Downward Accountability in Unequal Alliances: Explaining NGO Responses to Zapatista Demands

This paper examines the conditions that foster downward accountability among nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). To do so, I compare how NGOs responded in an unusual case where, from 1999-2003, the Zapatista Movement demanded more say over projects. I compare 77 NG0s, some that dropped out and others that accommodated the movement's demands. I argue that funders' reporting requirements inhibited NGOs from being responsive to beneficiaries. However, living alongside the movement pushed inner-circle NGOs to practice downward accountability to sustain their legitimacy. In turn, horizontal pressure among NGOs influenced organizations further afield, especially those that identified closely with the movement. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.