Empowerment - A Challenge of Non-Governmental Organizations in Development Cooperation Partnerships

The purpose of the present study was to research empowerment in the context of NonGovernmental Organizations. The study aimed at depicting an empowered organization, outlining means of empowerment, and detecting empowerment inhibitors. The secondary research interests related to the role of culture in empowerment and testing a modified Delphi application. The research interest arose from practical dilemmas faced in development and humanitarian interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite a long history of development initiatives and vast experience, bringing about sustainable development remains a problem. A number of stakeholders in development initiatives seem to think that the concept of empowerment would be a part of the solution to the problem. Yet, there seemed to be an evident lack of depictions of an empowered organization, ways of empowerment, and empowerment inhibitors in the research literature. The study sought to create them. In addition, the studies on empowerment have touched relatively little on the role of culture in empowerment efforts despite the fact that a number of empowerment efforts have been and are conducted in cross-cultural contexts. The other secondary research interest related to Delphi method. One of the key features of Delphi-method has been anonymity during the Delphirounds or -iterations. However, in this study, the second Dephi-round was conducted in a group setting that was not anonymous. The aim of this piloting was to contribute to the scientific discussion on the method and its various applications. The research was a qualitative inquiry using Action Research as the overall research method. The Delphi-method was used as a strategy to gather and process information. In addition data was gathered in Action Research seminars. Some of the seminars were video-taped. The seminarians also produced short-essays, notes, and written assignments that were analyzed. The Delphi experts were nine (N=9) during the first Delphi-round and fifteen (N=15) during the second Delphi-round. They were persons in senior positions in Fida International that had substantial experience or education to qualify as an expert. In addition, during the second Delphi-round six persons that represented other organizations or possessed methodological expertise were involved. They were included to increase the validity of the study by contributing views from other organizations and having expertise on methodology. The total number of informants in Action Research seminars was 102 (N=102). The seminarians were practitioners of development cooperation. The data was gathered over a period of three years. The results could have, for example, the following applications. The depiction of an empowered organization can be used as an ideal to strive for in building empowered organizations. It can also be made use of in evaluating organizations and the outcomes of empowerment efforts. The depiction of means of empowerment can serve in planning the empowerment activities in development interventions and as a reference list for leaders and managers of organizations for practical empowerment tips. The depiction of empowerment inhibitors is helpful for evaluators and leaders in identifying factors that stand in the way of empowerment. The discussion on the relationship between culture and empowerment will be useful for cross-cultural organizations and leaders to be more sensitive of cultural factors in empowerment and while empowering. In addition, the results challenge some of the prevailing propositions on empowering leadership and empowerment practice. The experience gathered and reported on the Delphi application may contribute to the scientific discussion on the method. The Delphi-design that waived anonymity during the second Delphi round seemed to work and add value to the method. Hopefully this will inspire other researchers to try out a similar application and to consolidate or challenge these results.