Thinking Through Accountability

Nilda Bullain

European Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ECNL)

Budapest

Why is this in the focus now?

The growth both in influence and in numbers of NGOs..

The need to generate indigenous resources..

Some publicized cases of financial mismanagement or even fraud..

The desire to take advantage of favorable tax regimes..

(Social Edge report)

Why should it be in the focus?

It is a principle issue: NGOs have to be accountable because They are formed to someone’s benefit

(members, beneficiaries, community, public)

They are supported by the public

(members, donors, users, taxpayers)

The Accountability Gap

There is usually a gap between those who support (fund) the NGO and those who receive its benefits.

Unlike in the case of the business or the government sector, there is not a direct & objective & measurable indicator of whether we are accountable.

So how to measure it?Approaches Idealistic / Holistic

Look at the whole system including organization and its environment

Focus on theory of change in a development paradigm Aim to measure impact building on good process

Pragmatic / Specialized Look primarily at the organization itself Focus on performance of areas of organizational life that

are key to accountability Aim to measure process leading to quality impact

How to measure?

Basic values and principles shared by all approaches.

All look at both effectiveness and efficiency.

All recognize that measuring accountability is an on-going learning process for the organization.

Key principles in measuring accountability

Transparency / Access to informationHonesty / Credibility / TrustParticipation / Outreach /Stakeholder involvementReflection / Learning / FeedbackDefining what result is being measuredDefining what process is being measured

(Some) Key dilemmas in measuring accountability

Regulatory, contractual or voluntary?

Standardized - to what extent? Are there non-negotiables?

How to match inherent diversity with standards?

What can we apply from the government and the business sector?

Element: ImpactWhat is our theory of change (presumptions)?What change do we want to achieve (aims)? How will it look like (impact)?How do we know we achieved it (indicators)?What steps lead to such change (based on our theory of change)?What are the principles in achieving those steps (that determine but not prescribe process)?

Strategic management, RBPM, Logframes, policy development

Element: Performance

What is important in the process for it to be accountable? (E.g. transparency, participation)How to adapt in the midst of constant change? (E.g. learning organization)How to invest the money where it will produce the best results? (E.g. SROI)How to balance stakeholder interests and ensure stakeholder satisfaction? (E.g. balanced scorecard)How to ensure quality in our work?(QA systems)

Element: Governance

Governance – a system of checks and balances to ensure accountability.

Ultimately responsible for impact and performance of the organization.

Good governance is therefore central to accountability of organizations (public or private, profit or non-profit).

Element: Stakeholders

Ultimate judges of the accountability of the organization.

One stakeholder group may be biased but the overall picture is likely objective.

Therefore, in being accountable it is key to have access to all stakeholders’ input and feedback on an ongoing basis.

Accountabilityprinciples

Governance Stakeholders

Impact

PerformanceRegulatoryenvironment

Self-regulation

Initial understanding of elements of an accountability framework

Contractualrelationships