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Up and Down, and Inside Out: Where do We Stand on NGO Accountability?

Author

Listed:
  • Hyman van Zyl
  • Frederik Claeye

    (LEM - Lille économie management - UMR 9221 - UA - Université d'Artois - UCL - Université catholique de Lille - Université de Lille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

This paper brings a review of the literature on accountability in development NGOs with a view to highlighting where we stand. There has been a shift from top-down approaches focussing on upward accountability mechanisms towards a growing literature that theorises and empirically investigates downward accountability mechanisms. This literature theorises a link between ownership of the development process and aid effectiveness. However, little attention has been paid to potential differences in the accountability mechanisms used in locally- and non-locally-owned NGOs. Considering that the members of locally-owned NGOs come from the same culture as the beneficiaries they serve, understanding how local NGOs' implementation of accountability differs from other organisations would shed light on how to secure the trust of the beneficiaries. Such knowledge would assist NGOs globally to overcome the challenges of downward accountability and to enhance aid delivery.

Suggested Citation

  • Hyman van Zyl & Frederik Claeye, 2018. "Up and Down, and Inside Out: Where do We Stand on NGO Accountability?," Post-Print hal-02108248, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-02108248
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-018-0170-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. O'Dwyer, Brendan & Unerman, Jeffrey, 2008. "The paradox of greater NGO accountability: A case study of Amnesty Ireland," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 33(7-8), pages 801-824.
    2. E. A. Brett, 2003. "Participation and accountability in development management," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 1-29.
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    5. Burger, Ronelle & Owens, Trudy, 2010. "Promoting Transparency in the NGO Sector: Examining the Availability and Reliability of Self-Reported Data," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 1263-1277, September.
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    8. Ebrahim, Alnoor, 2003. "Accountability In Practice: Mechanisms for NGOs," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 813-829, May.
    9. Jeffrey Unerman & Brendan O'Dwyer, 2006. "Theorising accountability for NGO advocacy," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 19(3), pages 349-376, April.
    10. Edwards, Michael & Hulme, David, 1996. "Too close for comfort? the impact of official aid on nongovernmental organizations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 961-973, June.
    11. Brendan O'Dwyer & Jeffrey Unerman, 2007. "From functional to social accountability," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 20(3), pages 446-471, June.
    12. Adil Najam, 1996. "NGO Accountability: A Conceptual Framework," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 14(4), pages 339-354, December.
    13. Fleur Mercelis & Lore Wellens & Marc Jegers, 2016. "Beneficiary Participation in Non-Governmental Development Organisations: A Case Study in Vietnam," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(10), pages 1446-1462, October.
    14. Kilby, Patrick, 2006. "Accountability for Empowerment: Dilemmas Facing Non-Governmental Organizations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 951-963, June.
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    3. Sampson Addo Yeboah, 2022. "Solving Local Problems or Looking Good: An Ethnography of the Field Practices of Foreign Sponsored NGOs in Rural African Communities," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(3), pages 1645-1661, June.
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