Willem Elbers
Biographic Data
| ID | 1399623 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Willem Elbers |
| GIVEN NAMES | Willem |
| FAMILY NAME | Elbers |
| SIGNATURE | ELBERS W |
| AFFILIATIONS | Radboud University Nijmegen |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0485-368X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 81 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 18 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Power and its discontents
NGOs are taking incremental steps to reconfigure power dynamics and foster more equal relationships between Northern and Southern actors. • Most actions to address North-South power imbalances do not fundamentally change power dynamics or tackle the root causes of inequality. • Most actions are Northern-led, running the risk of reinforcing power relations in the aid system. • NGO are making slow progress in shifting power and individual actions c…
The Definition Dilemma
To monitor progress in including persons with disabilities, including in interventions which can improve their health and quality of life, it is crucial to collect data on their participation. However, there are many different ways of defining disability and thus categorising individuals as disabled/not disabled, which may impact measures of participation. This study aims to assess the relationship between three different measures of disability a…
Navigating the shift
This paper tackles the challenge of translating rhetoric into tangible actions within the Shift the Power debate, which advocates for greater decision-making authority, funding, and leadership for Southern organisations and aims for more equitable partnerships. The Power Awareness Tool (PAT) was developed to facilitate structured conversations in organisations on prevailing power inequalities and potential solutions. The PAT operates on the premi…
Northern NGO-centrism in localisation processes
This paper examines the process of discussing and designing actions to tackle power inequities by Northern and Southern NGOs. Drawing on 53 interviews with Northern and Southern NGOs, and NNGO networks, we argue that current localisation processes produce a form of cultural capital leveraged by competing Northern NGOs rooted in signalling solidarity with SNGOs and/or communities to donors through rhetorical and symbolic practices, reinforcing the…
Catalysts for change
The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the debate on pracademic roles and added values in driving social impact within the field of development studies. I draw on a case study of myself, self-identifying as a pracademic, and my extensive involvement with the Liliane Foundation, a Dutch NGO. In my study, I identify five primary pracademic roles: theory-to-practice mediator, diplomat, empathetic listener, communicator, and critical friend. Thes…
Between worlds, beyond boundaries
Inclusive education champions
Contains fulltext : 314117.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)
Developmental pracademics
This article analyses pracademia as a contested institutional terrain, provides examples of the value added by pracademics, sets out plans for achieving recognition by building stronger career paths, and identifies avenues for further research. Its objective is to initiate a conversation about pracademics in the disciplines of global development, what they can achieve, and how to make their work more impactful. Recognising the value of pracademia…
Beyond the Immediate Effects of Covid-19
Contains fulltext : 298030.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)
How internationally funded NGOs promote gender equality in horticulture value chains in Kenya
This article contributes to the literature on global value chains by examining how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) promote gender equality. NGOs have been instrumental in setting social standards that seek to institutionalise gender-sensitive governance structures. However, relatively little is known about their roles in doing so. Using in-depth empirical research on the Women@Work Campaign in the cut-flower sector in Kenya, the article exa…
Stuck in a “Catch-22”
Fragmented yet together
The on-going struggles of disability movements worldwide have been examined from multiple perspectives. As of yet, however, research into this topic has largely overlooked experiences on the African continent. This article seeks to address this gap by presenting a case study of the disability movement in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The study finds that on the one hand the Sierra Leonean disability movement is fragmented (referring to the tendency …
How does organisational capacity contribute to advocacy effectiveness? Taking stock of existing evidence
Despite a growing interest in advocacy for marginalised groups within international development, the relationship between organisational capacity and advocacy effectiveness is not yet fully understood. This article synthesises existing empirical research on advocacy for marginalised groups in the Global South. It presents a framework that identifies the main enabling factors for advocacy effectiveness and the organisational capacities and require…
Constraining Is Enabling? Exploring the Influence of National Context on Civil Society Strength
This article analyses the influence of national context on civil society strength based on four key dimensions: level of democracy, political stability, rule of law and economic development. Whereas existing studies mainly focus on Western and post-communist countries, we explicitly include developing countries in our analysis. We use associational membership as proxy for civil society strength and include data of 53 countries. Rule of law, econo…
The Ambivalent Impact of Coffee Certification on Farmers’ Welfare
Reinventing International Development NGOs – The Case of Icco
Corridors of Power
Power asymmetries within partnerships between Northern and Southern NGOs are thought to be undesirable. Based on a comparative case study of the partnerships between three Northern NGOs and their Southern partners in Ghana, India and Nicaragua, this study examines how the partnerships’ institutional design affects local partners’ room to manoeuvre. It is demonstrated that (1) the Northern agencies unilaterally set the rules that govern the partne…
Keeping body and soul together
Most Southern Non-Governmental Organizations (SNGOs) depend on donor agencies for their survival. To qualify for donor funding, SNGOs typically have to meet a range of funding conditions. Critics argue that donor requirements may have undesirable consequences. Based on qualitative research involving 41 SNGOs in India and Ghana, this article explores (1) the (potentially) adverse effects of donor conditions on SNGOs and (2) the strategies that SNG…
Keeping body and soul together
Most Southern Non-Governmental Organizations (SNGOs) depend on donor agencies for their survival. To qualify for donor funding, SNGOs typically have to meet a range of funding conditions. Critics argue that donor requirements may have undesirable consequences. Based on qualitative research involving 41 SNGOs in India and Ghana, this article explores (1) the (potentially) adverse effects of donor conditions on SNGOs and (2) the strategies that SNG…
The Ambivalent Impact of Coffee Certification on Farmers’ Welfare
Developmental pracademics
This article analyses pracademia as a contested institutional terrain, provides examples of the value added by pracademics, sets out plans for achieving recognition by building stronger career paths, and identifies avenues for further research. Its objective is to initiate a conversation about pracademics in the disciplines of global development, what they can achieve, and how to make their work more impactful. Recognising the value of pracademia…
Constraining Is Enabling? Exploring the Influence of National Context on Civil Society Strength
This article analyses the influence of national context on civil society strength based on four key dimensions: level of democracy, political stability, rule of law and economic development. Whereas existing studies mainly focus on Western and post-communist countries, we explicitly include developing countries in our analysis. We use associational membership as proxy for civil society strength and include data of 53 countries. Rule of law, econo…
Corridors of Power
Power asymmetries within partnerships between Northern and Southern NGOs are thought to be undesirable. Based on a comparative case study of the partnerships between three Northern NGOs and their Southern partners in Ghana, India and Nicaragua, this study examines how the partnerships’ institutional design affects local partners’ room to manoeuvre. It is demonstrated that (1) the Northern agencies unilaterally set the rules that govern the partne…
Stuck in a “Catch-22”
How internationally funded NGOs promote gender equality in horticulture value chains in Kenya
This article contributes to the literature on global value chains by examining how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) promote gender equality. NGOs have been instrumental in setting social standards that seek to institutionalise gender-sensitive governance structures. However, relatively little is known about their roles in doing so. Using in-depth empirical research on the Women@Work Campaign in the cut-flower sector in Kenya, the article exa…
Reinventing International Development NGOs – The Case of Icco
Fragmented yet together
The on-going struggles of disability movements worldwide have been examined from multiple perspectives. As of yet, however, research into this topic has largely overlooked experiences on the African continent. This article seeks to address this gap by presenting a case study of the disability movement in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The study finds that on the one hand the Sierra Leonean disability movement is fragmented (referring to the tendency …
Keeping body and soul together
Most Southern Non-Governmental Organizations (SNGOs) depend on donor agencies for their survival. To qualify for donor funding, SNGOs typically have to meet a range of funding conditions. Critics argue that donor requirements may have undesirable consequences. Based on qualitative research involving 41 SNGOs in India and Ghana, this article explores (1) the (potentially) adverse effects of donor conditions on SNGOs and (2) the strategies that SNG…
Corridors of Power
Power asymmetries within partnerships between Northern and Southern NGOs are thought to be undesirable. Based on a comparative case study of the partnerships between three Northern NGOs and their Southern partners in Ghana, India and Nicaragua, this study examines how the partnerships’ institutional design affects local partners’ room to manoeuvre. It is demonstrated that (1) the Northern agencies unilaterally set the rules that govern the partne…
Reinventing International Development NGOs – The Case of Icco
The Ambivalent Impact of Coffee Certification on Farmers’ Welfare
Constraining Is Enabling? Exploring the Influence of National Context on Civil Society Strength
This article analyses the influence of national context on civil society strength based on four key dimensions: level of democracy, political stability, rule of law and economic development. Whereas existing studies mainly focus on Western and post-communist countries, we explicitly include developing countries in our analysis. We use associational membership as proxy for civil society strength and include data of 53 countries. Rule of law, econo…
Fragmented yet together
The on-going struggles of disability movements worldwide have been examined from multiple perspectives. As of yet, however, research into this topic has largely overlooked experiences on the African continent. This article seeks to address this gap by presenting a case study of the disability movement in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The study finds that on the one hand the Sierra Leonean disability movement is fragmented (referring to the tendency …
How does organisational capacity contribute to advocacy effectiveness? Taking stock of existing evidence
Despite a growing interest in advocacy for marginalised groups within international development, the relationship between organisational capacity and advocacy effectiveness is not yet fully understood. This article synthesises existing empirical research on advocacy for marginalised groups in the Global South. It presents a framework that identifies the main enabling factors for advocacy effectiveness and the organisational capacities and require…
Stuck in a “Catch-22”
How internationally funded NGOs promote gender equality in horticulture value chains in Kenya
This article contributes to the literature on global value chains by examining how non-governmental organisations (NGOs) promote gender equality. NGOs have been instrumental in setting social standards that seek to institutionalise gender-sensitive governance structures. However, relatively little is known about their roles in doing so. Using in-depth empirical research on the Women@Work Campaign in the cut-flower sector in Kenya, the article exa…
Beyond the Immediate Effects of Covid-19
Contains fulltext : 298030.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)
Inclusive education champions
Contains fulltext : 314117.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)
Developmental pracademics
This article analyses pracademia as a contested institutional terrain, provides examples of the value added by pracademics, sets out plans for achieving recognition by building stronger career paths, and identifies avenues for further research. Its objective is to initiate a conversation about pracademics in the disciplines of global development, what they can achieve, and how to make their work more impactful. Recognising the value of pracademia…
The Definition Dilemma
To monitor progress in including persons with disabilities, including in interventions which can improve their health and quality of life, it is crucial to collect data on their participation. However, there are many different ways of defining disability and thus categorising individuals as disabled/not disabled, which may impact measures of participation. This study aims to assess the relationship between three different measures of disability a…
Navigating the shift
This paper tackles the challenge of translating rhetoric into tangible actions within the Shift the Power debate, which advocates for greater decision-making authority, funding, and leadership for Southern organisations and aims for more equitable partnerships. The Power Awareness Tool (PAT) was developed to facilitate structured conversations in organisations on prevailing power inequalities and potential solutions. The PAT operates on the premi…
Northern NGO-centrism in localisation processes
This paper examines the process of discussing and designing actions to tackle power inequities by Northern and Southern NGOs. Drawing on 53 interviews with Northern and Southern NGOs, and NNGO networks, we argue that current localisation processes produce a form of cultural capital leveraged by competing Northern NGOs rooted in signalling solidarity with SNGOs and/or communities to donors through rhetorical and symbolic practices, reinforcing the…
Catalysts for change
The purpose of this paper is to illuminate the debate on pracademic roles and added values in driving social impact within the field of development studies. I draw on a case study of myself, self-identifying as a pracademic, and my extensive involvement with the Liliane Foundation, a Dutch NGO. In my study, I identify five primary pracademic roles: theory-to-practice mediator, diplomat, empathetic listener, communicator, and critical friend. Thes…
Between worlds, beyond boundaries
Power and its discontents
NGOs are taking incremental steps to reconfigure power dynamics and foster more equal relationships between Northern and Southern actors. • Most actions to address North-South power imbalances do not fundamentally change power dynamics or tackle the root causes of inequality. • Most actions are Northern-led, running the risk of reinforcing power relations in the aid system. • NGO are making slow progress in shifting power and individual actions c…
Political science (14 works) · Economics (11 works) · Sociology (11 works) · International Development and Aid (8 works) · Economic growth (7 works) · Tourism, Volunteerism, and Development (7 works) · Development economics (6 works) · Geography (6 works) · Law (6 works) · Law (6 works)