Assessing the Overall Impact of Civil Society on Development at the Country Level: An Exploratory Approach. (5th August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Riddell, Roger C.
• Is Part Of: Development policy review. Volume 31:Number 4(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 371
• Page End: 396
• Publication Date: 2013-08-05
• Subjects: Aid -- impact assessment -- NGOs -- CSOs -- civil society -- donors; Developing countries -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 338.91
• DOI: 10.1111/dpr.12011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-6764

Abstract

Abstract : Very little is known about the wider and longer‐term contribution of civil‐society organisations to development and poverty reduction. Evaluators have shied away from making judgements for lack of data: rigour has trumped relevance. This article reports on the work of a panel set up by NORAD in response to growing pressure from the public to assess the wider impact of CSOs at the country level. It comes to the conclusion that CSOs have made a significant wider impact, but that this would be greater if donors were to encourage them more to think beyond the narrow focus on discrete projects and if they were to adopt a more strategic approach to their work.