A survey of capacity building practices among evelopment non governmental organizations in Nairobi

Abstract

Kenya, a country that is largely reliant on agriculture for economic growth has st rong linkages between agriculture and industrial growth. However, the country has sullcrcd poor development arising from experiments, lacking appropriate capacity and competence. The government began a search for viable strategies to sustain development and eliminate poverty, key of which are good governance and active participation of the population, On the competitive front, there has been intense competition since the liberalization of the market in the early I 990s. As a result many Kenyan firms have recognized the need to monitor environmental changes as a means of gaining competitive advantage. In the country, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been key partners to governmental initiatives in economic development. In the I 990s, NGOs were the preferred including channel (or donors supporting civic development projects. However, changes in the environment have seen Donor demands shifting from elemental transparency and the liability 10 account for funds, to justification on organizational essence, reach, impact and sustainability of operations. Finding themselves in an environment of rising cost o( operations and new competition from the private sector, NGOs have been pushed to examine new ways of survival and decreasing their dependence on donor funds. This study investigates capacity building practices among development NGOs, with ~pecific aim of understanding the importance of governance, management of human resources, development of knowledge and systems and the extent of capacity building to the communities in which these NGOs operate. The study, conducted among development NGOs in Nairobi was conducted through personal interviews, with the guidance of a questionnaire. It was found that Governance, Human Resource and external relationship practices were of priority to development NGOs. Key recommendations from this study include increased accountability and diversity of NGO boards and a critical analysis of an NGO's internal environment as a means of sustaining competitive advantage.Kenya, a country that is largely reliant on agriculture for economic growth has strong linkages between agriculture and industrial growth. However, the country has sullcrcd poor development arising from experiments, lacking appropriate capacity and competence. The government began a search for viable strategies to sustain development and eliminate poverty, key of which are good governance and active participation of the population, On the competitive front, there has been intense competition since the liberalization of the market in the early I 990s. As a result many Kenyan firms have recognized the need to monitor environmental changes as a means of gaining competitive advantage. In the country, Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have been key partners to governmental initiatives in economic development. In the I 990s, NGOs were the preferred (undoing channel (or donors supporting civic development projects. However, changes in the environment have seen Donor demands shifting from elemental transparency and the liability 10 account for funds, to justification on organizational essence, reach, impact and sustainability of operations. Finding themselves in an environment of rising cost o( operations and new competition from the private sector, NGOs have been pushed to examine new ways of survival and decreasing their dependence on donor funds. This study investigates capacity building practices among development NGOs, with ~specific aim of understanding the importance of governance, management of human resources, development of knowledge and systems and the extent of capacity building to the communities in which these NGOs operate. The study, conducted among development NGOs in Nairobi was conducted through personal interviews, with the guidance of a questionnaire. It was found that Governance, Human Resource and external relationship practices were of priority to development NGOs. Key recommendations from this study include increased accountability and diversity of NGO boards and a critical analysis of an NGO's internal environment as a means of sustaining competitive advantage.