East African NGO Impacts

Abstract

From 2000-2008 the author conducted field research on two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in East Africa. One site was in Kenya's central mountainous region of urban Nairobi where it has become the largest and fastest growing NGO in the country. Most of its clients live in or near a million-person city slum. The other organization was in the southern rural area, along the Kenyan coast where members had enjoyed relative peace, but extreme poverty. One-on-one client interviews have been conducted at the two research sites, along with observations of staff leaders, social services, village banking meetings, and so on. These materials became the sources of data gleaned during the study of both organizations. This study delineates similarities and differences among microfinance NGOs that provide economic and social development services to poor families in Africa, focusing on different strategies, unique client services, and so forth. The paper concludes with an assessment of their socio-economic impacts, and offers several suggestions for governments to emphasize in reducing human suffering.