Religions and Development Research Programme
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Religions and Development Research Programme Comparing Religious and Secular NGOs in Nigeria: are Faith-Based Organizations Distinctive? Comfort Davis Independent researcher Ayodele Jegede University of Ibadan Robert Leurs International Development Department, University of Birmingham Adegbenga Sunmola University of Ibadan Ukoha Ukiwo Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Port Harcourt Working Paper 56 - 2011 Religions and Development Research Programme The Religions and Development Research Programme Consortium is an international research partnership that is exploring the relationships between several major world religions, development in low-income countries and poverty reduction. The programme is comprised of a series of comparative research projects that are addressing the following questions: How do religious values and beliefs drive the actions and interactions of individuals and faith-based organisations? How do religious values and beliefs and religious organisations influence the relationships between states and societies? In what ways do faith communities interact with development actors and what are the outcomes with respect to the achievement of development goals? The research aims to provide knowledge and tools to enable dialogue between development partners and contribute to the achievement of development goals. We believe that our role as researchers is not to make judgements about the truth or desirability of particular values or beliefs, nor is it to urge a greater or lesser role for religion in achieving development objectives. Instead, our aim is to produce systematic and reliable knowledge and better understanding of the social world. The research focuses on four countries (India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Tanzania), enabling the research team to study most of the major world religions: Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and African traditional belief systems. The research projects will compare two or more of the focus countries, regions within the countries, different religious traditions and selected development activities and policies. The consortium consists of six research partner organisations, each of which is working with other researchers in the four focus countries: University of Birmingham, UK: International Development Department, Department of Theology and Religion, Centre for West African Studies, Centre for the Study of Global Ethics. University of Bath, UK: Centre for Development Studies. Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, New Delhi. Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research, Ibadan. University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan. In addition to the research partners, links have been forged with non-academic and non-government bodies, including Islamic Relief. http://www.rad.bham.ac.uk Contact: [email protected] Religions and Development Working Paper 56 Comparing Religious and Secular NGOs in Nigeria: are Faith-Based Organizations Distinctive? Comfort Davis Independent researcher Ayodele Jegede University of Ibadan Robert Leurs International Development Department, University of Birmingham Adegbenga Sunmola University of Ibadan Ukoha Ukiwo Department of Political and Administrative Studies, University of Port Harcourt ISBN: 978 0 7044 2872 0 © International Development Department, University of Birmingham This document is an output from a project funded by UK Aid from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID. Working Paper 56 Comparing Religious and Secular NGOs in Nigeria: are Faith-Based Organizations Distinctive? Contents Acknowledgements 1 Summary 2 List of acronyms 5 1 Introduction 6 1.1 Aim, objectives and research questions 7 1.2 Methodology and analytical framework 8 1.3 Limitations of the study 13 2 Findings of the literature review 16 2.1 Introduction 16 2.2 The history, evolution and current status of NGOs in Nigeria 17 2.3 Definitions of NGOs and FBOs 26 2.4 Differences between FBOs and NGOs 31 2.5 Relationships between the state, FBOs and NGOs 36 2.6 Relationships between FBOs and NGOs in Kano and Lagos States 37 2.7 Recent studies of NGOs and FBOs 40 2.8 Conclusion 41 3 Comparing a Muslim FBO and an NGO in Kano State: the Al-Noury Hospital and Community Support and Development Initiatives 45 3.1 Background information 45 3.2 Islamic Foundation Health Services (Al-Noury Specialist Hospital) 48 3.3 Community Support and Development Initiatives (CSADI) 55 3.4 Findings 61 3.5 Conclusions 74 4 Comparing a Christian FBO and an NGO in Kano State: People Oriented 77 Development and the Society for Women and AIDS in Nigeria 4.1 Religious context 77 4.2 Profile of Nassarawa and Tudun Wara LGAs 78 Working Paper 56 4.3 Relationships between the Local Government Councils and organizations 81 operating in their areas 4.4 The Society for Women and AIDS in Nigeria 82 4.5 People Oriented Development of the Evangelical Church of West Africa 90 4.6 External stakeholders’ assessments of performance 101 4.7 Summary of key findings 106 5 Comparing Christian and Islamic FBOs with an NGO in Lagos State 112 5.1 Ikorodu local government area 112 5.2 Organisational profiles 116 5.3 Do FBOs approach development differently to NGOs? 132 5.4 Perceived performance and outcomes 137 5.5 Summary and conclusions 141 6 Summary of main findings, some implications and avenues for further research 144 6.1 Introduction 144 6.2 Summary of main findings 150 Appendices 1 Interview guide questions 153 2 List of interviews and focus group discussions 161 Notes 166 References 170 Key words: Christian, Muslim, Kano, Lagos, HIV/AIDS Comparing Religious and Secular NGOs in Nigeria: are Faith-Based Organizations Distinctive? 1 Acknowledgements Ukoha Ukiwo undertook the review of relevant Nigeria literature and the study in Tarauni Local Government Area in Kano State. A follow up visit was made between 15th and 18th December, 2010 and a data validation workshop held with twelve participants from of the case study organizations and local government, as well as other knowledgeable observers. The research assistance of Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Mr. Sagir Chedi Salihu, Mr. Aminu Musa and Mr. Moses Aluaigba is gratefully acknowledged. Comfort Davis was responsible for the study in Nassarawa and Tudun Wada Local Government Areas in Kano State and for writing Section 4 of this report. A communication and data validation workshop attended by thirty participants was held on 2nd December, 2010. The participants included informants from the case study organizations, representatives from local government, and traditional and religious leaders. Ayodele Jegede and Adegbenga Sunmola undertook the study in Lagos State and contributed Section 5. Most of the work related to the scoping study and case studies in Lagos State was undertaken by Dr Jegede, while Prof Sunmola was team leader responsible for the overall coordination of the project. The research assistance of Mr. Tayo Olorunlana and Mr. Biodun Lawal is gratefully acknowledged. Also, the assistance of Mrs Kemi Adeyeye, the Director of Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED), who facilitated access to Ikorodu Local Government officials, was much appreciated. The Nigeria study was part of an international comparative project, coordinated overall by Dr Martin Rew and Dr Robert Leurs of the International Development Department, University of Birmingham, and Dr Emma Tomalin of the University of Leeds. Dr Leurs facilitated the design and implementation of the research throughout, including facilitating a team workshop in Ibadan in September 2009, was responsible for liaison with the Nigerian team and made a significant contribution to the preparation of this report, including editing the individual research reports into a final overall report. 2 Working Paper 56 Summary In Nigeria, case studies of three NGOs and four FBOs (two Christian and two Muslim) in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kano State (largely Muslim) and one LGA in Lagos State (religiously mixed) sought to identify whether and in what circumstances FBOs have distinctive characteristics with respect to their goals, values, organizational characteristics and activities related to the achievement of development objectives. All the organizations studied are well-established, with good reputations, and are engaged in HIV/AIDS-related work (one of the main areas of development work for which funding is currently available and in which differences between secular and religious organizations might be expected). After 2000, the Nigerian government’s desire to address the rising incidence of HIV/AIDS raised sensitive issues, as did the proliferation of NGOs attempting to implement relevant programmes, especially in largely Muslim areas, where they were perceived as donor driven and lacking in credibility. The study did not find significant differences in the development-related aims, values and activities of organizations self-identified as FBOs or NGOs. The FBOs and NGOs studied largely share a commitment to humanitarian, charitable and service delivery aims; some are also engaged in development, advocacy and conflict resolution activities, especially those exposed to international development thinking. FBOs generally justify their activities, including their HIV/AIDS-related work, in religious terms and use religious language and practices in their work. In addition, the truth claims of both