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Table 1 Summary of four waves of NGO sector evolution

From: Where are the NGOs and why? The distribution of health and development NGOs in Bolivia

Wave

Approximate era

Defining characteristics

1st

WWII to late 1960s

• Small number of large, well established NGOs

• Primarily involved in emergency and conflict relief

• Religious and missionary affiliations commonplace

2nd

Early 1970s to early 1980s

• Role expanded beyond emergency and conflict relief

• Community level work employing participatory approaches commonplace

3rd

Mid/early 1980s to late 1990s

• Rapid proliferation of NGOs around the globe linked to changing political and economic ideologies of the time

• Significant increase in funding for NGO related projects

• NGOs were considered development alternatives and become the ‘favoured child’ of development agencies

4th

Early 2000s- current

• NGO activity shaped by poverty reductions agendas and Millennium Development Goals

• Funders increasingly channelling aid to and through NGOs

  

• Increase in bilateral aid and global health initiatives (i.e.Global Fund, PEPFAR)