How to recognise an effective NGO
11/09/2012 at 3:01 pm 5 comments
For many years now, we in Dóchas have been thinking about how to improve the impact of development cooperation, and how we can support our members in becoming better at what they do.
We have written blog posts, developed codes of conduct, and established principles for Effective Development work.
And now, we have written a 2-page briefing sheet which addresses one of the most frequently heard pieces of criticism of NGOs – “Why are there so many NGOs?”
The info sheet tries to set out in clear and concise terms that there are many different roles that NGOs can play, and that the members of Dóchas have voluntarily agreed to a set of minimum standards. It suggest six questions to help you identify what is a good NGO.
To read the fact-sheet please click here.
—
Further reading:
- Istanbul Principles for CSO Development Effectiveness (and our suggestions for their implementation)
- NGO mergers make sense, don’t they?
- Making Aid more effective: base it on People Power!
- Irish NGOs and Development Effectiveness
- Development NGOs: working together in diversity
- Dóchas’ Theory Of Change: How we work to improve development aid
- Why NOT to use overheads as a way to compare NGOs.
Share this:
Entry filed under: NGOs. Tags: Administration, Aid, Aid Works, best charity, CBOs, Charities, Charity, Civil Society Organisations, Codes of Conduct, CSO Effectiveness, CSOs, Development Effectiveness, Effective NGOs, Effectiveness, global poverty, good NGOs, Istabul Principles, NGO admin costs, NGO administration, NGO competition, NGO mergers, NGO overheads, NGO standards, NGOs, Overheads, Overseas aid, Paris Declaration, PVO, PVO standards, PVOs, Questions to ask charities, Questions to ask NGOs, Results, Results Based Management, Smart Aid, successful NGO, voluntary organisations, Why so many NGOs.
5 Comments Add your own
Leave a comment
Trackback this post | Subscribe to the comments via RSS Feed
Dochasnetwork's Blog 
1.
R Storey | 11/09/2012 at 7:32 pm
Consistent with the 6 suggested questions, I communicated with NGOs the following questions;
As a potential donor, I am interested in your organisations work in Uganda. Please can you explain what you see as your mission in Uganda and how your programmes fit in to the goals you set?
Briefly describe the main programme with its strategies and activities.
Can you tell me how the problems to be tackled were decided and and any successes achieved so far.
How will the progamme help in the short and longer term?
What professional standards are applied in implementing the programme?
What is the budget for the programme and can you give me some financial reporting on spending so far?
What was the input of the beneficiaries or others to the programme and what feedback have you got from them so far?
What is the key appeal message for funding this programme?
How can I find out more about the programme as it progresses?
Sent to
Oxfam, Trocaire, Action Aid, Goal, Concern, Christian Aid
None of the NGOs give satisfactory answers to all the questions and certainly inadequate to determine credibility.
2. 6 better questions to ask an NPO than “what’s your overhead?” « Nonprofit update | 09/10/2012 at 4:45 pm
[…] Network offers six great questions to ask instead of looking at overhead. In their post, How to recognize an effective NGO, they introduce a two-page fact sheet, which you can find […]
3.
PACS | 05/11/2012 at 1:47 pm
These six questions and two page fact sheet helps everyone to recognize an effective NGO….
4.
Regulating Charities | Dochasnetwork's Blog | 21/07/2013 at 9:16 pm
[…] Dochasnetwork’s Blog How to recognise an effective NGO For many years now, we in Dóchas have been thinking about how to improve the impact of development cooperation, and how we can support our members in becoming better at what they do. We have written blog posts , developed codes of conduct , and established principles for Effective Development work. Dóchas […]
5. Charity Salaries | Pearltrees | 07/08/2013 at 1:56 pm
[…] How to recognise an effective NGO […]