Linking ‘big D’ and ‘little d’ in development. The Case of ActionAid Ethiopia in West Azernet Berbere District, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Ethiopia.
(2013) SIMV32 20131Graduate School
- Abstract
- The critics about poor performance of NGOs over the last two decades focuses on their inclination towards ‘big D’ development – project based intentional activity in health, education and water which has little intention to challenge existing power relation and social structures - and underlined the loss of transformatory edge of participation. Critics further urged NGOs to realign their orientation towards ‘little d’ development - process of enabling and empowering local people to claim, defend, influence and advocate for their own rights and interests. However, recently several African governments introduced restrictive laws and proclamations that limit the engagement of NGOs in ‘little d’ development, of which Ethiopia is one. Hence,... (More)
- The critics about poor performance of NGOs over the last two decades focuses on their inclination towards ‘big D’ development – project based intentional activity in health, education and water which has little intention to challenge existing power relation and social structures - and underlined the loss of transformatory edge of participation. Critics further urged NGOs to realign their orientation towards ‘little d’ development - process of enabling and empowering local people to claim, defend, influence and advocate for their own rights and interests. However, recently several African governments introduced restrictive laws and proclamations that limit the engagement of NGOs in ‘little d’ development, of which Ethiopia is one. Hence, this study examines how ActionAid Ethiopia links ‘big D’ and ‘little d’ development by using participatory development approaches in a limited legal environment.
The study is based on a qualitative case study conducted in West Azernet Berbere district, SNNPR, Ethiopia by the author in March, 2013. A total of 34 semi structured and three group interviews were conducted. The findings of the study reveal that participation in service delivery projects, on the one hand, enhances cost effectiveness, sustainability and ownership of projects and on the other hand, it allows communities to come together, discuss and reflect on their own experience, develop skills and knowledge, get practical experience in management and administration and take actions to claim, defend and advocate for their own rights and interests. In this process, illiteracy, lack of experienced and motivated government staffs, frequent meetings, staff turnover and lack of proper understanding of participatory development were identified as major challenges. Likewise, tradition of working together, presence of good policy frameworks and courage and commitment of the community were identified as major opportunities. The study concludes that ensuring participation in service delivery projects and enhancing the capacity of the community for organization and collective action using the aforementioned strategies earmarked a shift away from the conventional approach of advocacy by NGOs to communities themselves. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/3809193
- author
- Asaye, Ephrem LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SIMV32 20131
- year
- 2013
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Participation, Empowerment, NGOs, Instrumental, Transformative, ‘Big D’, ‘Little d’, Development
- language
- English
- id
- 3809193
- date added to LUP
- 2013-06-14 12:05:50
- date last changed
- 2013-06-14 12:05:50
@misc{3809193,
abstract = {{The critics about poor performance of NGOs over the last two decades focuses on their inclination towards ‘big D’ development – project based intentional activity in health, education and water which has little intention to challenge existing power relation and social structures - and underlined the loss of transformatory edge of participation. Critics further urged NGOs to realign their orientation towards ‘little d’ development - process of enabling and empowering local people to claim, defend, influence and advocate for their own rights and interests. However, recently several African governments introduced restrictive laws and proclamations that limit the engagement of NGOs in ‘little d’ development, of which Ethiopia is one. Hence, this study examines how ActionAid Ethiopia links ‘big D’ and ‘little d’ development by using participatory development approaches in a limited legal environment.
The study is based on a qualitative case study conducted in West Azernet Berbere district, SNNPR, Ethiopia by the author in March, 2013. A total of 34 semi structured and three group interviews were conducted. The findings of the study reveal that participation in service delivery projects, on the one hand, enhances cost effectiveness, sustainability and ownership of projects and on the other hand, it allows communities to come together, discuss and reflect on their own experience, develop skills and knowledge, get practical experience in management and administration and take actions to claim, defend and advocate for their own rights and interests. In this process, illiteracy, lack of experienced and motivated government staffs, frequent meetings, staff turnover and lack of proper understanding of participatory development were identified as major challenges. Likewise, tradition of working together, presence of good policy frameworks and courage and commitment of the community were identified as major opportunities. The study concludes that ensuring participation in service delivery projects and enhancing the capacity of the community for organization and collective action using the aforementioned strategies earmarked a shift away from the conventional approach of advocacy by NGOs to communities themselves.}},
author = {{Asaye, Ephrem}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Linking ‘big D’ and ‘little d’ in development. The Case of ActionAid Ethiopia in West Azernet Berbere District, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Ethiopia.}},
year = {{2013}},
}