To be or not to be a campaigning organisation: the case of the NGO ActionAid. Issue 5 (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cascant-Sempere, Mª Josep
• Is Part Of: Development in practice. Volume 32:Issue 5(2022)
• Page Start: 583
• Page End: 596
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Civil society -- NGOs -- participation -- rights -- partnership -- sub-Saharan Africa -- Western and Southern Europe; Technical assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Economic assistance -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Developing countries -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; 338.91091724
• DOI: 10.1080/09614524.2021.1937559
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-4524

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Can a service-delivery-born development NGO become a campaigning organisation? The short answer is "yes, but". In the past decade, ActionAid made bold steps, such as shifting its global strategy towards campaigning, developing an international network of campaigners, and using non-campaign functions such as programmes and fundraising to mobilise unusual activists. However, these happened in a context of charity sector restrictions and an organigram still heavily based on programmes. This study talks to the debates about the political relevance of development NGOs, suggesting that politicisation processes often happen through "tense opportunities" where hybrid apolitical and political dimensions coexist.