Thank you Robert for that balanced perspective. There’s of course a multitude of sociopolitical (and other) contexts around developing countries.

There was a time in Nepal seventy years ago when education was actively suppressed by an autocratic government but not anymore. Countries are at a wide variety of political or developmental conditions. It presents a wide variety of priorities. In Nepal, I believe the policies are at the right place, and while execution is sloppy there are opportunities there too. There’s a healthy number of young, make-it-happen people in governance who want to do good, new work. They want to take part in change. Working w/ government means that the pool gets more opportunity to go beyond what the large bureaucratic system allows for.

I also agree that the kind of messaging that this approach produces, greatly increases confidence in both the NGO and the government sector. When the health organization I work for, for example, does good work in Achham, the district overall does better in health indicators, and hence bureaucrats and politicians are keen on promoting the work.