Examining the power of civil society to negotiate for development assistance from donors: A case study of CARE International in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

Using CARE International in Papua New Guinea as a case study, this thesis provides preliminary evidence of the attributes required of civil society organisations to have the power to negotiate for development assistance from government and donors. The findings were obtained from interviews with senior staff of CARE International (PNG), representatives of three local civil society organisations and members of a Ward Development Committee in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. The research found that power dynamics vary between one civil society group and another. The international civil society organisations has the power to negotiate because it is recognised both globally and nationally, have all the administration needed in place, have a reputation for the kind of work they are engaged in and have direct relationship with donors. However, for the local civil society organisations, most of them are newly established; do not have proper administration in place and are based at the provincial level. The Ward Development Committee is very low key in terms of their recognition from government and donors as they operate within the community setting. As long as there is civil society at the grassroots level they will never get the chance to have the power to negotiate for development assistance from donors; as donors' conditions and priorities are not meant for such category but for only the bigger civil society organisations that have systems in place and can prove, using their financial systems, that funds have been spent as per the donor's requests. Having another funding mechanism between the donors and the local civil society organisations could be seen as giving them the opportunity to seek funding for their development needs in the rural communities.