The BRAC Independence Movement: Accountability to Whom?

Abstract

This paper examines accounting and accountability in a large Bangladesh NGO, BRAC. Emphasising civil society-state relations, we recount BRAC’s chronology of expansion to trace the emergence of its functional and social accountability and whether they incorporated associational perspectives on development to strengthen civil society and aid political reform, or neo-liberal economic and political development agendas based on strengthening private economic interests. Evidence from interviews with BRAC employees from 2002 to 2012; follow up visits to secure feedback and clarification; supplementary validation from civil society representatives, government officials and private sector agencies; and secondary sources illustrate that BRAC’s accountability incorporates traditional forms of patrimonial governance and help grant it sufficient leeway and space to become independent, ultimately accountable to itself, and diminished its associational obligations.

Keywords: NGO accountability; BRAC; civil society-state relations; associational perspectives, private economic interests; Bangladesh; patrimonialism

JEL Classification: L31, M41