Abstract
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), being values-based organisations pose
a particular set of issues for academic researchers when working with them. NGOs often
engage with universities to provide academic credibility to evaluate the effectiveness of their
fieldwork. At the same time, they are nervous about two things: that the evaluation will shatter
their belief, they are doing good work, rather than the outcome will always be lauded by
some, loathed by others. The second fear is that the NGO being held accountable to donors for
activities which are long term and slow in showing sustainable change. This article will draw
on the literature as well as my own experiences to explore these issues. My key finding is that
the farther away (geographically) from the work an NGO is, the greater in the self-belief of
their work. The closer to the local communities NGOs are, they tend to have a tempered view
of their work. The article will conclude with some reflections on how a more fruitful dialogue
can occur between the two
a particular set of issues for academic researchers when working with them. NGOs often
engage with universities to provide academic credibility to evaluate the effectiveness of their
fieldwork. At the same time, they are nervous about two things: that the evaluation will shatter
their belief, they are doing good work, rather than the outcome will always be lauded by
some, loathed by others. The second fear is that the NGO being held accountable to donors for
activities which are long term and slow in showing sustainable change. This article will draw
on the literature as well as my own experiences to explore these issues. My key finding is that
the farther away (geographically) from the work an NGO is, the greater in the self-belief of
their work. The closer to the local communities NGOs are, they tend to have a tempered view
of their work. The article will conclude with some reflections on how a more fruitful dialogue
can occur between the two
Original language | English |
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Article number | 30:1 |
Pages (from-to) | 33-41 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Anthropology in Action |
Volume | 30 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2023 |