Key factors influencing the sustainability of local NGOs in the Wassa districts of the Western region of Ghana

Abstract

Despite the role of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) as actors in development, the question of NGOs’ sustainability has been a major issue of concern. This study sought to determine key factors that local NGOs in the Mpohor Wassa East and Wassa West Districts see as critical to their sustainability and the measures they are employing to achieve organizational sustainability. The research was a case study research which collected both qualitative and quantitative data on the phenomenon. The results show that local NGOs’ organizational sustainability can be viewed from several areas of organisation’s needs availability of funds, quality material resources, supportive leadership, development of need-based and demand-driven programmes and effective management. Significantly, leadership emerged as the most important factor critical to organizational sustainability of local NGOs in the study areas. The study suggests that local NGOs can adopt several measures to ensure their sustainability in terms of funding, resources, leadership, programme development and general management. These include the writing of good demand-driven project proposals, transparency, accountability, training and mobilisation of local resources including funds. To strengthen local NGOs sustainability, it is recommended that leadership training for local NGOs is necessary. Training institutions including University of Cape Coast, University of Development Studies and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration with programmes in NGOs Studies and Management can play an important role in this direction