Short Abstract:

Keywords: Philanthropic foundations, education policy, policy advocacy Mainstream discourse on philanthropic involvement in education policy sphere is generally welcomed in enhancing individual capabilities. However, I argue the opposite, while raising questions of lack of accountability and transparency negatively impacting most vulnerable sections of the society.

Long Abstract:

Keywords: Philanthropic foundations, education policy, policy advocacy

Research Context

Universal and high-quality education is seen as a public and intrinsic good and is considered essential to ensure the enhancement of individual capabilities and well-being of vulnerable groups. In this context, the involvement of non-state actors in education policy sphere begets the question that whether education as a public good gets diluted due to such involvement. This question gains even more importance when powerful non-state actors, like philanthropic foundations (foundations hereafter) are considered. Owing to their deep financial and social capital, foundations have assumed an important role in policymaking and governance worldwide. In the Indian context, foundations like the Azim Premji Foundation have been involved in education policymaking and also, philanthropic activity in the education sector is on the rise. (1) Also, the number of philanthropically founded educational institutions and universities is also on the rise.

However, critical scholarship raises accountability and transparency issues with the involvement of foundations in policymaking, since the foundations are not elected bodies and are not responsible to the public, their activities pertaining to policy advocacy remain shrouded in secrecy. Also, since many of the foundations originate in the developed world, their work in the developing and underdeveloped world presents an inherent power imbalance. Moreover, foundations have financial and social capital which further accentuates the power imbalance. Thus, the questions which I ask in this paper, is what are the day-today mechanisms through which foundations influence policymaking, thereby paying attention to the transparency aspect. And what are the resultant consequences of foundation involvement on ideas of social inclusion and well-being, thereby addressing the accountability element.

Methodology

To carry out this paper, I look at the case of Azim Premji Foundation (Azim Premji Foundation is only taken as an inductive case, other foundations involved in the policymaking sphere can also be taken as a case, depending on the access to foundations). To answer the mechanisms question, I use semi-structured interviews with the foundation employees, employees of NGOs associated with the Azim Premji Foundation, and bureaucrats. To triangulate the interview data, I look at education policies, especially the National Education Policy, 2020 and do a discourse analysis.

Analysis

The paper is under the umbrella of neoliberal market framework, which foregrounds capabilities in an economically effective and efficient manner, meaning that as long as philanthropic involvement results in raising the economic status of individuals, such involvement is welcome. My assertion in this developing work is that although Sen’s belief in the market mechanisms, philanthropies working with market viewpoint would lead to loss of well-being for the most vulnerable sections of the society. Furthermore, unless the workings of foundations are not studied, mainstream discourse on desirability of foundations will continue to dominate without critical reflections, and burying the questions of accountability and transparency.

Conclusion

In this developing work, I am trying to look at the involvement of philanthropic foundations in policymaking arena, their influence on policymaking, and the resultant implications of it on vulnerable sections. Normatively, I argue for more accountability and transparency of the workings of foundations, especially pertaining to their policy advocacy in education. For two research questions, on the day-to-day mechanisms of foundations and what do these mechanisms result in in terms of capability enhancement of vulnerable sections through education. I intend to use semi-structured interviews and discourse analysis of education policy documents to support or disprove my hypothesis.

Notes:

1) See https://azimpremjifoundation.org/about/who-we-are