INGO Spaces of Engagement

Abstract

How are development INGOs connecting and engaging with their publics? To some, such questions may appear extraneous to the ‘real work’ of INGOs. Shouldn’t we be more concerned about how development INGOs help those in need, whether at home or abroad? Shouldn’t we be concerned about providing water and food in humanitarian crises? Shouldn’t we be concerned about making sure that ‘the poor’ are able to participate in their own futures and have access to health, education and other basic services? I would propose that the answer to all these questions should be ‘yes’, yet to do these things development INGOs need to tell the story about ‘the poor’ to individuals, other organisations and government agencies. And they need to do so for a variety of reasons, including fundraising, awareness raising, development education, organisational branding and advocacy.