ABSTRACT
Development NGOs need to be understood against the changing backdrop of the ideas, institutions and policies which make up the world of international development assistance. The international development system includes multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, the European Union and the United Nations, and bilateral donors such as the UK Department for International Development (DFID) or the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). There are currently more than 40 bilateral donor agencies, 26 UN agencies and a further 20 global and regional financial institutions involved in the system. Many NGOs receive funds from development donors, while others try to operate outside the system. Both types of organization may seek to influence the way in which the international aid system operates. At the same time, many NGOs
important part of the aid system.
