November 5, 2010 Development Studies Association Conference.

November 5, 2010Development Studies Association Conference

Rationale Background Methodology Profile of organisations Comparison of organisations (amongst each

other) Comparison with ‘NGOs’ Conclusions

Overview of PresentationOverview of Presentation

Although religion has been central in the development and formation of Pakistan as well as in the history of charitable and philanthropic activities in the region (e.g. temples, khanqas, madrasas, missionaries), very little is known about ‘faith-based organisations’ in this context.

The aim of this study was to identify whether ‘FBOs’, as they have been understood in the literature, exist at all in Pakistan, and if so

What contribution do FBOs make to processes of development and

How are they distinctive from ‘secular’ NGOs? Is this a valid distinction at all in the Pakistani context?

Rationale for the StudyRationale for the Study

Pakistan’s largest and arguably most diverse city as well as its economic centre – population of 12 million

Multiple waves of migration – Muhajirs, Punjabis, Sindhis, Balochis, Pathans

Religious diversity – Christians, Hindus, Parsis, Shias, Sunnis

Stratified along the lines of ethnicity, religion and class

History of humanitarianism beginning with Partition

Qualitative methods and case studies The research team aimed to identify organisations

across religious traditions and across a spectrum of religiosity working in the same sector and geographical area

Research conducted over five months in two phases mainly in Karachi

Interviews conducted mostly with senior staff of 6 organisations because of methodological challenges

Total of 83 interviews with staff, volunteers and some beneficiaries

Challenges in Gaining DepthChallenges in Gaining Depth Many organisations do not have long-term

relationships with beneficiaries If they do, they prefer not to publicise because of

the tradition of ‘giving quietly’ and not embarrassing people

They are not used to outside scrutiny largely because they depend on individual donations, and they also have no need to impress the outside world

Fear around the question of religion in Pakistan since the Zia period (80s) and the war on terror

Welfare wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami Founded at different times since Partition Includes several organisations: Al Khidmat

Foundation, Al Khidmat Welfare Society, Al Khidmat Khawateen and others

Welfare-related activities: education, health, material assistance, relief

Rely on individual, religious donations (zakat, hides from qurbani)

Volunteer-run with some paid support staff

The Al Khidmat NetworkThe Al Khidmat Network

Urban welfare trusts Founded in 90s Focused on welfare and material assistance

(Alamgir: medical; Saylani: food programmes) Provide religious services (hajj, qurbani, istikhara) Rely on individual religious donations Rely on paid staff rather than volunteers

Alamgir and Saylani Welfare TrustsAlamgir and Saylani Welfare Trusts

National membership-based organisation led by urban, elite women

Founded in 1967 – Karachi branch established in 1970

Combine welfare and development – schools, clinics, income generation focused on women

Rely on individual religious and general donations and a limited amount of institutional support

Volunteer-run, staffed by paid employees

Behbud AssociationBehbud Association

Largest national charity Established in the 1950s Material assistance and relief – ambulance

services, orphanages, homes for the destitute Family-run organisation Relies on individual religious donations Paid staff

Edhi FoundationEdhi Foundation

Part of Caritas International - an international network of Catholic organisations

Established in 1965 in Pakistan Head office in Lahore and diocesan offices in

Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan

Works on relief and development in the form of community mobilisation

Relies on funding from Caritas national offices Paid staff

CaritasCaritas

Spectrum from welfare to development◦ Edhi, Alamgir/Saylani, Al Khidmat focus largely on welfare

and relief◦ Behbud and Caritas provide relief and welfare but also

include longer-term development projects Depend largely on individual, religious donations◦ Behbud receives a limited amount of institutional support◦ Caritas receives funds from other Caritas country offices

Spectrum of religiosity (Berger 2003)◦ Al Khidmat, Alamgir/Saylani, and Caritas are all explicitly

religious◦ Religion is intertwined with Behbud and Edhi’s work mostly

as a motivating factor for donors

Comparison of OrganisationsComparison of Organisations

Orangi Pilot Project, Indus Resource Network, Thardeep Rural Support Programme, and Sindh Agricultural and Forestry Workers Association

All are funded through institutional donors All four work on long term development rather

than welfare although some grew out of emergency situations

All present themselves as ‘secular’ or ‘non-religious’ and are critical of religious-based organisations and charities in general

The term ‘FBO’ is problematic in the Pakistani context The main distinction is between local charities, for which religion

is often intertwined with their work, and professional development organisations, which have no apparent relationship with religion

The more important variable in determining an organisation’s orientation and priorities seems to be its funding sources rather than religion, although the two are related

Religion is intertwined with charity but not with ‘development’ Most organisations avoid the label ‘FBO’ either because religion

(Islam) is taken as a given or because of the negative connotations this term has acquired since the war on terror

Caritas is an exception, which can be explained by its position within an international network that has evolved in relation to wider discourses around ‘development’

When analysing the nature of organisations, religion (which itself varies depending on religious group, sect, ideology, politics) must be understood as one variable amongst many, including the social makeup of the organisation, the political and ideological profiles of its members, its origins and position within national and international networks, and its funding sources.

Conclusions (cont.’d)Conclusions (cont.’d)