Exploring How International Nongovernmental Organizations Address Education 2030: A Case Study of Catholic Relief Services

• In Event: 34.060 - Unpacking Philanthropy Networking: Exploring Guanxi, Local Relevance, Segmentation, and Implicit Bias

Abstract

This case study explored why, after 25 years of international, political, and financial attention focused on Education for All, inequitable educational opportunity persisted in some developing regions of the world. INGOs offer some perspective in understanding systemic hindrances preventing global “aspirational” goals to consistently and equitably take root at the local level. Institutional isomorphism and rational choice theories provided the theoretical foundation for the study, while media analyses and 29 staff interviews revealed both organizational perspectives and structural challenges that sometimes prevented CRS from responding holistically to local development needs. Findings suggest CRS and donors might both benefit from re-evaluating the application/negotiation phase of proposal funding, to better plan programming/interventions that will account for local relevance, capacity, and will.

Author

• Rebecca Elizabeth Devereaux, Woodbury University