Teaching Paper: Governance Frameworks for NGO Networks — Balancing Autonomy, Accountability, and Efficiency
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-tp-02
Usage Terms: Institutional, organizational, or professional use requires an active license from NEYA Global
About the Article
Governance is a critical determinant of effectiveness in NGO networks. While collaboration allows organizations to amplify impact and pool resources, it also raises challenges of authority, accountability, and coordination. This Teaching Paper introduces four key governance frameworks: participant-governed networks, lead-organization models, network administrative organizations (NAOs), and polycentric/multi-level governance systems. Each framework represents a distinct approach to balancing autonomy with efficiency, with advantages and risks for NGOs operating at local, national, and transnational scales. By analyzing these frameworks, practitioners can better design collaborative arrangements that sustain legitimacy and avoid fragmentation, while scholars gain conceptual clarity for studying governance in civil society alliances.
Key Topics
- NGO governance
- Network management
- Accountability
- Autonomy
- Efficiency
- Polycentric governance
- Collaborative frameworks
- Civil society
Suggested Citation
Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Teaching Paper: Governance Frameworks for NGO Networks — Balancing Autonomy, Accountability, and Efficiency. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. Neya Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-ntallstrscimp-tp-02
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