ABSTRACT
Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) aspire to contribute to pro-poor political change. In this regard, this chapter reviews the experience of the NGO sector in addressing the needs and interests of the urban poor over the last 30 years. In keeping with the emphasis on political change, the chapter focuses on NGOs’ work to reform state attitudes and practices towards the urban poor. The discussion differentiates and explores three distinct NGO approaches to the state. The analysis considers the pressures and opportunities emerging from the broader context, and the considered responses of NGOs to this context and their own experiences.
