Accountability of non-governmental organisations in Malawi : the case of selected NGOs

Abstract

The key objective of this study was to explore the accountability of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) in Malawi. The qualitative study was carried out in Phalombe, Balaka, Salima and Kasungu districts using interviews with 34 key informants, and four focus group discussions. The study found that economic factors influence the accountability and performance of the studied NGOs; socio-cultural factors do not influence the accountability and performance of the NGOs under study; technological factors do not affect NGO performance but partly affect modes of accountability; donors, MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies), peers, beneficiaries, staff and board, and the public remain NGO stakeholder’s spectrum; donors and staff have high interests and high influence. MDAs have high powers but low influence. Beneficiaries have high interest with low influence. The public and NGO peers have low interest and low influence; donors consider NGOs to be accountable while beneficiaries do not consider NGOs to be accountable; NGOs themselves and donors are of the view that the former are performing well and are measuring that performance properly, while beneficiaries have a contrary perception. Standards and self-regulation, and PA-PM and E are the highly ranked NGO accountability mechanisms. NGO accountability target the known stakeholder spectrum with more focus on donors, government, staff and boards. The most prevalent and dominant accountability format remains upward accountability. The most commonly cited reasons for utilising the available accountability mechanisms were funding requirements, increased potential for funding, good management practice, improving public relations and improving programme effectiveness. NGOs mostly account for finances as opposed to performance and impact. The processes through which the accountability systems were developed were not thorough and robust. NGOs in Malawi are exposed to coercive, normative, and mimetic isomorphic pressures and all do acquiescence, manipulation and avoidance in response to the isomorphic pressures they are exposed to. The study contributes to the body of knowledge that the NIS (New Institutional Sociology) and stakeholder theories can be applied to NGO accountability. The study identifies a niche and proposes that further inquiry be undertaken to comprehend the accountability systems of NGOs using stakeholder theory and strategic reactions to institutional pressures as an expansion of the NIS framework.