The Hand that Feeds: NGOs’ Changing Relationship with the Canadian International Development Agency under the Competitive Funding Mechanism

Abstract

This thesis analyzes Canadian NGOs’ relationship with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) in the context of the competitive funding mechanism. It captures NGOs’ perspectives on the changing CIDA-NGO relationship, noting the range of NGO responses regarding advocacy efforts, public engagement, organizational priorities and overseas partnerships. The findings indicate that the relationship between CIDA and NGOs cannot be defined as partnership, but rather as one that spans the categories of “contracting” and “extension” in the Brinkerhoff (2002) partnership model. Additionally, employing Elbers and Arts’ (2011) typology, the thesis concludes that NGOs seek to “influence” CIDA through meetings with officers and politicians, “buffer” their partners from negative CIDA impacts, “shield” themselves by limiting their level of CIDA support and “compensate” by funding advocacy and public engagement from internal sources. Moreover, I include “innovation” as an additional strategy that NGOs can employ as a response to donor conditions.