Building Local Capacity: A Case-Study on the Localization Process of Nongovernmental Organizations Today
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Authors
Tepfer, Rachel
Issue Date
2008
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
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Abstract
Nongovernmental Organizations(NGOs) act as an established sector in
developing countries providing humanitarian aid, avenues for political activism and
centers to bring voice to issues plaguing communities. This sector has traditionally been
dominated by foreign and international employees as much of the aid that supports these
projects comes from western countries and their governments. However in the global
NGO community, there currently exists a movement towards implementing more local
leadership, authority and control for the employees and volunteers of these organizations
which has stimulated debate and discussion. My research explored the challenges that
make the localization process both circumstantial and complex. These areas of debate and
discussion relate to shifting relations and traditional roles that occur as a result of the
localization process between international and local employees. Four areas of complexity
were outlined as paramount to the makeup of the localization process. These included
how donors relations and control over an NGO, the skills valued and required in service
work, cultural differences and tensions between international and local staff and the
definition or reexamination of an organizations beneficiaries in relation to the localization
process. This paper discusses how these areas of potential conflict have challenged the
localization process which has gained so much momentum today, and why the transition
is viewed and as a positive step for developing nations.
Description
viii, 90 p.
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U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.