Bricks, Mortar and Capacity Building : A Socio-Cultural History of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

The history of development cooperation has attracted very little research to date. This volume offers an innovative interpretation by considering the history of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, which has been in existence for over forty years now. Through SNV's history, an analysis emerges of the role of the Netherlands in development cooperation and the attitudes of Dutch society towards it over the last fifty years as well as the changing ideas, practices and policies in development work more generally.The views and expectations of (former) SNV staff and those of local participants who were ultimately to benefit from the development activities were the focus of this historical research. This has resulted in a socio-cultural history ‘from below'rather than a dry description of the organisation's administrative changes and formal bureaucratic structures. The history of development cooperation has attracted very little research to date. This volume offers an innovative interpretation by considering the history of SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, which has been in existence for over forty years now. Through SNV's history, an analysis emerges of the role of the Netherlands in development cooperation and the attitudes of Dutch society towards it over the Last fifty years as well as the changing ideas, practices and policies development work more generally. The views and expectations of (former) SNV staff and those of local participants who were ultimately to benefit from the development activities were the focus of this historical research. This has resulted in a socio-cultural history 'from below' rather than a dry description of the organisation's administrative changes and formal bureaucratic Structures. --Book Jacket Contents......Page 6 List of photos and figures......Page 8 Foreword......Page 10 1. Introduction......Page 13 2. Understanding SNV’s background......Page 41 3. SNV’s start......Page 63 4. The years of radical commitment......Page 119 5. Professionalisation......Page 175 6. Building capacity......Page 229 7. Final remarks......Page 277 Interviews......Page 290 Written sources......Page 306 Abbreviations and glossary......Page 318 Appendix 1: Ministers and State Secretaries for Development Cooperation......Page 322 Appendix 2: SNV chairpersons / directors......Page 324 Appendix 3: SNV countries......Page 326 Appendix 4: SNV activities......Page 328 Appendix 5: SNVers......Page 330 Appendix 6: SNV finances......Page 332 Appendix 7: Chronology......Page 334 Index......Page 336 Introduction -- Merchants And Ministers: Understanding Snv's Background -- Snv's Start: Bricks, Mortar And The Transfer Of Knowledge (1963-1972) -- The Years Of Radical Commitment: Democratisation And Secularisation (1973-1984) -- Expertise Expected: The Professionalisation Of Snv (1985-1994) -- Building Capacity: Snv At The Millennium (1995-2005) -- Final Remarks. By Inge Brinkman ; In Cooperation With Anne-lot Hoek. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.