Establishing autonomy from parent NGOs : a case study of a São Paulo local development program

The following report addresses the ability of community-based programs supported by international development aid organizations to sustain development activities even after the termination of funding and programmatic support from their parent organizations. The report specifically explores how these programs may revise their objectives, operations, and community partnerships to increase the likelihood that projects and activities may be sustained long-term and create a larger impact. The researcher study utilized a participatory research approach to examine and evaluated the sustainability challenges of a small community development program in São Paulo, Brazil called the PDA Sampa Sul. Funded by World Vision child sponsorship donations, the program pursues child protection, active citizenship, and education projects to address social vulnerability and empower community members to create lasting change.