Aid Ngos And The Realities Of Womens Lives A Perfect Storm

"Several factors are coming together that put pressure on NGOs working in development: the economic crisis, the growing conditionality of aid, and increased competition for funding between NGOs seeking to grow in reach and influence. This creates 'a perfect storm' that focuses attention increasingly on a new language of aid, policies and procedures. Aid, NGOs and the Realities of Women's Lives explores how international NGOs are navigating these fast-moving changes, which raise issues about their role and legitimacy, their values and overall purpose. The authors see a crisis for NGOs as they are pulled further from those they claim to work with and for, but they also explore alternative ways of conceptualizing development, and how to bring about change for the most marginalized and increasingly 'unheard' women. Together they show how important it is for NGOs to continue to find space to articulate concerns, challenge dominant norms and follow ways of working that have meaning for the poor, especially for poor women in whose name many now raise huge funds. THe book calls for a re-examination of theories about change, and a re-focus on ideas of complexity and feminism. It argues for NGOs to learn more from their past experiences and to keep open a challenging and creative space for analyzing aid. This book is essential reading for development practitioners and those working on women's rights in the global North and South, as well as NGO staff and researchers and students of development studies."--P. [4] of cover.