A3 Book section, Chapters in research books
Southern civil society organizations as practical hybrids : Dealing with legitimacy in a Ugandan gender advocacy organization (2023)

Kontinen, T., & Ndidde, A. N. (2023). Southern civil society organizations as practical hybrids : Dealing with legitimacy in a Ugandan gender advocacy organization. In M. van Wessel, T. Kontinen, & J. N. Bawole (Eds.), Reimagining Civil Society Collaborations in Development : Starting from the South (pp. 99-113). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003241003-9

JYU authors or editors

Kontinen, Tiina

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kontinen, Tiina; Ndidde, Alice N.

Parent publication: Reimagining Civil Society Collaborations in Development : Starting from the South

Parent publication editors: van Wessel, Margit; Kontinen, Tiina; Bawole, Justice Nyigmah

ISBN: 978-1-032-14767-3

eISBN: 978-1-003-24100-3

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 21/12/2022

Pages range: 99-113

Number of pages in the book: 364

Publisher: Routledge

Place of Publication: Abingdon, Oxon

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003241003-9

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/84700

Abstract

This chapter explores the ways in which Southern civil society organizations (CSOs) navigate between diverse audiences and logics in relation to which their legitimacy is negotiated. Drawing on the notions of practical hybrids and organizational legitimacy in hybrid organizations, the chapter explores the legitimacy audiences and logics relevant to a Ugandan gender advocacy organization, Action for Development (ACFODE). The chapter identifies five influential legitimacy audiences – central government, local government, project participants in the communities, international development partners, and other Ugandan gender CSOs. Further, it establishes four significant logics in alignment to which an organization’s legitimacy is evaluated – patrimonialism, professionalism, community, and activism – which the organization balances in its effort to address its core concern, gender equality. The chapter highlights the importance of paying adequate attention to Southern CSOs’ webs of significant relationships rather than limiting the focus of both research and practice regarding CSO collaborations to the North–South dyad.

Keywords: civil society; non-governmental organisations; development cooperation; development policy; organisations (systems); influence; legitimacy