2014 Thinking Africa Colloquium
Thinking Africa is a project of the Department of Political
and International Studies at Rhodes University, South Africa. Thinking Africa integrates teaching and
research on Africa in the Department with an aim to encourage both teaching-led
research and research-led teaching. We hold annual
colloquiums on a range
of topics relevant to Africa. Previous colloquiums have discussed the legacy of Frantz Fanon, the idea of ubuntu and the work of V-Y Mudimbe. This year’s colloquium focuses on the role
of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in achieving social justice in Africa.
The NGO sector in Africa has grown
considerably over the last few decades. The term NGO covers such a broad range
of organisations – from huge international organisations with large budgets and
high profiles to small, locally based organisations with very particular
mandates. It is therefore very difficult to make generalisations about their
role in any particular country, and certainly in the continent as a whole.
Nevertheless, there has been much debate about the increasing presence of NGOs
in Africa with some seeing NGOs as essential players who help alleviate poverty
and improve the lives of Africans while others accuse them of eroding the power
of the state, creating dependency and facilitating imperialism.
Many NGOs in Africa claim to be doing work
that will bring about greater social justice in that they claim to be working
to eradicate poverty or bring about greater equality, democracy and
accountability. Their goal appears to be to bring about a situation of greater
justice, equality and freedom. However, critics counter that while these may be
the stated goals (and even the honest intentions) of many NGOs, the actual
effect of their presence in Africa is not conducive to the achievement of
greater social justice.
This colloquium will bring together academics
writing on the NGO sector, people actively involved in NGOs, and activists
involved in social movements in order to have a robust conversation about the
role of NGOs in Africa. The intention is to reflect carefully and collaboratively
on what role NGOs do and should play in Africa and to go beyond sweeping
statements about their role towards a more nuanced and detailed picture of
their contribution to the achievement of a more just and equitable Africa.
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