1. Introduction: the Difficult Question -- 2. Social Transformation, NGOs and Development -- 3. NGO Interventions and Social Transformation -- 4. Research Design -- 5. Constructing Livelihoods -- 6. Conflicting Images on the Role of NGO Assistance -- 7. Conflicting Images on Change Resulting from NGO Assistance -- 8. Negotiation: the Politics of Managing Image-conflicts -- 9. Towards an Image-sensitive Approach -- 10. Conclusion