Life cycle and learning in grassroots development organizations

This article considers some central issues related to the strengthening and growth of NGOs' learning and analytical capabilities. Learning is conceptualized as a function of: (a) the general attributes of NGOs'; (b) the particular stage of the life cycle of NGOs'; (c) the internal characteristics of NGOs. Three stages in the life cycle of these organizations are presented; each stage entails specific problems of development and survival and has requirements for conceptualizing action and accumulating knowledge. The way in which this learning is produced, internalized and transmitted, according to the structural and contextual characteristics and the life cycle of NGOs has consequences for the strategies of donor agencies, research institutions and the NGOs themselves. Some orientations for the formulation of strategies are presented as the conclusion.