the state as the main actor, instead making way for regional and external actors and influences such as regional cooperation and social interaction (Swain & Jägerskog 2016: 3). Accordingly, security is no longer just a national issue but regional and individual centered as well. With the aim of widening the traditional security agenda away from state security to a more people centered approach UNDP launched the human security perspective (Swain & Jägerskog 2016: 4).
As a result, today’s security issues, for example climate change, forced migration, resource scarcity, and health are included in the concept. However, there are still those that claim that in resolving conflicts the structure and quality of the bureaucracy are important for maintaining domestic order (Teorell 2015: 651). Private investors in developing countries need organized help that effective states are most able to provide (Kohli 2004: 377). Others instead claim that many of today´s security challenges are increasingly diverse and generated within individual societies, spread across borders to their surrounding environment, and exacerbated by unhealthy regional dynamic (Crocker et al 2011: 39).
In development cooperation the diversification of security threats means that donors must find new solutions. They need to find new ways of delivering effective aid to those whose security is threatened. It means that donors must have the ability to adapt to the 8 emerging challenges that these changes bring. Therefore, so forth this paper will take a human security perspective when discussing emerging security threats within a state.
Emerging security threats To understand the work and challenges of todays development cooperation it is important to understand the emerging security threats because it is not just military violence and conflicts that threaten individuals today. It is necessary for further understanding of why projects need to be adaptable, and what challenges they ought to adapt to. Some argue that demographic and environmental factors have become more important as causes of conflict after the end of the Cold War (Urdal 2005: 418).