Exploring the role of NGOs in influencing enterprise policy: Insights from Zimbabwe

Abstract

The ineffectiveness of enterprise policy in some southern Africa’s rural areas has led to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) attempting to increase their political influence by engaging in the enterprise policy process. This paper examines the case of one NGO from one of the poorest southern African countries – Zimbabwe – in order to bring insights to its role as policy influencer in the regional approaches of enterprise policy-making. The paper argues that an understanding of such role requires the appreciation of how people and organisations are embedded to their contexts. The evidence suggests that in the case study the NGO’s role is only modest.