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NGOs and poverty reduction in a globalizing world: perspectives from Ghana

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  • Gina Porter

    (Department of Anthropology, University of Durham, UK, r.e.porter@durham.ac.uk)

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the factors that influence and constrain NGO contributions to poverty reduction in a globalizing world, focusing on their role as transmitters of grounded knowledge about poverty in very poor countries. Interviews with staff in 33 NGOs in Ghana, a country where the NGO sector is heavily dependent on overseas funding, indicate that local understandings about poverty are being overridden by so-called programmes of partnership support that erode local confidence in home-grown ideas about poverty and how to combat it. This is illustrated by reference to the common donor preference for working with groups and for ‘Asian’ development approaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Gina Porter, 2003. "NGOs and poverty reduction in a globalizing world: perspectives from Ghana," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 3(2), pages 131-145, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:prodev:v:3:y:2003:i:2:p:131-145
    DOI: 10.1191/1464993403ps057ra
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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