The life cycle of Private Initiatives. The reasons behind, and consequences of, ending a small development organization

In recent years, the world of international development (aid) has become increasingly complex due to the emergence of a large number of new development actors. In fact, new actors enter the field of development every year but only few move out. In effect, there is no systematic insight in the reasons behind and consequences of stopping as a development organisation. This paper provides a first explorative insight in this matter by looking at a small number of Dutch Private Initiatives (PIs) that have recently ended their development work. The study shows that these PIs seldom end their activities as a development actor for a single reason. In addition we find that internal reasons (i.e., those referring to the PI itself) are substantially more important than external ones (i.e., those referring to their Southern partner or their specific project). Still, the idea that the activity or project they set out to support was finalised was presented as the major reason. Also with regard to the consequences of stopping as PI, internal effects are considered to be more important than external ones. Whereas most PIs comfort themselves by claiming that their project will also continue without them, many expressed strong emotional reactions themselves. This is in line with the idea that many PIs start their work because of close personal relationships with specific people in developing countries and sentiments about the suffering they saw when visiting ‘their’ developing country. Finally, in looking back these former PIs strongly emphasise what they have learned from their work; experiences that might be of assistance to all who want to walk in their footsteps. We conclude with showing these lessons