Board Practices in Emerging Local NGOS of Ethiopia
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Date
2007-07
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A.A.U
Abstract
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.
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Keywords
Board Practices, Emerging Local Ngos