This very interesting study of the rise of NGOs as development actors notes that they were seen by donors during the 1990s as a means of bypassing weak and corrupt states. This involved assumptions that were untested empirically and had dubious democratic credentials. The new emphasis on alignment and programmatic assistance since 2000 has undermined the position of NGOs, leading some to predict the demise of the NGO sector. However, while some donors (Canada, Sweden, Switzerland) have significantly reduced the proportion of their ODA going through NGOs, others (the UK, Norway, Japan, the Netherlands) have not, but are encouraging their NGO partners to move away from small aid projects towards partnership and knowledge transfer with Southern NGOs. In addition, the rise of global funds and private philanthropic flows has created new sources of funding for international NGOs. The article is critical of INGO practices towards Southern NGOs, noting their tendency to control funding sources and create dependency. Their emphasis on transferring their own skills and promoting their own countries' development agenda often create resentment among their Southern partners. The paper suggests that Southern NGOs need greater autonomy to play a constructive role in their own societies.