Browsing by Author "Bisrat, Dereje"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Board Practices in Emerging Local NGOS of Ethiopia
    (A.A.U, 2007-07) Bisrat, Dereje; Venkatakrishnan, V (Dr.)
    NGO governance has recently gained significance in development literature as the sector drew more attention for its increased engagement in development interventions and service deliveries than ever before. This also draws many to learn about its mode of operation and governance. NGOs need to ensure governance practices that fa ci litate their legitimacy to act on the very causes of their establishment. Board members in this regard are at the center of representing their organizations and become the basis for legitimacy claims. Employing a survey method, the Board effectiveness, board composition, board members selection criteria, founders' syndrome and board accountability of selected local NGOs from five major cities (Addis Ababa , Dire Dawa, Adama, Bahir Dar and Awasa) were studied. Stratified sampling was used and 103 respondents covering 33 board members, 18 CEOs and 52 staff provided the information used in this study. These Board members, CEOs and staff of the selected local NGOs perceived weak governance effectiveness in their respective organizations. Board composition in terms of gender representation far exceedingly favored men. In terms education, boards were found to be dominated by members relatively with higher educational achievement. The inclination by local NGOs in Ethiopia is to neo-institutional prescriptions, at the expense of some other feasib le criteria such as gender balance and community worthiness. Accou ntability practices favored one of relational accountabilities wherein stakeholders (government and donors) with powers of determining the fate of NGOs. Practices rather failed to consider the other view of relational accountability where those stakeholders whose lives are either posi tively or negatively affected by NGOs. Identity accountability, abiding by principles, values and ethics, perceived to be neglected. Founders' syndrome was pervasive in the selected local NGOs. Therefore, their governance practices need to be strengthened and their boards should reinforce accountability to the communities they serve.