Benefits and Risks of NGO Alliances: Balancing Efficiency, Legitimacy, and Autonomy
Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-ntallstrscimp-06
Usage Terms: Institutional, organizational, or professional use requires an active license from NEYA Global
About the Article
Alliances among non-governmental organizations (NGOs) offer pathways to greater efficiency, innovation, and legitimacy—but also introduce risks of dependency, mission drift, and power imbalance. This article examines the dual nature of NGO alliances, balancing supportive and critical perspectives on collaboration. Efficiency gains arise through resource pooling and shared infrastructure; innovation and learning flourish through cross-organizational exchange; and collective advocacy enhances credibility and influence. Yet, alliances also impose costs: transaction burdens, reduced autonomy, and reputational vulnerability when partners’ interests diverge. Donor-driven coalitions may compromise grassroots accountability, while dominance by large NGOs perpetuates inequality. By mapping both benefits and vulnerabilities, the analysis reveals that alliances are not inherently virtuous but contingent on context, governance, and intent. For practitioners, effective collaboration requires balancing efficiency with independence and legitimacy with mission integrity. For scholars, examining these tensions deepens understanding of how alliances reshape power, accountability, and sustainability within civil society.
Key Topics
- NGO alliances and collaboration
- Efficiency and innovation benefits
- Mission drift and donor capture
- Power asymmetries and legitimacy
- Transaction costs and accountability
- Autonomy and sustainability in partnerships
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Benefits and Risks of NGO Alliances: Balancing Efficiency, Legitimacy, and Autonomy. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. NEYA Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-ntallstrscimp-06
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