Deconstructing International Development Aid

The research aims to deconstruct the problematic of international development aid, specifically focusing on the role of grassroots organizations (GROs) in the process of local development in the South Punjab region of Pakistan. The study employs an interpretivist/constructivist paradigm and post-development/Neo-Marxist lens to investigate how development funding agencies engage with GROs while setting up agendas, designing, planning, and implementing development strategies in the region. The research aims to explore the process of development aid flow from the perspective of GROs and identify challenges faced by them during various phases of the project cycle.

Deconstructing the Problematic of International Development Aid;
A Critical Assessment of South Punjab Region of Pakistan
3.1. Project Summary
This research is framed in the broader discipline of International Development and the role of
development non-government organizations (NGOs) particularly grassroots organizations
(GROs), in the process of local development. This research is quite specific and dedicated to
micro-level perspectives rather than a bigger, macro-level debate. I have structured my
research in the local context of development in the South Punjab region of Pakistan with a
focus on the perspective of GROs: How development funding agencies are engaging with GROs
while setting up the agendas, designing, planning and implementing development strategies in
South Punjab? The investigation further expands to analyze role of GROs in planning and
managing projects and challenges faced by them during various phases of the project cycle. It is
assumed that readers possess a fair understanding about issues concerning the politics of
development aid and the role of NGOs in this sector.
3.2 Purpose of this Chapter
In order to get an insight of a contemporary world, this research is mounted in
Interprativist/constructivist paradigm and post-development / Neo-Marxist lens will guide the
investigation. The study is extractive in its nature, non-experimental design and exploratory
case study method approach directs the investigation. In order to collect and analyze data I will
adopt a qualitative methods approach. After review of current literature, I intend to conduct 10
in-depth interviews (Semi-structured) from directors/Managers of GROs in South Punjab. For
data collection, I will use both random sampling and snowball sampling techniques and a
thematic analysis technique to analyze the data. The findings will be then translated and
documented in the final chapter.
In this chapter I will briefly describe the context, background, the research gap, research
question and aims which make this research project significant. In the next section I will
elaborate above mentioned research approach, the choice of methodology including the
paradigm, methods of data collection, recruitment procedure, participants, techniques of data
analysis and limitations. This section will also cover a fair justification of choice of this
approach/methods and critically inline them with proposed research problem. The last section
will elaborate claims of Trustworthiness, Ethics and finally conclusion of the chapter.
3.3 Background:
I am a community activist, development practitioner and social researcher in the field of
“International Development”. As researcher I find myself standing in constructivist paradigm as
I believe in multiple realities and meanings. I am a socialist, “son of soil” who drives energy

from “mother earth” and its people. In 2005 I established a grassroots NGO in south Punjab
region of Pakistan. During all this time I got engaged with programs of Women & Youth
empowerment, Education, Cultural conservation, Disaster and Emergency response. I have
travelled in entire region to witness the debate on “fruits and spoils” of development aid at
local level. This firsthand experience formed the basis of this research project and my
transformation from practitioner to a researcher.
Moran asserts the utility of critical development management as a reform program and argues
that the conceptualization of NGOs as third-sector organizations offers an opportunity to create
a more strategic and flexible approach. He frames his argument in the context of an ongoing
debate in international development: is the (in)effectiveness of development aid subject to a
rise in professionalization in the NGOs or a problem of rational policy? Critics of
professionalization or managerialism argue that an increase in professionalization in
development NGOs has deepened the disconnect with the grassroots level, resulting in
superficial participation. In contrast, the advocates of managerial logic stress injecting business
logic into development, methods and techniques of evaluation, which may enhance strategic
planning. Somehow, both sides believe the development NGOs are a third sector and, to an
extent, justify the concerns regarding professionalization. Moran argues that, despite such
debates, the development conditions have not changed much, thus requiring a reform agenda.
I endorse Moran’s argument at a broader level when he describes the emergence of
development NGOs as a third sector and in need of a reform agenda of development processes.
I would stretch it in the local context of South Punjab. In order to deliver “fruits or spoils” of
development aid, transnational and large national NGOs engage with communities directly or
indirectly. When it comes to improved participation and connecting with grassroots, this
engagement is very much dependent on local GROs, so it is significant to critically interrogate
the perspective of GROs in the development process. This investigation revolves around the
role of GROs while setting priorities for interventions, conception of ideas, designing, planning,
implementing and closing projects at the local level. Inclusion of this perspective would
contribute to reform the development agenda at both local and global level.
3.3.1 Working Research Question
With this research, I intend to explore the process of development aid flow in the South Punjab
region of Pakistan. In doing so I will only focus to get perspective of Grassroots organizations-
GROs and I frame my question as:
How are development funding agencies engaging GROs while setting up the agendas,
designing, planning and implementing development strategies in the South Punjab region of
Pakistan?

3.2.2 Research Aims
The aim of my research is to get an insight of development practices in south Punjab region and
meaning of these development initiatives to the communities at grassroots. This project
purposes to get perspective of GROs (Grassroots Organizations) and questions the process of
aid flow; How funding agencies engage with GROs while designing and implementing
development strategies? Do GROs have any say in this process? How GROs translate this
development? What are the challenges GROs face from communities while implementing
projects?
In order to achieve these aims, I will review current literature, conduct and interpret 15 qualitative
interviews with Directors/Managers of GROs of South Punjab. The outcomes of this project would
not only contribute in existing knowledge but also give voice to communities of South Punjab
and elevate a local debate to global level.
3.2.3 Research Justification
The above aims were derived from my personal experience as an indigenous community activist,
development professional and founding member of a GRO in South Punjab region. As a practitioner, I
had closely observed the debate on politics of development aid in the entire region. While counting on
the fruits of development funding agencies, a number of commentators tag it with cultural violence,
discrimination in development funds and exclusion of GROs from the entire process. Therefore, our
investigation revolves around these two key notions which makes this project unique in its context.
The findings of this project would pave ways for academics, researchers and practitioners to further
examine the paradigm of development in the region. This contribution will result in enhanced
understanding of issues and practices so that the local communities of South Punjab region would
benefit maximum from development aid