Willem Elbers (1977) studied Development Studies at the Radboud University Nijmegen with a specialisation in international development cooperation. Since his graduation in 2002, he has worked a lecturer and researcher at the department of Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies (CAOS) at the Radboud University. He recently completed his PhD-dissertation entitled ‘The Partnership Paradox: Principles and Practices in North-South NGO Relations’. Based on fieldwork involving Action Aid, Christian Aid and ICCO and their local partners in India, Ghana and Nicaragua, Willem examined the contradiction between the ideal and practice of partnerships.