Development and Advocacy
Edited by Deborah Eade and introduced by Maria Teresa Diokno-Pascual
Most major development NGOs dedicate significant resources to advocacy. Many also work to inform and shape public opinion, whether through advertising or fundraising, or thorough education programmes. They argue that fundamental change is not achieved until the policy environment is right, and cannot be sustained without a groundswell of support for reform. In recent years, however, advocacy work has come under increasing criticism. NGOs are challenged on the grounds of legitimacy: whom do they represent, and to whom are they accountable? … of effectiveness: what practical impact does high-level advocacy have on the lives of people living in poverty, and who is to judge this: … of role: should NGOs try to combine funding and advocacy, or do these demand different kinds of South-North relationship?… and of strategy: are NGOs too readily seduced by agencies like the World Bank or by the corporate sector? When does constructive engagement with these powerful bodies turn into co-option by them? As international grassroots advocacy is becoming more vocal, thanks to new communication technologies, what is the appropriate role for Northern NGOs?
© Oxfam GB 2002.
ISBN 0 85598 463 5
All rights reserved.
‘An important contribution to the debate on the future of NGO advocacy work … [providing] an interdisciplinary approach and a comprehensive analysis of this controversial topic.’
Culturelink
‘… full of ripe, clear testimonies and discussions from a collection of knowledgeable Southern and Northern contributors. The anthology is an opportunity to delve into the disparities between what NGOs advocate, the paradoxes within them, how they behave and the reality of their operations. … under-graduates, NGO workers, those who have been in the field 30 years, all will find something of value in the anthology. The style is wholly accessible, encouraging those who may not know the intricacies of the issue to experiment more in their analysis of advocacy.’
INTRAC
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