NGO Accountability

This page has been established to provide interested parties with direction to further resources on the topic of NGO Accountability.

Concerns about the role and accountability of NGOs have been voiced from different quarters in recent years. Some donors, governments, corporations, and international agencies raise important questions about the effectiveness of NGO work and the legitimacy of their advocacy. Some NGOs have also recognized the need to ensure good practice in the wider voluntary sector. For this emerging agenda to lead to positive development outcomes, we need to ask what initiatives will improve the accountability of all institutions to the people whose lives they shape, and what initiatives could serve merely to undermine NGOs’ useful and largely accepted role in holding business and government accountable for their actions.

With this in mind, the Development Dossier from NGLS, “Debating NGO Accountability” by Dr. Jem Bendell, puts democracy and human rights firmly at the centre of the debate about NGO accountability. It is our hope that this publication adds value to the important discussion of NGO accountability and helps us move towards constructive outcomes.

This publication is available for free download by clicking here

Panel Discussion: ‘Debating NGO Accountability’
In conjunction with the release of Debating NGO Accountability, NGLS hosted a panel discussion at UN Headquarters in New York on 19 January, 2007 on the topic ‘The NGO Accountability Debate’.
 To read the press release for the event, click here
 To read the official summary of the event, click here
 To watch the webcast of the event, click here
 To read the statement delivered by Ms. Elisa Peter, Deputy Coordinator of NGLS, to the ECOSOC Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations, click here

NGLS at the 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly

NGLS presented a paper and conducted a workshop on UN Accountability at the 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly. The overall theme for the 2007 World Assembly was “Acting Together for a Just World” with a sub-theme of ’Accountability’.

UN Accountability Issues and the Role of NGOs and Global Civil Society: A quick sketch
Tony Hill with Elisa Peter, April 2007

The role NGOs play in making the United Nations accountable
Report of the NGLS Workshop at the 2007 CIVICUS World Assembly, Glasgow, 2007

The purpose of the workshop was to explore the relationship between the United Nations and NGOs and how that relationship can be important in promoting increased UN accountability and global participatory governance.

Other Resources

NGO Accountability: Politics, Principals and Innovations
Jordan, L. and Van Tujil, P. (2006) Earthscan

The contributors to this book discuss the role of NGOs within civil society and global governance today; addressing the complexities and risks in regulating NGOs; the representation debate or who do NGOs really represent; the role of NGOs in global governance; global environmental and public policy campaigns; and relations between the state and civil society.

INGO Accountability Charter
6 June 2006

Responding to criticism from governments and international institutions, ten leading international NGOs publicly endorsed the first global accountability charter for the non-profit sector. The Charter, launched in London on 6 June 2006, seeks to demonstrate that NGOs deeply value public trust, do not take it for granted and are committed to transparency. It is also a call for governments and the corporate sector to adopt similar guiding principles.

GDRC Special Feature: NGO Accountability
Global Development Research Center

Special website set up by the Global Development Research Center focusing on the “Legitimacy, dependability and transparency in the organizational and operational setup of NGOs.” Contains links to several useful documents on the topics as well as links to several relevant organizations, institutions and networks.

Credibility and Legitimacy of NGOs
Global Policy Forum

A similar archive to the one cited above established by the Global Policy Forum.

The Global Accountability Project
One World Trust

The Global Accountability Project (GAP) was developed in 2001 with the aim of enhancing the accountability of decision making processes of inter-governmental organisations (IGOs), transnational corporations (TNCs) and international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) to the individuals and communities they affect.

Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability
CIVICUS

The Legitimacy, Transparency and Accountability (LT&A) Programme is committed to the enhancement of legitimacy, transparency and accountability of civil society organisations (CSOs) - as well as the public trust in CSOs - by improving their individual and collective governance. It also builds on CIVICUS efforts to promote new, more participative and accountable models of governance and partnership. The LT&A Programme, is an initiative to promote ethical practice and agreed codes of conduct for civil society organisations (CSOs), as well as for funders, governments and business. This programme aims to build the capacity for CSOs to respond to challenges to their roots, authority, and right to speak on behalf of broader constituencies. Ultimately the programme is aimed at strengthening the influence and public standing of CSOs, and their ability to act effectively, with integrity and for the public good. It relates to CIVICUS vision of a society in which the roles of civil society in development and governance are recognised, respected and fulfilled.

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