Civil society aid as balancing act – navigating between managerial and social transformative principles. Issue 6 (17th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kamstra, Jelmer
• Is Part Of: Development in practice. Volume 30:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 763
• Page End: 773
• Publication Date: 2020-08-17
• Subjects: Aid – Accountability -- Aid effectiveness -- Monitoring and Evaluation -- Development policies -- Capacity development -- Civil society – NGOs -- Partnership -- Participation; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; 338.91091724
• DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2020.1801590
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-4524

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The civil society policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands shifted from service delivery to lobby and advocacy in 2016 with the new Dialogue & Dissent policy framework (D&D), representing a large change in thinking from a managerial to a social transformative perspective. This article discusses how D&D has made this shift and navigates tensions arising from it: (1) by stressing the political role of CSOs; (2) by working in strategic partnerships; and (3) by employing flexible Theories of Change focused on learning. It concludes with lessons learnt for D&D's successor.