Striking a Balance

At a time of rapid global change, non-governmental organizations involved in international development (NGDOs) are confronted with demands to simultaneously increase the scale of their impact, diversify their activities, respond to long-term humanitarian crises and improve their performance. Striking a Balance provides a practical guide to how NGDOs can better respond to these expectations. Written for NGDO leaders, managers, donors, and those with an academic interest, the book summarises the major tasks of sustainable people-centred development, describing five factors which influence effectiveness. These are: suitable organisational design; competent leadership and human resources; appropriate external relationships; mobilisation of high quality finance; and the measurement of performance coupled to 'learning for leverage'. Details are given of the capacities needed in each area and how they can be assessed and improved. Effectiveness calls for NGDOs which retain their non-profit values, establish the right type of professionalism, manage dilemmas and make difficult choices which continually reflect the priorities, rights and needs of those who give them legitimacy: people who are poor and marginalised. This book provides a reference of current and future practices which will help NGDOs to do so.