Predictors of Capacity-Building Needs Among Nongovernmental Organizations in Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) play important roles in social development in the Global South. However, little evidence exists concerning NGOs’ capacity-building needs. We sought to understand organizational and network factors that explain capacity-building needs. Using an online survey of 282 NGOs in Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria, we found high levels of capacity-building need, particularly concerning resource development. Using multivariate analyses, we found greater staff size predicted less overall capacity-building need based on a 15-item index (α = .88). Examining individual capacities, receiving at least half of funding from international sources and prior capacity-building assistance were consistent predictors of lower odds of capacity-building need.

KEYWORDS:

• Nongovernmental organizations
• organizational development
• capacity-building
• resource development
• funding

Acknowledgments

We thank all of the NGO leaders who took the time out of their busy days and away from helping their communities to complete the survey, data from which is used in this study.

Notes

¹ See www.wango.org/ngodirectory.

² This included responses of “national NGO”, “community-based organization”, or “faith-based organization”.