First Advisor

Claire Halverson

Abstract

This is a study of the North-South partnership development approach.

The outcome of the forty years of development in the South is widespread poverty, a deteriorating environment, and pervasive fear of arbitrary violence (Korten 1990). If the relationship that has existed between the North and South has resulted in misery and failure, will partnership development approach offer a lasting solution? Development practitioners are offering it as a solution to sustainable development in the South. This study examines the meaning, interpretations and the key characteristics of a successful North-South NGO partnership.

Using Danish Association for International Cooperation (MS) as a case study, various methods have been used to gather data for this study. Some of these include literature review of existing materials on partnership, research using questionnaires, journal notes during project visits, focus gorup discussions at partners workshops, observations and personal interviews with selected board members.

The North and the South do not share a common definition of partnership. The prevalent donor-recipient, parent-child relationship between North and South has continued to hinder the growth of partnership. For North-South partnership to grow there is need for a process that will promote and lead to a common vision, mutual solidarity and relationships, equality in decision making and understanding and respect for the cultural, social and economic status of partners.

This study gives a Southern perspective and experience to the development discussion on North and South partnership. It is an authoritative documentation on the practical realities of the efforts towards real North and South partnership. It may serve as a reference to North and South NGOs that are committed to adopting the partnership development approach as a strategy.

Disciplines

International and Intercultural Communication | Organizational Communication

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