The Missionary Position: NGOs And Development In Africa

“In this paper we trace the evolution of the role of NGOs in Africa. We suggest that their role in ‘development’ represents a continuity of the work of their precursors, the missionaries and voluntary organisations that cooperated in Europe’s colonization and control of Africa. Today their work contributes marginally to the relief of poverty, but significantly to undermining the struggle of African people to emancipate themselves from economic, social and political oppression. NGOs could, and some do, play a role in supporting an emancipatory agenda in Africa, but that would involve them disengaging from their paternalistic role in development.”

pdf downloadable form http://www.taabco.org/pdf/MISSIONARY.pdf

Also saved as pdf here. Missionary