Project Number: 102202

Project timeframe: April 2004 – April 2006

IDRC contribution: CAD $287.790

 

In many contexts of weak and/or failing states, where government services are either insufficient or non-existent, NGOs are increasingly playing a palliative role in the provision of public goods and services.  Research carried out in Afghanistan, Uganda, Zambia, and Bangladesh however suggests that NGOs are not necessarily able to effectively fulfill such a role, and that in fact NGOs may further weaken the concept of public good and services. 

 

Understanding the debate revolving around citizen entitlements calls for an understanding of the concept of “active citizenship.”  One aspect encompassed in the concept of active citizenship is the idea of citizens making claims for their entitlements from the state rather than relying on NGOs to provide their goods and services.  A common argument permeating the debate is that although NGOs may play an important role, the contributions of these organizations to promote active citizenship may ultimately be limited. 

 

This research project is framed by two central goals, the first of which is to situate NGOs, specifically those that negotiate citizen entitlements in relation to the state and to the communities they serve.  Secondly, the research seeks to examine how these NGOs implement their activities and what the implications are for their contribution, or lack thereof, to the notion and practice of active citizenship. 

 

As active citizenship is a fundamental aspect of promoting peaceful and democratic societies, there are timely and vital lessons to be learned from investigating these questions in the particular context of the Middle East region. Furthermore, understanding how local NGOs might contribute to (or be undermining) goals for women’s empowerment and their rights to access social entitlements and enjoy full citizenship, will be key for the formulation of appropriate public policies in Egypt, Lebanon and Palestine and for better informing international development and humanitarian assistance in these countries.  Although there is literature that analyzes citizenship in the Middle East, a specific study on the question of NGO negotiation of citizen entitlements in relation to state services has not been done.  Using the Lebanese experience as the foundation and starting point of the study, and Egypt and Palestine as comparative cases, the contribution of NGOs towards promoting active citizenship will be examined.

The main objectives of this project are:

1.      To increase the knowledge on the role of NGOs in promoting active citizenship in the Mashreq region (Egypt, Lebanon and Palestine).

2.      To build partnership, cooperation and solidarity among local and regional actors for the purpose of promoting active citizenship in the Mashreq region.

3.      To build the capacity of local NGOs to promote active citizenship in the Mashreq region.

 

1.      To develop a body of local knowledge that situates the role and scope of Egyptian, Palestinian and Lebanese NGOs and CSOs that negotiate citizen entitlements in relation to the state and the communities they serve.

2.      To create a typology of CSOs and NGOs in relation to active citizenship that can be utilized for analyzing and situating CSOs and NGOs across the region.

3.      To build local and regional cooperation and partnership among scholars, development practitioners, NGOs, grassroots groups and other actors for the purpose of promoting active citizenship in the Mashreq region.

4.      To initiate a plan of action to promote active citizenship in the Mashreq region.

 

 

Based on a gendered institutional analysis, this research project is mainly qualitative. The researchers will adopt the Social Relations Framework, which is a method of analyzing gender inequalities in the distribution of resources, responsibilities and power within institutions. It is framed by three key methodological approaches: 1) a participatory approach, 2) an action-orientated approach and 3) grounded theory.  The research will also combine other methods and tools including focus group discussions, individual open interviews, and collection of quantitative data.  Desk research and a literature review to compliment and strengthen the secondary research undertaken in the writing up of the project proposal and review and analysis of organizational literature (documentation, annual reports, news briefs, websites, etc.).

 

The project involves implementing partners in Lebanon, Egypt and Palestine, and will be carried out in 5 phases which include: (1) review of the literature;  (2) mapping of state services and NGOs; (3) assessment and analysis; (4) collective analysis and creation of a NGOs typology and;  (5) plan of action and design of an advocacy program. Much effort will be placed in the first phase in building and mobilizing the research network in the three countries.  This will be done through field follow-up, methodology workshops as well as tri-mestrial meetings of the research teams to discuss findings of the research, unforeseen difficulties, emerging issues as well as the way forward.

 

The project is expected to produce the following outputs:

The Centre for Research and Training on Development (CRTD) is a locally based non-governmental organization situated in Beirut. Through engaging and implementing innovative work across the Arab region, CRTD aims to contribute to social development in the region through research, training and advocacy, and through building the capacity of local communities and grassroots organizations to address the needs of their members and constituency.  CRTD promotes policy dialogue on issues of gender, poverty, exclusion and social development in the diverse cultural and linguistic environments represented in the Middle East and Mashreq region.

Lina Abou-Habib

Project Leader   

Collective for Research and Training on Development
Place du Musée, Karim Salameh Building, second floor

Beirut, Lebanon

Email: labouhabib@macmag-glip.org

 

Emma Naughton

Senior Program Specialist

Peace, Conflict and Development / Gender Unit

International Development Research Centre

Email: enaughton@idrc.ca