Can NGOs make a difference? Revisiting and reframing a 20-year debate

Abstract

The article seeks to connect the vibrant debates in the Nordic region on NGOs and the aid system with the international comparative debates on NGOs and development alternatives. It argues for a reformulation of the international debate on NGOs and development alternatives to address the foundational questions related to the formative role and structural impact of the international aid system on NGOs and their roles. This reformulation moves the discussions further and enables analyses that provide understanding of the actual and potential role of NGOs to transform development processes.