The assessment of accountability frameworks in local NGOS of Pakistan

Abstract

With greater influence and greater finances being poured into the development world through NGOs, there is perpetuation and in fact acceleration in poverty and inequality in the world. With this revelation, the works of NGOs have come under greater scrutiny. The lack of accountability of NGOs is one issue that has been widely raised in academic literature against NGOs which is hindering their responsibility of delivering development benefits. If these trends of criticism continue then post-modern, post-development and anti-development theories would gain greater support and would demand to disengage us from practicing any development at all and such a move needs to be prevented. In such a scenario, organizational structure of NGOs has to be more effective to contribute to the greater good of the society. One aspect of increasing effectiveness is to inculcate a culture of thorough accountability among NGOs. There is a lack of an allencompassing accountability framework available in the development academia and practice which is acceptable to all the stakeholder of NGO operations. The purpose of this research is to explore the issue of accountability of NGOs in Pakistan with an underlying aim to enhance the effectiveness of development project by challenging the conventional methods which continue to perpetuate poverty and inequality and coming up with a comprehensive accountability framework to guide theory and the practice of development.