Víctimas, salvadores y el colapso de una ONG: beneficios y riesgos de la aplicación de metodologías participativas en el trabajo de organizaciones no gubernamentales

Abstract

A reflection on the case of an NGO co-founded by the author, which had to be closed down following severe failures generated by the misuse of feminist and participative methodologies and the financing system for such organizations. This analysis takes into account feminist and participative methodologies through which the organization was funded, it reviews the failures and proposes considerations with respect to the use of these methods. Methodology: This article considers the personal experience of the author as a researcher and co-founder of the NGO, and presents a bibliographic review of the subject, supporting the ideas presented. Conclusions: Participative methodologies emerge as a way to “give voice” to historically marginalized communities and seek approaches that are more closely committed to social justice. Nevertheless, from an NGO perspective, there are newer risks in practice, especially with financing. It is important to consider these risks and decide on the future growth and financing goals beforehand in order to avoid falling into these common traps. Originality: This reflection is relevant since it is an understudied subject that can have serious implications with regards the beneficiaries of NGOs and the researchers involved.

Keywords

• Ethical implications
• feminist ethnographies
• human rights
• NGOs
• Participative Action Research (PAR)