Date of Award

Summer 8-31-2025

Document Type

Thesis: Open Access

Degree Name

MS Humanitarian Action

Department

Peace Studies

Committee Chair

Dr. Topher McDougal

Abstract

This thesis examines collaboration gaps between international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) and grassroots international nongovernmental organizations (GINGOs) in the localization agenda. While humanitarian and development work are often viewed separately, many organizations operate across both areas, shifting between emergency response and long-term engagement. For this research, “localization” refers to efforts aimed at addressing power imbalances and improving collaboration with local actors, especially in small island nations where vulnerabilities and capacities intersect. The study began as a comparative case design across Cabo Verde, Vanuatu, and Comoros but shifted to an explanatory approach after data constraints redirected the scope. Madagascar was added to deepen analysis of localization dynamics.

Using an explanatory approach, the research relied on semistructured interviews with GINGO, local NGO (LNGO), and INGO leaders working in small islands and at regional or global levels. It combined Bourdieu’s (1986) theory of capital and field with postcolonial critiques of development discourse (Escobar, 1995; Kapoor, 2008; Spivak, 1988) to explore how symbolic power, relational trust, and structural inequalities influence collaboration and legitimacy. Network governance theory (Provan & Kenis, 2008) offered perspective emphasizing trust-based coordination and distributed authority. Findings indicate that GINGOs, despite strong community ties and hybrid roles, are mostly excluded from strategic decision-making. INGOs maintain control over funding and agendas, while GINGOs depend on relational capital to gain visibility and access. Efforts toward localization remain mostly rhetorical, hiding persistent hierarchies behind narratives of inclusion. This research calls for collaboration grounded in mutual trust, shared decision-making, and leadership by those closest to affected communities.

Comments

This thesis was completed as a voluntary Honors Thesis alongside the MS in Humanitarian Action (MSHA) program at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, University of San Diego.

The author received the 2025 MSHA Academic Excellence Award in recognition of distinction.

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