Beneficiaries' participation in development organizations through local partners: A case study in South Africa

In a case study involving one European nongovernmental development organisation (NGO) (data obtained from 10 staff members in Europe and Southern Africa, and 19 representatives of local partner organisations) we investigate whether the partners being involved in local and ‘northern’ policy making affects their perception of the governance quality of their organisations and that of the European donor organisation, as well as the perception of the NGO’s staff members.
The answer is positive as to the local organisations, but local partners (as representatives of the eventual beneficiaries) are hardly involved in decision making at the donor level.
Finally, the presence of specific participation mechanisms seems to be more affected by beneficiary country factors than by activity related influences.