Doing Good And/or Feeling Good: Examining International Citizen-to-Citizen Service Programs

This thesis explores international citizen-to-citizen service programs. It begins by identifying the various ways that citizens intentionally or unintentionally interact (as givers and receivers), with institutions to sustain and/or alleviate international poverty. The data were organized into a table: Actors in the Global Poverty Environment (AGPE – subsequent research will rename the table: Citizen Engagement in the Global Poverty Environment – CEGPE). Second, utilizing an Evidence Framework, the types of problem(s), question(s) zero, and theory of change for thirty-one international citizen-to-citizen service programs were identified; coupling the problem(s), question(s) zero and theory of change revealed a series of strategy models: emergency aid, non-emergency aid, development, no engagement (this name will likely change), and hybrid. Preliminary findings suggest that international citizen-to-citizen service organizations use non-emergency aid or hybrid strategy models but call their strategy model development. In addition, it appears that organizations claim to pursue change in both givers and receivers (identified in the AGPE), but organization’s theory of change generally addresses change for givers or receivers, not both. As such, one comprehensive framework – called Borderless Approaches – is developed to identify number of AGPE rows an organization addresses in its problem statement and the strategy type utilized. This research develops frameworks for future analysis of international citizen-to-citizen service programs and the industry's role within the broader international poverty environment.