Ongoing internal crises pose a threat to INGOs, study says
A new study explores the root causes of INGOs’ institutional dilemmas, the U.S. investigates a sugar exporter for potential criminal liability related to forced labour, and a report finds trafficking risks across sexual services websites in OSCE states.
International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) are in constant crisis mode and must rethink the way in which they function on a systemic level to ensure their future relevance, according to a recently published study. Interviews with CEOs, senior leaders and board members from large INGOs, as well as funders, suggest that the sector is under threat from a series of ongoing internal institutional problems, including a high turnover of CEOs, board-CEO conflicts, constant restructuring, low morale among employees, and “toxic culture”.
Understanding The Pathology of Large INGOs explores the root causes of these dilemmas and identifies six key factors that contribute to this challenging internal environment: structural racism and neo-colonialism, funding models, the under- or over-involvement of boards, inexperienced leadership, overly complicated organizational structures, and tension with employee activists.
Neo-colonial power dynamics are still commonplace within the sector, the report says, and the question of structural racism is central to many of the challenges and crises that are playing out across various INGOs. It was noted that many INGO leaders feel (or are) ill-equipped to deal with the issue – sometimes owing to the fact they are white and consequently mishandle the situation, according to the study. Meanwhile numerous participants argued that some employees see their outlook as “pure” and are often unwilling to enter into dialogue with those who have a different view, making it impossible for leaders to introduce any form of transformational change process. However, some leaders suggested this was not something to be threatened by but rather learn from.
Furthermore, participants were clear that there is a funding crisis within the sector. Some pointed towards the reduction in foreign aid, while others saw the rise of direct giving as a reason to be concerned – although there is insufficient data on this to understand whether this is truly a reason for unease, according to the report. Meanwhile, some participants suggested that funders are partly responsible for some of the crises INGOs are facing internally, for example by placing a considerable amount of pressure on grantees to imitate their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) approaches when this is not always realistic or possible. And when crises do occur, it was suggested that funders could be more supportive to their grantees and help them resolve issues, rather than thinking about their own reputations.
While some leaders recognized that their boards have been a support in moments of crisis, the majority explained to the researchers that they are at best ill-equipped to help resolve challenges and at worst exacerbate crises and can even be the source of them. Ensuring a plurality of voices, in terms of varied political opinions, a mix of private, public and non-profit experience, and the inclusion of representatives from impacted communities, was vital, they said.
Participants also identified two areas in which leaders themselves are often lacking. First, a lack of effective decision-making can cause considerable friction within an organization – particularly around sensitive areas pertaining to race and gender, which are increasingly polemic issues in the Global North. And second, several participants noted that a leader’s understanding of organizational culture is key – failure to pay sufficient attention to this can result in serious crises. Moreover, it was widely felt that the complicated organizational structures of INGOs only serve to further exacerbate challenges and crises when they arise. Decision-making can be painfully slow and complex, and often no one fully takes responsibility for a specific challenge or crisis, the authors report.
The authors hope the study will be a call to action for leaders, boards, academics and funders to come together collectively to explore the issues raised and how they might be resolved. They suggest that CEOs ensure sufficient fluency on race, gender and other DEI issues, and participate in cross-sector decolonization efforts. Those in academia are encouraged to undertake research to develop alternative governance models and explore which large INGOs have structures that function well. And funders could offer grants for cross-sector career development programs to train the next generation of INGO leaders, fund mentorship and development programs for Global South and black leaders, and design more calls for proposals which require true collaboration between INGOs, the authors suggest.
Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy news and initiatives:
Last week, the Internal Market and International Trade Committees of the European Parliament approved and amended draft regulation against forced labour prepared by the European Commission. The proposal covers all products and does not target specific companies or industries. And, last month, South Korean lawmakers proposed an Asia-first Bill on Mandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence in global supply chains.
This article confirms that U.S. Homeland Security Investigations has opened an investigation into Central Romana Corporation for potential criminal liability involving forced labour on its sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic. This is the second confirmed inquiry by a U.S. Federal criminal investigations agency into the use of forced labour by a multinational corporation following the successful settlement of the first case against Goodyear Tire and Rubber last year.
And the same article confirms that former anti-trafficking organization Liberty Shared petitioned U.S. Customs and Border Protection to investigate Firestone Tire and Rubber Company’s Liberian rubber plantation for use of forced labour. The petition was submitted in spring this year and it is understood an investigation has since been opened.
A new report mapping the online landscape of trafficking risks across sexual services websites in OSCE states was launched by the OSCE Office of the Special Representative and Co-Ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings to mark EU Anti-Trafficking Day last week. The report maps almost 2,900 sex services websites containing more than 3 million ads, marking the most extensive research ever done on this subject. It found that platforms facilitating possible exploitative sexual activity were common in the vast majority of the 40 states analyzed. It also identified some of the key indicators, or red flags, that can be used to detect whether advertisements for sexual services could feature an exploited person.
This article discusses how scores of young Nepali men who cannot find work in their home country have gone to fight in Ukraine – some lured by Russia’s promise of work, others to fight for Ukraine, raising the prospect of Nepalis fighting one another in a distant war.
And this news story reports on migrant workers in Israel who say they are unable to return home to their families after the 7 October attacks, as they are trapped in debt from the high recruitment fees they had to pay in order to secure their jobs.
This year’s Tech Against Trafficking Summit will take place on 15-16 November at Meta’s New York office. Please reach out to the team if you are interested in attending!
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