Research
The Humanitarian & Development
NGOs domain of practice produces research and analysis on a
variety of topics related to the management, governance,
effectiveness and programmatic approaches of international
NGOs, as well as trends that will influence the context in
which international NGOs work.
Diversifying Membership and Building Inclusion in Governance: Lessons from Plan International’s Experience (.pdf, 895kB)
July 2012
For INGOs whose business models, organizational structures and governance systems originate from an earlier era, significant changes in the aid landscape demand a fundamental rethinking of identities, roles and relevance. This paper examines Plan International’s experience with respect to transitioning country offices into members of Plan International in their own right. It draws out the major lessons to be learned from Plan International’s experience with organizational evolution in Thailand, India, Colombia and Brazil, and proposes a framework for an organizational evolution agenda going forward.
Oxfam International: Moving Toward "One Oxfam" (.pdf, 890kB)
April 2012
Oxfam International is moving from a system in which multiple, autonomous Oxfam affiliates could work in any given country to a single management structure (SMS) in each country, but with a continuing commitment to preserving a diverse confederation. This has been a complex process that aims to deliver greater impact, efficiency and recognition. This paper examines the major features of change and explores the key lessons learned in the process.
Save the Children International: Advancing New Structures, Systems and Governance to Deliver Impact at Scale (.pdf, 746kB)
April 2012
Save the Children International is undergoing a dramatic transformation from a loose confederation of autonomous members to a federation with central authority to manage development programs, coordinate humanitarian response, and lead global campaigning efforts. This has required changes from the highest levels of international governance to country-level program delivery – and a redefinition of roles and relationships at almost every level. This paper examines the major features of change and explores the key lessons learned in the process.
Developing Managers and Leaders: Experiences and Lessons from International NGOs (.pdf, 420kB)
October 2011
This paper is an exploration of how international NGOs (INGOs) approach the development of managers and leaders. It discusses the context, practice and lessons related to management and leadership development in a handful of large INGOs, including ActionAid International, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps and Save the Children.
Working Through Ambiguity: International NGOs in Myanmar (.pdf, 1.7MB)
September 2011
Based largely on interviews with personnel from INGOs and donors present in Myanmar, this paper explores the operational modalities of INGOs, and examines how INGOs consider the impact, ethics, effectiveness, and accountability of their programs in Myanmar.
Approaches to Development and Humanitarian Action: NGO Profiles and Synthesis (.pdf, 1.1MB)
November 2010
This is a set of nine profiles – of the programmatic approaches or theories of change of CARE USA, Catholic Relief Services, Habitat for Humanity International, International Rescue Committee, Médicins Sans Frontières, Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, Save the Children and World Vision – pulled together by a synthesis of common threads, distinctive features, and major implications.
The World Ahead: Implications for US INGOS (.pdf, 534kB)
November 2010
This paper considers how the landscape of development and humanitarian action is likely to change over the next ten years, what that will mean for development and emergency-related needs, and what the implications are for the relevance of U.S.-based INGOs. It examines the challenges INGOs will face, explores the potential for new opportunities, and poses questions about the future of INGOs.
Adaption and Change in Six Globalizing NGOs: Drivers, Tensions and Lessons (.pdf, 266kB)
March 2010
This is a set of case studies and snapshots that explore the global structures and governance systems of six INGOs – Save the Children, Oxfam, Médicins Sans Frontières, World Vision, CARE and Mercy Corps – undergoing various degrees of reform and change. The synthesis paper highlights major drivers, tensions, and lessons that emerge in the six cases.
What Makes International NGOs Distinctive? Contributions, Characteristics and Challenges (.pdf, 146kB)
December 2009
This paper explores the distinctive contributions that INGOs have made in development and humanitarian crises, the characteristics that enable them to make these contributions, and the limitations to their effectiveness. Twenty-six interviews—with leaders of INGOs, scholars of civil society, and a few southern NGO leaders and senior foundation staff—provided the fodder for this paper.
