"And Now I'm Able to Fight for My Future": a Qualitative Exploration of the Perspectives and Experiences of Service Users of Faith- Based Ngos in Ghana
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wilfrid Laurier University Scholars Commons @ Laurier Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) 2019 "And now I'm able to fight for my future": A qualitative exploration of the perspectives and experiences of service users of faith- based NGOs in Ghana Kevin Devotta [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd Part of the Social Work Commons Recommended Citation Devotta, Kevin, ""And now I'm able to fight for my future": A qualitative exploration of the perspectives and experiences of service users of faith-based NGOs in Ghana" (2019). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 2144. https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/2144 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholars Commons @ Laurier. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive) by an authorized administrator of Scholars Commons @ Laurier. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Running head: PERSPECTIVES ON FBOS “And now I’m able to fight for my future”: A qualitative exploration of the perspectives and experiences of service users of faith-based NGOs in Ghana By: Kevin Devotta THESIS Submitted to the Faculty of Social Work in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Master of Social Work Wilfrid Laurier University © Kevin Devotta 2019 PERSPECTIVES ON FBOS i Abstract Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have grown in their importance in the international development field over the past 30 years. As a result of their rapid expansion and growth in influence, questions about their accountability, including their accountability to their service users, are being raised by key stakeholders (donors, NGO staff, and the service users themselves). Faith-based organizations (FBOs) are an increasingly important sub-group of NGOs, yet few studies exist which examine the accountability of FBOs to their service users. This study aims to help fill the gap in the literature by exploring the perspectives and experiences of FBO service users in Ghana. Data for this study was obtained through individual interviews and focus groups with a total of 24 participants from four FBOs in Ghana. Field observations and conversations with staff complemented the interviews and focus groups. Using qualitative description with overtones of constructivist grounded theory within a framework of Critical Theory, the findings were analyzed, revealing six themes: appreciating what the FBO offers; being limited; dealing with challenges; wanting to learn more; accessing services; and, experiencing success. The results of this study show that the four FBOs are responding to some of the needs of their service users but there is a lack of “downward” accountability, that is, the service users are not able to hold the FBO accountable for their actions. A question that arises from this study is whether FBOs can be both partially downward accountable and still beneficial to the local community. Further study is encouraged to explore the links between downward accountability in FBOs and the experience of service users. PERSPECTIVES ON FBOS ii Land Acknowledgement Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener-Waterloo is located on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnawbe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. The Faculty of Social Work (and the entire Laurier University Waterloo campus) is located on the Haldimand Tract, which, on October 25, 1784, after the American Revolutionary War of Independence, was given to the Six Nations of the Grand River by the British as compensation for their role in the war and for the loss of their traditional lands in Upstate New York. Of the 950,000 acres given to the Haudenosaunee (six miles on either side of the Grand River, all the way along its length), only 46,000 acres (less than 5 per cent) remains Six Nations land. I would like to express my gratitude to the Indigenous people who continue to care for this land, for the present and for future generations. source: http://www.lspirg.org/knowtheland/ PERSPECTIVES ON FBOS iii Acknowledgements I wish to acknowledge the consistent, thorough, and meaningful support of my thesis supervisor, Prof. Magnus Mfoafo-M’Carthy, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. He encouraged me from the beginning with a project that initially seemed beyond my abilities. Thanks to his support along every step of the process, I was able to accomplish more than I thought possible. Thank you, Magnus! My deepest appreciation as well to Prof. Bree Akesson, Associate Professor, and Dr. Anh Ngo, Lecturer, my two thesis committee members from the Faculty of Social Work; and to Prof. Colleen Loomis, my external examiner from the Balsillie School of International Affairs. Thank you for all your feedback, support, and encouragement! My sincere thanks as well to all the participants and FBOs that took part in this study. Thank you for allowing me into your lives by sharing your experiences and warmly welcoming me into your communities. Your generosity and hospitality will not be soon forgotten. I would also like to extend my appreciation for the support I received from Prof. Nancy Freymond, Associate Dean; Ms. Yumna Al-Adeimi, MSW, Manager of Field Placement; Ms. Peggy Freymond, Administrative Coordinator; Ms. Zaida Leon; and, Ms. Helen Song, Ph.D.(c), all from the Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier University. Combining an international field placement with a thesis was a daunting task and each of these wonderful people assisted me in some way along the journey. Thank you! As well, I would like to say thank you to Ms. Phyllis Power, Manager of Laurier International, and Ms. Patricia Mensah, Visiting Students Admissions, University of Ghana, for assisting me with setting up my placement at the University of Ghana. Five of my classmates in the MSW program at Laurier also went on international field PERSPECTIVES ON FBOS iv placements to different countries. It was a tremendous source of support to have prepared for my placement in Ghana alongside such wonderful friends and colleagues. For their support before, during, and after our shared international field placement experience, I want to thank Debra, Genevieve, Jagdeep, Kaitlyn, and Matt. The Queen Elizabeth Scholars program, funded by the Rideau Hall Foundation, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of the Government of Canada provided me with financial assistance for my travel to Ghana for which I am very grateful. Lastly, I would like to thank my Dad and Mom for their unending support for my educational pursuits and their unconditional love and encouragement in all that I do. They cooked the meals that fuelled my all-day thesis work at home and were there for me when I needed to share the challenges and joys of my research and international field placement. Love you so much, Dad and Mom! PERSPECTIVES ON FBOS v Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Land Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................ v List of Tables .................................................................................................................................. x Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 A Brief Note on Terminology ..................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 5 Non-Governmental Organizations .............................................................................................. 5 History of NGOs ......................................................................................................................... 8 Colonization and development in Africa. ............................................................................... 9 Growth of NGOs. .................................................................................................................. 11 Faith-Based NGOs .................................................................................................................... 13 Characteristics of FBOs ............................................................................................................ 17 Accountability ........................................................................................................................... 21 Problematizing “Partnerships” .................................................................................................. 25 Global North Funders and Global South NGOs. .................................................................. 26 Global South NGOs and their Intended Beneficiaries. ......................................................... 29 Downward Accountability ........................................................................................................ 31 PERSPECTIVES ON FBOS vi Faith-Based Organization Accountability ................................................................................