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How Successful Transnational Non-governmental Organizations Set Themselves up for Failure on the Ground

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  • Balboa, Cristina M.

Abstract

This paper examines transnational non-governmental organization (TNGO) influence on global, national, or local policy arenas, as well as how a TNGO’s actions in one arena might aid or encumber its effectiveness in another. It expands Steinberg’s spheres of influence framework (2001, 2003) to create a new capacity typology. Through examining Conservation International’s work in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea, this paper demonstrates the “paradox of global capacity”: a phenomenon where a TNGO prioritizes certain capacities that paradoxically grant it access to work at the local level while impeding its efforts to create lasting change there.

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  • Balboa, Cristina M., 2014. "How Successful Transnational Non-governmental Organizations Set Themselves up for Failure on the Ground," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 273-287.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:54:y:2014:i:c:p:273-287
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.09.001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Paul F. Steinberg, 2003. "Understanding Policy Change in Developing Countries: The Spheres of Influence Framework," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 3(1), pages 11-32, February.
    2. Lawrence F. Salmen & Eileen Kane, 2006. "Bridging Diversity : Participatory Learning for Responsive Development," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6992, April.
    3. Derick W. Brinkerhoff, 1999. "State‐Civil Society Networks For Policy Implementation In Developing Countries1," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 16(1), pages 123-147, March.
    4. Norman Myers & Russell A. Mittermeier & Cristina G. Mittermeier & Gustavo A. B. da Fonseca & Jennifer Kent, 2000. "Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities," Nature, Nature, vol. 403(6772), pages 853-858, February.
    5. Benjamin Cashore & Michael Howlett, 2007. "Punctuating Which Equilibrium? Understanding Thermostatic Policy Dynamics in Pacific Northwest Forestry," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 51(3), pages 532-551, July.
    6. Twose, Nigel, 1987. "European NGOs: Growth or partnership?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 15(1, Supple), pages 7-10.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cook, Nathan J. & Wright, Glenn D. & Andersson, Krister P., 2017. "Local Politics of Forest Governance: Why NGO Support Can Reduce Local Government Responsiveness," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 203-214.
    2. Burns, Sarah L. & Krott, Max & Sayadyan, Hovik & Giessen, Lukas, 2017. "The World Bank Improving Environmental and Natural Resource Policies: Power, Deregulation, and Privatization in (Post-Soviet) Armenia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 215-224.
    3. Chambers, Josephine M. & Massarella, Kate & Fletcher, Robert, 2022. "The right to fail? Problematizing failure discourse in international conservation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    4. Kuruppu, Sanjaya Chinthana & Lodhia, Sumit, 2019. "Disruption and transformation: The organisational evolution of an NGO," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(6).
    5. Gallemore, Caleb & Jespersen, Kristjan, 2016. "Transnational Markets for Sustainable Development Governance: The Case of REDD+," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 79-94.

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