ONTRAC 49 coverThis issue of ONTRAC explores issues around private donors’ work in development. Foundations and new private donors are now significant actors in development – in terms of both the funds they provide and also their influence on approaches to development and the way that official aid agencies operate and think.

Following a viewpoint by John Hailey, four articles present differing experiences and arguments around the issue.

Connell Foley looks at Concern Worldwide’s engagement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, discussing how Concern found the foundations’ approach, emphasising evidence and innovation, refreshing and challenging.

One area in which this is evident is monitoring and evaluation (M&E). Two articles in this issue – by Blain Teketel and Suman Sureshbabu – explore different foundations’ approaches to M&E. These articles show them wrestling with similar questions to NGOs – a desire for in-depth evidence on what works, while prioritising a realistic and flexible relationship with partners.

Finally, an article by Susanne Kirk Christensen, a former field director of a major European INGO, explores how NGOs and CSOs need to appreciate the potential costs of working with private donors.

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