Unit 2 Managing NGO Relations

Question 0

The 3 steps of a stakeholder analysis

Answer 0

Step 1. identifying the stakeholders + make interest/benefit matrix
Step 2. importance & influence analysis
Step 3. Stakeholder matrix (importance/influence matrix)

Question 1

Definitions:

• Stakeholder
• Key Stakeholder
• Primary Stakeholder
• Secondary Stakeholder

Answer 1

Stakeholder: persons, groups or institutions with interests in a project, programme or organisation

Key Stakeholders: those who can significantly influence or are important to the success of an activity

Primary Stakeholders: those who are ultimately affected by an activity (positive or negatively)

Secondary Stakeholders: all others with a stake, interest or role in the activity

Question 2

The Principle-Agent theory

Answer 2

Agent A is accountable to Principal B when A is morally and legally obliged to serve the purpose of B

Question 3

Why does the principle-agent theory not work with NGO’s?

Answer 3

1. NGO’s are not accountable to one stakeholder (principle) but to many.
2. the theory suggests that donors would be the principles HOWEVER NGO’s work for the interests of a target group/clients/beneficiaries and make promisses to staff, partners and others.

(Brown and Moore, 2001):
Should those with the gold make the rules? Or should those for whose benefit an organisation exists call the shots?

Question 4

4 accountabilities for NGOs

Answer 4

Upward - funders & legal obligations (also board etc)
Downward - clients & beneficiaries & partners (in case of Cap building)
Horizontal - consortium, alliance members, peers / fellow professionals
Inward - internal organisational missions and values

Question 5

reasons why the sector is vulnarable to external criticism and internal anxieties:

Answer 5

1. absence of a clear principal stakeholder to whome NGOs give account
2. difficulties in balancing the expectations of different stakeholders
3. lack of strong accountability mechanism for any stakeholder to assert control

Question 6

Accountability Gap

Answer 6

the absence of a mechanism by which the constituents of NGOs can enforce accountability.

Question 7

The key drivers for accountability for NGO’s:

Answer 7

(SustainAbility, 2003)

1. morality - accountability is right in principle
2. performance - accountability improves effectiveness
3. political space - accountability increases credibility and thus influence
4. wider democratisation - accountability of NGOs improves democracy in society

The key&raquo_space;> transparancy

Question 8

9x accountability mechanisms, tools and processes available to NGOs

Answer 8

1. Mission and vision statements
2. Board of trustees
3. Annual reports and disclosure statements
4. Elections
5. Internal self regulation mechanisms (40 internationally)
6. Performance assessment and evaluation processes
7. Standards and codes of conduct
8. Certification and accreditation schemes
9. Social audit and other methods of participation

Question 9

Concerns regarding the increased focus on accountability (Accra HLF, 2008)

Answer 9

1. focus on upwards accountability with little attention to downwards
2. focus on practical accountability forgetting strategical
3. costs are disproportionately high, rewards limited while with failure there is punishment.

Question 10

Development of an accountability strategy:

Answer 10

1. map and analyse the relationships with stakeholders
2. assess the S+W of the current accountability mechanism with each stakeholder
3. address the weaknesses with strengthening/new mechanisms relative to the importance of the relationships

Question 11

2 likely forms of government’s relationships with the NGO community:

Answer 11

1. Repression, rivalry and competition (challenging relationships)
2. Cooperation, complementarity and collaboration (partnership)

Question 12

Government strategies in response to adversarial relations with NGO’s

Answer 12

1. encourage dependency through funding, thereby reducing NGO autonomy and independence
2. develop cooptation through increased involvement in policy making committees and structures (gaining ideas and commitment from NGOs and neutralising critique)
3. introduce or strengthen regulation mechanisms, thereby reducing NGO energies and blurring their vision for actual work and contribution
4. Intimidation and harassment through the law and order apparatus of the State

Question 13

Definition Partnership

Answer 13

(Fowler, 2000)

Authentic partnership implies…join commitment to long-term interaction, shared responsibility for achievement, reciprocal obligation, equality, mutuality and balance of power.

Question 14

3 different forms of relations donor and other NGOs

Answer 14

• Partnerships
• Subsidiaries
• Networks and alliances

Question 15

5 forms of cooperation among NGO’s

Answer 15

(Fowler, 1997)

1. Networks
2. Alliances
3. Consortia
4. Coalitions
5. Coordinating bodies

Question 16

Partnerships between development NGOs in North & South can be advantageous because of 3 principle reasons:

Answer 16

1. build on the comparative advantage of both organisations due to their relative proximities to key constituencies and stakeholders
2. they suggest a relationship built on equality and mutual respect
3. They can outlast simple projects or programmes and therefore have the potential to promote organisational relationships and capacity building.

Question 17

the Mango Checklist

Answer 17

Management Accounting for NGOs - judge the strength of the organisations accountability to beneficiaries.

1. providing information
2. social structures
3. making decisions
4. complaints procedures
5. staff attitudes

Question 18

Building accountability systems according to Fowler, 2000 (book)

Answer 18

1. identifying and prioritizing organisational stakeholders
2. setting standards and performance measures
3. assessing and communicating performance results
4. creating performance consequences by which stakeholders can hold the CSo accountable

Question 19

The two risks of new roles NGO’s (last decade)

Answer 19

1. as service providers: supply-side extension of government

2. as facilitators and enablers of civic engagement: associated with opposition political groups

Question 20

Accra High Level Forum - International Aid Transparancy Intiative

Answer 20

• donors will publicly disclose development expenditures
• donors and development countries will make public conditions
• donors report on annual committments
• donor reports on 3-5 year forward expediture