Rakesh Rajani founded HakiElimu in 2001 and is now the Head of Twaweza (a key partner of Daraja). This column was published in HakiElimu's regular "Hard Questions" slot in The Citizen newspaper on August 27, 2007, Rakesh's final column as HakiElimu's Executive Director.
Unlike his similar and more well-known column, If Government was a Restaurant, this column is not currently available online, which is why I am posting it here. And I do so also with the idea in mind of commenting in future on how Daraja's experience of operating an NGO-run newspaper compares to Rakesh's critique of NGO culture and practices.
Unlike his similar and more well-known column, If Government was a Restaurant, this column is not currently available online, which is why I am posting it here. And I do so also with the idea in mind of commenting in future on how Daraja's experience of operating an NGO-run newspaper compares to Rakesh's critique of NGO culture and practices.
If NGOs were a Newspaper
by Rakesh Rajani
Once upon a time world leaders at the UN declared a year of the press. In response, the NGOs resolved to all turn themselves into newspapers. This is what happened.