For the purposes of the study, the private sector is understood to mean for-profit organisations, focused on, but not limited to, multinational organisations. The private sector is therefore referred to throughout the paper as ‘business’. The study is interested in private sector organisations which engage in development-related work through core business or corporate social responsibility. It will not include private sector actors in receipt of development support, for example micro and small enterprise funding activities.

Civil society is defined as non-governmental organisations (NGOs), both those based in the north and the south, whose primary focus is (international) development. NGOs vary greatly in size and purpose and engage with development issues in a wide range of ways. This study is predominantly interested in larger NGOs which deliver programmes in developing countries.

Emily Darko