How Ordinary People Make Aid Work

How community organizations and civic engagement drive the success of global health aid.

What makes health-related development assistance truly effective? In How Ordinary People Make Aid Work, Stefan Kruse argues that the answer lies in the power of ordinary citizens. By examining the role of community organizations and social movements, Kruse challenges conventional approaches to aid, showing that true accountability requires more than institutional reforms or participatory spaces that offer citizens a seat at the table.

Through rigorous analysis and compelling case studies, the book reveals how traditional forms of exercising voice—especially in politically challenging contexts—drive the success of donor-funded health projects. Kruse demonstrates that reducing infant mortality since the 1990s owes more to an engaged citizenry than to formal accountability mechanisms. Surprisingly, state capacity and democratic institutions show little effect on the success of health aid once citizen involvement is accounted for. By bridging macroeconomic studies of aid effectiveness with research on political behavior, these findings underscore the indispensable role of civic engagement in building resilient health systems.

How Ordinary People Make Aid Work critiques the limitations of traditional, top-down development models and advocates for empowering communities to lead their own progress. It highlights how social ties and collective action equip citizens to oversee health projects and create sustainable solutions to public health challenges. Offering fresh insights for policymakers, development practitioners, and scholars, this book redefines what it takes to make aid truly impactful.