Small state development assistance : the role of NGOs in shoring up Malta's official aid

Abstract

This dissertation explores the possibilities offered by official sector-NGO cooperation within the field of Malta's official development assistance. The first four chapters set out a historical and conceptual framework within which to ascertain the potential effectiveness of an independent small state development policy. By arguing that the role of culture be incorporated within any examination of the developmental process, and by pointing to the secondary importance of factors such as surplus capital in economic development, the first two chapters lay the groundwork for the critique of aid in chapter three and the critique of the "planning approach" to development in chapter four. The latter chapter, in light of analytical and historical evidence, indicates that a piecemeal approach to development that focuses on improving individual lives is more effective than an approach that seeks to achieve multiple targets underpinned by a comprehensive strategy. This insight underscores the theoretical case for the relevance, and potential effectiveness, of small state development assistance. The following two chapters discuss the case of Malta within this theoretical context, with a critical appraisal of Malta's official overseas development policy, as stated and in practice, in chapter six. This finds that the current official policy is unsuited to the reality of Malta's limited resources as well as to the needs of developing countries. Chapter seven presents an alternative model for Malta's development assistance buttressed by increased official sector-NGO cooperation. The concluding chapter reiterates the study's findings, pointing to further research into the possibilities offered by NGOs in making Malta's official aid more effective in improving individual livelihoods in the world's least developed countries.