'Scaling-up' in emergencies: British NGOs after Hurricane Mitch.
This article examines research on NGO 'scaling-up' in a disaster context and links it to a broader discussion on whether scaling-up is a useful concept for understanding NGO processes in an emergency. Using concepts of scaling-up from development literature, research findings from a study of the responses of British NGOs to Hurricane Mitch in Central America are presented. The article assesses the extent and type of scaling-up that occurred, constraints faced by the agencies and the impact of scaling-up on support to partners. Broader issues relating to scaling-up post-Mitch are also explored. The conclusion suggests that while the concept of scaling-up is useful, the tendency for its use to refer to organisational growth has limited a wider understanding and evaluation of the role of Northern NGOs in humanitarian crises.
Lister
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Centre for Civil Society, Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics. slister@bigfoot.com
D000533:Altruism; D002489:Central America; D002608:Charities; D004190:Disasters; D004630:Emergencies; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D012066:Relief Work; D006113:United Kingdom