Civil Society Organizations in a Post‐Aid World: New Trends and Observations from the Andean Region
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/pad.1787 |
| Author | Susan Appe |
| Published date | 01 May 2017 |
| Date | 01 May 2017 |
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS IN A POST-AID WORLD: NEW
TRENDS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE ANDEAN REGION
SUSAN APPE*
Binghamton University, USA
SUMMARY
The objective of this article is to outline approaches taken by civil society organizations (CSOs) in order to advance their work
in social development given the changes in the aid architecture. It focuses on the Latin American region, particularly Andean
countries, but many of the challenges and opportunities in a “post-aid world”are insights that might prove helpful to other re-
gions as well. The article provides a comprehensive outline of approaches that CSOs are taking given the changes in aid grouped
into three categories: aid models, organizational considerations and revenue sources and modes of fundraising. Many of these
have been in practice for sometime but might need to be more strategically used as CSOs manage the changing contexts. CSOs
in Latin America and the Andes are considering a multitude of options, and while the approaches considered in the article are
not an exhaustive list, they provide an overview of viable directions, which might positively influence CSOs’sustainability and
continued provision and promotion of a myriad of public goods and services. The article ends with observations about aid shifts
and its implications for CSOs and social development more broadly. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
key words—aid reduction; civil society organizations (CSOs); official development assistance (ODA); Andean region
INTRODUCTION: THE CHANGING AID ARCHITECTURE AND THE POST-AID WORLD
Civil society organizations (CSOs) are an important part of the international aid system, as they are engaged in so-
cial development through the provision and promotion of public goods and services, including direct service deliv-
ery, advocacy in public policy, rights-based programming, and oversight of government and corporate sectors. As
important actors in the international aid system, CSOs are often affected by any changes to the aid architecture. In
the aggregate, official development assistance (ODA) annual disbursements during the period 2008–2014 to devel-
oping countries increased 9% (from 87.114 million U.S. dollars in 2008 to 94.663 million U.S. dollars in 2014)
(OECD, 2014). In 2014, funding to civil society specifically grew by 4%, and ODA to civil society actors has
shown a growth of 10% during the period 2010–2014 (Baobab, 2016). Moreover, proportionally, aid to civil soci-
ety has been consistent over the last several years comprising 13% of ODA (Baobab, 2016). However, while these
data show that ODA resources in the aggregate have increased globally and that funding to civil society has been
consistent, distribution varies greatly across regions. In fact, ODA annual disbursement to Latin American and
Caribbean countries during the period of 2008–2014 has decreased 8% (7.015 million U.S. dollars in to 6.503 million
U.S. dollars) (OECD, 2014).
Both economic and political factors explain the changes in the aid architecture. The factors are especially rele-
vant in the Latin American region and familiar to other regions as well (Appe and Telch, forthcoming). Many coun-
tries across developing regions have “graduated”to middle-income country (MIC) status. The World Bank Atlas
method identifies MICs based on the gross national income per capita, and this designation changes eligibility
for the receipt of ODA. Additionally, changes in the global economy have allowed for the emergence of new
aid donors such as the Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) and Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey
*Correspondence to: S. Appe, Department of Public Administration, College of Community and Public Affairs, Binghamton University,
University Downtown Center, 67 Washington Street, Binghamton, NY 13902-6000, USA. E-mail: sappe@binghamton.edu
public administration and development
Public Admin. Dev. 37, 122–135 (2017)
Published online 5 February 2017 in Wiley Online Library
(wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/pad.1787
Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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