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German Philanthropy in Transatlantic Perspective pp 227–243Cite as

Contemporary German MONGOs in Diani, Kenya: Two Approaches to Humanitarian Aid

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Part of the book series: Nonprofit and Civil Society Studies ((NCSS))

Abstract

Nina Berman describes the increase of charitable activities in Kenya in tandem with neo-liberal economic policies since the early 1990s. By using two specific case studies, Berman stresses the challenges deriving from long-term patterns of land alienation, the issue of local knowledge, the emergence of a culture of charity, and the disruption of local forms of community support by international charity. She argues that, in particular, the approach pursued by foreign-based MONGOS (MONGO stands for “my own nongovernmental organization”) may have negative effects on the recipients of aid in Kenya.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Discussions of humanitarianism generally consider the shorter timeframe, even though several studies highlight the connection to colonialism and imperialism. See, for example, Barnett (2011).

  2. 2.

    The United States has a comparable domestic history of “good intentions” that focuses on improving the situation of, among others, African Americans (Ryan 2003).

  3. 3.

    For a critique of Dunant and the Red Cross, see Hutchinson (1996) who demonstrates that the Red Cross often functioned to support militarism, and Polman (2010, pp. 2–7).

  4. 4.

    In late 1981, Böhm founded “Menschen für Menschen,” an organization dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia. A German version of Bob Geldof’s Band-Aid concert was organized by Herbert Grönemeyer in 1985; Band für Afrika produced a single, “Nackt im Wind,” and gave a concert in July 1985. Currently, the Bavarian soccer organization, in conjunction with the Philipp Lahm Foundation, is promoting a fundraiser in support of projects in Africa (“Tore für Afrika,” n.d.).

  5. 5.

    Orford, for example, writes that “some of the appeal of the idea of humanitarian intervention lies in the moral authority of the notion of democracy” (2003, p. 18).

  6. 6.

    The terms African, Indian, and European (or African Kenyan, Indian Kenyan, and European Kenyan) are used by Kenyans to describe themselves and others. Only rarely are “black” and “white” used as descriptors.

  7. 7.

    In the late 1990s, I conducted my first study on German, Swiss, and Austrian repeat visitors who vacationed on the Diani coast, and learned about the extent and nature of their interaction with the local population. See Berman (2004c: 175–212).

  8. 8.

    The names of the individuals have been changed, and I also altered other aspects of their story to ensure anonymity. I provide a more detailed discussion of the activities of the Müller’s, in the context of historical patterns of aid to Africa, in Berman (2013: 67–92).

  9. 9.

    According to Wanyama, data on successful community-based initiatives in Kenya remains scarce (2001: 56).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Nina Berman

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  1. Nina Berman
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Correspondence to Nina Berman .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

    Gregory R. Witkowski

  2. Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Arnd Bauerkämper

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Berman, N. (2016). Contemporary German MONGOs in Diani, Kenya: Two Approaches to Humanitarian Aid. In: Witkowski, G., Bauerkämper, A. (eds) German Philanthropy in Transatlantic Perspective. Nonprofit and Civil Society Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40839-2_13

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