The Differential Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Small-Scale Development Initiatives, a Cross-Country Comparison

Funding

The study took up a mixed method design. Data collection took place between June and November 2020. To gain insight into the context wherein PDIs operate in the different countries in the Global North, 15 in-depth interviews took place with core staff members (occupying functions such as ‘responsible south operation’, ‘communication consultant’ and ‘head of the PDIs unit’) of the eight different support organisations. In addition, previous studies were analysed. The interviews and desk study allowed to gain understanding of the field of PDIs in the different countries and the support provided to PDIs during the COVID-19 pandemic by the support organisations. These insights gave as well guidance to the design of the survey (see ‘Appendix ’). Insights into the response of PDIs to the COVID-19 crisis were gained through project administration files provided by the four PDI support organisations that provided financial support during the COVID-19 crisis (La Guilde, Province of West-Flanders, CISU and Stichting Wilde Ganzen).