The Norwegian NGOs operate much the same way as they did when the NORAD report was presented in 2007. During my fieldwork I used Nelson’s (2007) model to see how the development cooperation between the Norwegian NGOs and the Bolivian NGOs were conducted, and how the Bolivian NGOs cooperated with the state or Bolivian authorities (departments or municipalities). To secure the anonymity of the Bolivian NGOs, I have presented how the cooperation between Norwegian NGOs and Bolivian NGOs is arranged, which dimension they highlight as important, and further how the Bolivian NGOs are cooperating with the Bolivian state. By doing this analysis I got a better understanding of the cooperation between the NGOs, but also the power relation between the state and the NGOs in a new form, as I shall present more on this in the next chapter.
As presented earlier, the Norwegian NGOs stated what was important for them when they choose partners. Mission Alliance stated the importance of having a triangulation structure of their projects, where local communities and municipalities contributed to the projects, and that the projects were conducted together with them. An informant at Mission Alliance stated that:
60 We are in principle an advisory authority in the process, and the local communities are the decision-making authority. But for the cooperation to work, we have made some conditions, so that it shall be a democratic management process, and there needs to be good documentation of the economy. And if these conditions are not met, we inform them that we will have to stop the project if the problems are not sorted out in a good way (Informant, Mission Alliance, 2).
Both SAIH and NPA have stated, as presented earlier, that it is important for them that their partners are representative, democratic organizations, and that they have a good handle of the funding documentation they receive through the Norwegian NGOs. As an informant in SAIH stated, there are many initiatives and smaller NGOs that they wish to support, but cannot support, since they are too small to handle the documentation required for receiving funding (Informant, SAIH, 1). NPA also stated the importance of choosing partners that has some of the same agenda as they do, and that they wish to support organizations that are working to improve the conditions for oppressed groups, and develop these organizations as organizations, and for them to be a voice for oppressed groups in society (Informant, NPA, 1).
While the informants in the Norwegian NGOs state that their values and mission are important to them, they stated the importance of not letting this affect the development cooperation in a too distinct way.
We are clear on our profile, our identity and our values. MANB has two different types of work, we cooperate with local, evangelical churches in Bolivia, which stand clear within our profile, and support these churches on different aspects, but we don’t have a direct evangelism in Bolivia. (…) On the other hand we have development cooperation with local communities and municipalities, and within that sector we work with everyone. As long as they represent the communities, there is no firm line. We do not try to hide our identity as a Christian organization, and as long as people are met with respect, they have no problem with us being a Christian organization. We have not had any problems related to our values or mission in Bolivia (Informant, Mission Alliance, 1).
An informant at SAIH stated that
We look for partners that have the same values as we have, and we think that is important. But it is also important that the Bolivian NGOs shall not be spokesmen for our values or ideals. In some cases, such as in Bolivia, it is more important to look at
61 what services they deliver, and what activities they have for their target group, and that they are important contributors somehow, not just that they work towards education.
We see it as important to support organizations that can push politicians, and to have a reflected civil society (Informant, SAIH, 2).
Our values affect the development cooperation with the local communities and municipalities. We wish not only to have a technical cooperation, but also to be involved in all parts of society. To have a focus on the whole human, to involve women in the process, to make it easier for disabled people, to let all parts of the society be a part of and involved in the process. (…) We wish to have a focus on the whole human, we wish that everyone shall feel important, and not only to come to a community and give them access to water, and then leave. (…) These things take time, we don’t want to push anything on the local communities that they don’t want, but by staying in the local communities over time, we have a chance to make a difference in their lives (Informant, MANB).
The values of the Norwegian NGOs affect the development cooperation in that way that NPA and SAIH select partners with the same values and mission as they have, while Mission Alliance/ MANB wishes to promote other values in their development cooperation, but not in a direct way, and without making it a demand for the people involved in the process. An aspect that has been held up as essential among all the NGOs is the legal dimension, that their partners, either Bolivian NGOs, local communities or municipalities, follows the national laws, that they are registered as organizations, that they have a democratic structure, and that they can document their spending, and reports properly. The Norwegian NGOs stated that the values and mission of potential partners are an important factor when they choose partners, and that their aim is to have partners with some of the same values as they have. The Norwegian NGOs did however state that while their values are an important aspect of their organizations, they are not basing their cooperation on only this aspect. An informant at Mission Alliance stated that they chose to support local churches that have an evangelical structure, but when it comes to the development cooperation, they cooperate with all, as long as the legal structures are followed. An informant at MANB stated that by staying in the local communities for several years, they could gain respect and trust with the actors, and that they introduce other programs, more values-based projects. An informant at SAIH did also state that while values are important to them, they wish to cooperate with organizations that can make something happen and be an important voice for their members (Informant, SAIH, 2).
62 This aspect was also held up by NPA as an important aspect, and that they wished to have partners that worked towards the rights of oppressed groups, as well as those that are involved in political questions (Informant, NPA, 1). The most important dimension has been the legal dimension, followed by values and mission of their potential partners. While Mission Alliance stresses the importance of the resource dimension from their partners, SAIH stresses the importance of the partner organizations to make a difference for their members, which I have categorized within the technical dimension. NPA on the other hand highlights the importance of involvement in political questions, more civil society orientation, and how their partners shall work towards political questions and making it better for their target groups. I have put this within the political allegiances dimension.