Interests and relationships in NGO gender advocacy : a case of Uganda

• Main Author: Nabacwa, Mary Ssonko
• Published: Swansea University 2006
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.752012

The thesis presents an insider's investigation of the advocacy work undertaken by gender focused NGOs in Uganda with the view of understanding the ways in which these NGOs negotiate for their interests in their advocacy work within a complex set of relationships among themselves and with the donors, government and the people at the grassroots level. Relationships and interests are critical to our understanding of the NGO advocacy work in Uganda. However, more often the focus is on the technical rather than the relational problems in development. It is on this basis that most attention has focused on the agency of the donors. This study has tried to examine the agency not only of donors but the various actors in the NGO gender advocacy nexus. Through application of feminist research principles, the study examines the Land Co- ownership and Domestic Relations Bill campaigns to understand the ways in which gender focused NGOs have used these campaigns to negotiate for their interests. Although not limited to, in the case of this study, these interests are perceived to be resources, identity and status. Three organisations that have played a critical role in these campaigns that are: Uganda Women's Network, Uganda Land Alliance and Federation of Uganda Women Lawyers assist us to understand the relationships among gender focused NGOs and with the other actors. The study concludes that all actors in the gender focused NGO advocacy nexus are economically, socially and politically rational. They would like to reduce their transaction costs and maximise their interests. While donors use financial and development discourse knowledge resources, NGOs and government use their identities and status to negotiate and maximise their interests. Although not necessarily the determining factor, negotiation of interests influences both the agenda and the relationships among the various actors.