In Dhaka, three urban poor networks play a central role in advocating for the rights and entitlements of low-income settlement residents. Despite their numerous achievements, this article outlines how attempts to scale participation via these networks are limited by three overlapping state–civil society processes: (1) the politicization and increased monitoring of non-governmental organizations (NGOs); (2) shifting donor preferences towards service delivery and the creation of new community-based organizations (CBOs); and (3) the ongoing dominance and paternalism of NGOs towards low-income settlement residents. By situating these findings within existing understandings of in/formal governance and political participation, it can be argued that attempts to scale may struggle to evade or transform deep structures of dependency, patronage and intermediation. Recognizing that scaling can and does occur under these conditions, the article outlines opportunities to support the city-wide networks and alternative forms of organizing, to address pressing needs and priorities.

在达卡，三个城市贫民网络在倡导低收入定居点居民的权利和权益方面发挥着核心作用。尽管取得了许多成就，但本文概述了通过这些网络扩大参与的尝试如何受到三个重叠的国家-公民社会进程的限制：(1) 非政府组织 (NGO) 的政治化和加强监督；(2) 将捐助者的偏好转向服务提供和创建新的社区组织 (CBO)；(3) 非政府组织对低收入定居点居民的持续支配地位和家长式作风。通过将这些发现置于对内部/正式治理和政治参与的现有理解中，可以说，尝试扩大规模可能难以逃避或转变深层依赖结构，赞助和中介。认识到在这些条件下可以而且确实会发生扩展，本文概述了支持全市网络和其他组织形式的机会，以解决紧迫的需求和优先事项。