Precisely define the scope (or limits) of our literature review.
This is essential to make the research feasible and to ensure that the results are well-targeted to our questions. We’ve already touched on some of these points during the initial scoping, but now is the time to make some firmer decisions:
GEOGRAPHICAL PERIMETER #
We will focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, with particular attention to both French- and English-speaking contexts. This allows us to cover a broad swath of the continent while taking into account potentially distinct dynamics.
TIME SCOPE #
The review will cover literature published from 1990 to the most recent date possible (we will be able to specify the end date of the search at the time of execution). This choice is relevant because it encompasses the post-Cold War rise of civil society, the various waves of aid reforms, and the evolution of discourses on sustainability and self-reliance. This represents more than three decades, which will allow for a rich analysis of developments but will involve a potentially large volume of material.
LINGUISTIC SCOPE #
The search will be limited to documents written in French and English. This is pragmatic and covers the bulk of scientific and gray literature for the selected regions.
SECTORAL SCOPE #
SECTORAL SCOPEWe will prioritize development organizations in the broadest sense (social services, health, education, agriculture, environment, human rights, advocacy, governance, etc.) and exclude purely faith-based organizations, i.e., those whose primary activity is proselytizing or worship, without an identifiable social or economic development component aimed at the broader community. The nuance is important: many faith-based organizations (FBOs) are major development actors and will therefore be included if their actions correspond to our scope.
