External and Internal NGO Accountability in Asymmetrical Power Relations
(2019) STVK12 20191Department of Political Science
- Abstract
- NGOs face several accountability claims to multiple actors, which have generated academic, as well as political debates. Yet, previous research has produced ambiguity within the area. The aim of this comparative case study is to investigate how accountability towards donors’ impact internal accountability towards the NGOs themselves. The units of analysis are two organisations operating in India, namely the Swedish NGO Hand in Hand Sweden, and the Indian NGO Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group. The study applies a sceptical approach and uses a postmodern theoretical perspective, with emphasis on power relations and accountability as a social phenomenon. To analyse which actors’ interests are being prioritised by current... (More)
- NGOs face several accountability claims to multiple actors, which have generated academic, as well as political debates. Yet, previous research has produced ambiguity within the area. The aim of this comparative case study is to investigate how accountability towards donors’ impact internal accountability towards the NGOs themselves. The units of analysis are two organisations operating in India, namely the Swedish NGO Hand in Hand Sweden, and the Indian NGO Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group. The study applies a sceptical approach and uses a postmodern theoretical perspective, with emphasis on power relations and accountability as a social phenomenon. To analyse which actors’ interests are being prioritised by current accountability practices, two main accountability concerns have been identified: externally benchmarked standards and internal learning and knowledge. Reports, as an external benchmarked standard, and observations of the two NGOs work as the empirical material. A thematic analysis is applied to compare what differences and similarities there are concerning internal accountability in two organisations based in different geographical settings. Findings suggest that donor demands are largely prioritised, often at the expense of NGOs organisational development. Current practices of upward accountability essentially influence NGOs to neglect internal accountability towards themselves. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8978188
- author
- Mehrotra, Lovisa LU
- supervisor
-
- Anders Uhlin LU
- organization
- course
- STVK12 20191
- year
- 2019
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- India, Power Relations, NGO Accountability, Upward Accountability, Internal Accountability
- language
- English
- id
- 8978188
- date added to LUP
- 2019-09-06 09:10:48
- date last changed
- 2019-09-06 09:10:48
@misc{8978188,
abstract = {{NGOs face several accountability claims to multiple actors, which have generated academic, as well as political debates. Yet, previous research has produced ambiguity within the area. The aim of this comparative case study is to investigate how accountability towards donors’ impact internal accountability towards the NGOs themselves. The units of analysis are two organisations operating in India, namely the Swedish NGO Hand in Hand Sweden, and the Indian NGO Chintan Environmental Research and Action Group. The study applies a sceptical approach and uses a postmodern theoretical perspective, with emphasis on power relations and accountability as a social phenomenon. To analyse which actors’ interests are being prioritised by current accountability practices, two main accountability concerns have been identified: externally benchmarked standards and internal learning and knowledge. Reports, as an external benchmarked standard, and observations of the two NGOs work as the empirical material. A thematic analysis is applied to compare what differences and similarities there are concerning internal accountability in two organisations based in different geographical settings. Findings suggest that donor demands are largely prioritised, often at the expense of NGOs organisational development. Current practices of upward accountability essentially influence NGOs to neglect internal accountability towards themselves.}},
author = {{Mehrotra, Lovisa}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{External and Internal NGO Accountability in Asymmetrical Power Relations}},
year = {{2019}},
}