International Perspectives on Voluntary Actionpresents a new perspective on the third sector. Rather than considering non-governmental organizations separately from voluntary agencies, it explores the similarities, differences and growing connections between them in both Northern and Southern contexts. Contributions by eminent authors in the field consider the differences in scale and priority that exist between the different types of third sector organizations in different settings, as well as the common challenges of accountability, legitimacy, effectiveness and governance. New models of learning and communication, including Southern ideas such as micro credit provision, are also examined; as are continuing barriers. Articulate and up-to-date, International Perspectives on Voluntary Actionincludes contributions on: Building NGO Legitimacy, Citizen Organizations as Policy Entrepreneurs; Voluntary Sector Governance in Britain and North America; Evaluating NGO Development Interventions; and Social Learning in North-South Coalitions.