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Why Well-Meaning NGOs Sometimes Do More Harm than Good

insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu · 2,303 words · saved by 1 readers

Studies of aid groups in Ghana and Uganda show why it’s so important to coordinate with local governments and institutions.

Erika Deserranno noticed a pattern during her years doing research in Uganda: when a nongovernmental organization (NGO) arrived in a village, workers in the local government often shifted to new jobs with the NGO, which invariably paid much more. She found herself wondering what the implications of this move might be. On the one hand, it was plausible that by offering such high pay, NGOs incentivized workers to perform better, improving life for the individuals they serve while allowing local governments to direct scarce resources elsewhere. Alternatively, it was also possible that those…

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