Developing a conceptual framework for accountability in Namibian NGOs

Abstract

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play an important and growing role within the global economy and towards public good. Given the escalating economic and social significance of NGOs, the practical importance of being able to demonstrate their accountability in a robust and comprehensive manner is increasingly being recognised. Perhaps surprisingly, the ability to demonstrate their non-financial accountability is also becoming increasingly important. However, various institutional logics have shaped the face of NGOs’ work, as well as their reporting and their accountability mechanisms. This study therefore examined annual reports of sampled NGOs within Namibia and analysed various institutional accountability logics that shape accountability and reporting in the sector. Extending the literature on accountability logics of NGOs to include local regulations logics, financial and non-financial logic and integrated reporting logic, the study adopted a qualitative illustrative case study of the HIV and AIDS sector in Namibia. To this end, it used 13 purposively selected NGOs, subjecting their documents to analysis and through the conducting of interviews to build both theory and practice. The data were then analysed using content analysis to theme the findings towards the novel contribution it was intended to make. The findings of the study are analysed and interpreted through the lens of the institutional logics theory. The findings indicated that, currently, NGOs do not disclose decision-useful information suitable for all major groups of stakeholders. It is clear from the study that funder and local context regulation logics are the dominant logics in shaping the accountability mechanisms of NGOs in Namibia. The results have an implication for understanding the reporting systems of NGOs, particularly in developing countries such as Namibia. It is argued that extended accountability logics, such as local accountability, financial and non-financial and integrated reporting, are emerging in the NGO sector.

Nie-regeringsorganisasies (NROs) speel 'n belangrike en groeiende rol in die globale ekonomie en in openbare belang. Gegewe die toenemende ekonomiese en sosiale rol van NROs, word hul praktiese belang en aanspreeklikheid meer prominent. Hul vermoë om nie-finansiële aanspreeklikheid te demonstreer, word ook toenemend belangrik. Institusionele logika het die werking, verslagdoening en aanspreeklikheidsmeganismes van NROs gevorm. Hierdie studie het die jaarverslae van NRO's in Namibië ondersoek en die institusionele logika wat aanspreeklikheid en verslagdoening in die sektor vorm, ontleed. 'n Kwalitatiewe illustrerende gevallestudie van die HIV en Vigs-sektor in Namibië bestaande uit 13 geselekteerde NROs is ingesluit om plaaslike regulasie-, finansiële- en nie-finansiële logika met verslagdoeningslogika in NROs te integreer. ‘n Ontleding en interpretasie, deur gebruikmaking van institusionele logika-teorie, het bevind dat NROs tans nie beslissingsinligting bekendmaak wat vir alle hoofgroep belanghebbers geskik is nie. Dit is duidelik uit die studie dat befondsings- en plaaslike konteksregulasie-logika die dominante invloede is wat die aanspreeklikheidsmeganismes van NROs in Namibië gevorm het. Die resultate het 'n invloed op die verstaan van verslagdoeningstelsels van NROs, veral in ontwikkelende lande soos Namibië. Die studie bevind dat uitgebreide aanspreekliksheidslogika, wat plaaslike aanspreeklikheid, finansiële en nie-finansiële asook geïntegreerde verslagdoening insluit, in die NRO-sektor na vore kom.

Zwiimiswa zwine zwa sa vhe zwa muvhuso (dzi NGO) dzi shuma mushumo wa ndeme na wa nyaluwo kha ikonomi ya ḽifhasi kha vhuḓi ha tshitshavha. Ho ṋetshedzwa u gonya ha ikonomi na ndeme ya matshilisano ya dzi NGO, ndeme ya nyito ya u kona u sumbedza vhuḓifhinduleli hadzo nga nḓila yo khwaṱhaho yo fhelelaho i khou engedzea na u dzhielwa nṱha. Ṱhaṅwe tshine tsha mangadza, vhukoni ha u sumbedza vhuḓifhinduleli hadzo hu si ha masheleni na hone ho engedza ndeme. Naho zwo ralo, zwiitisi zwo fhambanaho zwa zwiimiswa zwo fhaṱa mbonalo ya mushumo wa dzi NGO, na nḓila dzadzo dzou vhiga na vhuḓifhinduleli hadzo. Ṱhoḓisiso heyi nga zwenezwo yo ṱola mivhigo ya ṅwaha nga ṅwaha ya tsumbo dza dzi NGO kha ḽa Namibia na u saukanya zwiitisi zwo fhambanaho zwa vhuḓifhinduleli ha zwiimiswa zwine zwa fhaṱa vhuḓifhinduleli na kuvhigele kha sekithara. U engedza maṅwalwa nga ha zwiitisi zwa vhuḓifhinduleli ha dzi NGO u katela zwiitisi zwa ndaulo dzapo, zwiitisi zwa masheleni na zwi si zwa masheleni na tshiitisi tsha u vhiga ho ṱanganelaho, ṱhoḓisiso yo shumisa ngudo ya tsumbo ya khwaḽithethivi ya sekhithara ya HIV na AIDS kha ḽa Namibia. U swika zwino, yo shumisa dzi NGO dza 13 dzo nangwaho ho sedzwa vhukoni, u ṱana maṅwalo avho kha u saukanya na kha u ita inthaviwu u fhaṱa vhuvhili hazwo thyeori na nyito. Data yo ḓo saukanya nga murahu hu tshi khou shumiswa u saukanya zwi re ngomu kha u wana thero zwi tshi ḓa kha u bveledza phambano ine ya fanela u bveledzwa. Mawanwa a ngudo a saukanya na u ṱalutshedzwa nga kha kuvhonele kwa vhushaka ha tshiimiswa, maitele a matshilisano na zwine ha tendwa khazwo. Mawanwa o sumbedzisa zwauri, zwazwino, dzi NGO a dzi bviseli khagala mafhungo a tsheo a ndeme o teaho zwigwada zwoṱhe zwihulwane zwa vhadzhiamukovhe. Zwi tou vha khagala u bva kha ngudo uri vhalambedzi na zwiitisi zwa ndaulo ya nyimele yapo ndi zwiitisi zwihulwane kha u fhaṱa kuitele kwa vhuḓifhinduleli kha dzi NGO kha ḽa Namibia. Mvelelo dzo baḓekanywa na u pfesesa sisiṱeme dza kuvhigele kwa dzi NGO kha ḽa Namibia, nga maanḓa kha mashango ane a kha ḓi bvelela a nga ho sa Namibia. Ho rerwa nga ha u pfi zwiitisi nyengedzedzwa zwa vhuḓifhinduleli, zwi ngaho sa vhuḓifhinduleli hapo, u vhiga ho ṱanganelaho hu si ha masheleni na ha masheleni, hu bveledzwa kha sekhithara ya NGO.