Factors Influencing Implementation of Humanitarian Accountability Partnership Standard in Non Governmental Organizations: a Case of the Norwegian Church Aid Programme in Somalia

Abstract

Concerns about accountability in NGOs have increased over the past two decades, due in part to a series of highly publicized scandals that have eroded public confidence in nonprofit organizations, coupled with a rapid growth in NGOs around the world. There was therefore the need to come up with a mechanism for enhancing accountability in the work NGOs are doing hence the genesis of Humanitarian Accountability Partnership standard. The purpose of this study was to establish the factors that affect implementation HAP of standard in Non- Governmental Organizations. The study was guided by the following objectives; to determine the influence of organization staff competency on implementation of HAP standard; to assess the influence of organization information sharing on implementation of HAP standard; to determine organization feedback and complaints mechanism influence implementation of HAP standard; to assess the influence of beneficiaries’ participation on implementation of HAP standard. The study employed a descriptive survey research design based on a cross sectional descriptive research and data was collected using questionnaires administered to 66 programme staff members from Nairobi, Gedo, Mogadishu and Garowe offices in the Norwegian Church Aid. The response rate after administering the instrument was 86.7%. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences tool. The findings of the study based on the factors that influence implementation of HAP standard that were under investigations revealed that a total of 40.4% of the respondents noted that Staff competency plays a big role in implementation of HAP standard. On the same, 86.4% of the total respondents confirmed that their knowledge on HAP makes it easier to implement HAP standard in the organization. On the other factor, a total of 45.6% of the respondents agreed that sharing of information organization influence implementation of HAP standard while 80.6% of the respondents stated that sharing of information influence implementation of HAP standard strongly. On the next factor, a total of 70.2% of the respondents agreed that complaints and feedback mechanism influence implementation of HAP. On the same also, a total of 42.5% of the respondents agreed that organization complaints and feedback mechanism influence implementation of HAP standard strongly. Finally a total of 75.4% of the respondents confirmed that beneficiaries’ participation contributes to the success of implementation of HAP standard while a total of 54.4% of the respondents stated that beneficiaries’ participation plays the biggest role in implementation of HAP standard. On dependent variable, 43.9% of the respondents confirmed that implementation of HAP standard is a very rigorous exercise for the organization. The major recommendations that was made from this study was that organization pursuing implementation of HAP standard should strengthen systems and procedures that allow and encourage beneficiaries participation since this is the factor that was rated as influencing implementation of HAP standard strongly.