KIMBERLEY JUTZEMSOD PROGRAM RESEARCH PROJECT

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY AUGUST 2009

The Role of Global Social Change Organizations in International Development

Research Project Purpose

Understand how global social change organizations (GSCOs) function and types of international development activities they participate in.

Help advance the study of global social change (GSC) by looking at how GSCOs can build upon and add greater value to their work in international development.

Research Project Question & Objectives

Research Question: What internal functions and external interventions enable GSCOs to effectively participate in international development?

Research Objectives:4. Determine the core value-producing functions of GSCOs

that support organization effectiveness.5. Identify the types of external interventions, typically

undertaken by GSCOs, that are best suited to international development.

Literature Review

Emergence of GSC and GSCOs: During the Age of Discovery sustained contact

between northern and southern hemispheres resulted in social change

During the Industrial Revolution technical innovations accelerated the pace of social change

Since WWII thousands of GSCOs have emerged to address issues of common concern

Technological advances have facilitated growth of GSCOs

Key Findings from Literature Review

2. GSCOs are distinguished from other types of international development organizations by:

Having an ideologically driven mission Viewing values as critically important Being influenced by stakeholders in terms of services

provided Organizing operations according to constituency/task Having less organization structure and more informal

operations

Key Findings from Literature Review

2. Challenges faced by GSCOs in contributing to international development:

Balancing flexibility with operational efficiency Reconciling the interests of different stakeholders Strengthening the capacity of indigenous partners Enabling indigenous groups to advocate for pro-

development policies Balancing an ideological mission with stakeholder demands

for measurable results

Key Findings from Literature Review

3. International development trends:

More attention is being given to human development

Growth in the number and types of development actors

Confluence of population growth, climate change, mass migration, and natural resource depletion to jointly impact international development activities

Research Project Findings

GSCO Internal Functions and Work Processes

Effective Internal Functions:- Participatory management- Internal communications- Knowledge management- Evaluation

Effective Work Processes:- Organizational learning- M&E system

Research Project Findings

International Development Interventions

Most effective approaches for engaging in international development are grassroots, participatory, and collaborative activities

Desires for improved GSCO interventions: Greater collaboration among GSCOs and with public and

private sector actors involved in international development More attention given to capacity-building and

empowerment of local partners

Research Project Findings

Common Themes Across Interview Data

Inclusive participation Capacity-building and

empowerment Sustainability Collaboration within and

between organization sectors Resource mobilization and

donor relations

Research Project Conclusions

Comparing Literature Review to Research Findings2. Distinguishing GSCOs from other international development

organizations- Research findings support most of these criteria

- Key difference is intended outcome (doing good vs. systemic change)

2. Balancing flexibility with operational efficiency - Did not appear as a theme in the data collected

7. Reconciling the interests of different stakeholders- Research data supported this factor

- Examples: inviting stakeholders to participate in partnerships and importance of “donor education” for resource mobilization

Research Project Conclusions

Comparing Literature Review to Research Findings4. Strengthening the capacity indigenous partners - Data reveal an increasing shift from traditional to multi-directional

approach to capacity-building

4. Enabling indigenous groups to advocate for pro-development policies

- Research data points towards capacity building and developing networks as dominant types of GSC interventions

6. Balancing an ideological mission with demands for measurable results

- Data supports the challenge of instituting an M&E system that allows for a “people-centered approach to development”