Collaboration in delivering education: relations between governments and NGOs in South Asia

Collaboration between governments and non-state providers of basic services is increasingly a focus of attention by international agencies and national policymakers. The intention of such collaboration is to support common goals for achieving universal provision. Drawing on research in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, the paper shows that collaboration can be successful where NGOs do not depend on limited sources for their funding, and invest time in building an informal relationship with government officials. In such cases, not only can collaboration strengthen NGO service provision directly, but it also provides opportunities for NGOs to engage in broader policy advocacy through insider influence.