Grassroots organizations and NGOs in rural development: Opportunities with diminishing states and expanding markets

TLDR

Central place theory identifies ten levels of development decision making, with three local levels enabling collective action by grassroots organizations and NGOs that differ from public and private sectors and are often conflated with institutions. The article systematically examines NGOs and grassroots organizations, treating them as a distinct category rather than a residual. The authors delineate three sectors, expanding the usual two‑sector framework. Case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America illustrate accelerated rural development driven by grassroots organizations and NGOs.

Abstract

This article undertakes to deal systematically with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and grassroots organizations (GROs), usually treated as a residual category. Ten levels for development decision making and action are identified in the tradition of central place theory. Three of these are considered "local" or "grassroots" because of their collective action possibilities. Then, three sectors are delineated, instead of the usual two. NGOs are part of the collective action sector which differs from the public and private sectors in theoretically consistent ways. A careful distinction is made between institutions and organizations, usually conflated in the literature. Examples of accelerated rural development through grassroots organizations and NGOs are discussed form Asia, Africa, and Latin America.