The Changing Role of NGOs in Emerging Economies

The world in which development organizations operate today looks much different than the one of years past. The rapidly changing challenges and crises necessitate a different approach to development – one that is more inclusive, locally-led, and people-driven. And while some donors are calling for more locally-led development, competing urgent crises (e.g., COVID-19, Ukraine, and Afghanistan) combined with cuts to donors’ foreign aid budgets put local development organizations' needs and trajectories at risk.

Join us for a conversation with Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, on the changing role of NGOs in emerging economies, their financial sustainability, and the shifting dynamics of humanitarian operations due to the protracted nature of current crises. This discussion will look broadly at the evolving relationship between donors, governments, and NGOs, and specifically at the experiences of BRAC in navigating these changing dynamics in Bangladesh. As part of this discussion, we will also explore what the localization movement means for NGOs and how donors can back commitments to support more locally-led development.