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Receive Grants or Perish? The Survival Prospects of Ugandan Non-Governmental Organisations

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  • Ronelle Burger
  • Trudy Owens

Abstract

This study examines survival patterns in a large, representative panel of Ugandan non-governmental organisations (NGOs) between 2002 and 2008. It finds no evidence that more effective or more altruistic NGOs have a greater likelihood of survival. The main determinant of survival appears to be access to grants, and NGOs without grants struggle to survive. An investigation of the grant allocation mechanism suggests that effectiveness does not increase an NGO's likelihood of receiving a grant. Grant allocation appears to be neither fair nor effective, but rather to be awarded on the basis of habit rather than merit: once a grant has been allocated there is a strong tendency for it to persist. The odds are stacked against small NGOs that have not previously received grants. A picture emerges of two parallel NGO worlds: one where revenues are small, variable and hard to come by and survival is not very likely, and the other where revenues are high, more stable and more accessible and survival is more likely. The study suggests it may be difficult for an NGO to move from the former to the latter.

Suggested Citation

  • Ronelle Burger & Trudy Owens, 2013. "Receive Grants or Perish? The Survival Prospects of Ugandan Non-Governmental Organisations," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(9), pages 1284-1298, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:49:y:2013:i:9:p:1284-1298
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2012.754430
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yongzheng Yang & Mr. Robert Powell & Mr. Sanjeev Gupta, 2005. "The Macroeconomic Challenges of Scaling Up Aid to Africa," IMF Working Papers 2005/179, International Monetary Fund.
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    1. Gani Aldashev & Esteban Jaimovich & Thierry Verdier, 2018. "Small is Beautiful: Motivational Allocation in the Nonprofit Sector," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 16(3), pages 730-780.
    2. Spiros Bougheas & Alessia Isopi & Trudy Owens, 2022. "NGO's and Donors' Funding: Evidence from Uganda," CESifo Working Paper Series 10055, CESifo.
    3. Gani ALDASHEV & Cecilia NAVARRA, 2018. "Development Ngos: Basic Facts," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 89(1), pages 125-155, March.
    4. Amankwah-Amoah, Joseph, 2016. "An integrative process model of organisational failure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3388-3397.
    5. Canh Thien Dang & Trudy Owens, 2024. "Non-governmental organizations’ motivation to diversify: self-interest or operation-related? Evidence from Uganda," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 76(2), pages 561-584.
    6. Hyman Zyl & Frederik Claeyé, 2019. "Up and Down, and Inside Out: Where do We Stand on NGO Accountability?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 31(3), pages 604-619, July.
    7. Burger Ronelle & Owens Trudy & Prakash Aseem, 2018. "Global Non-Profit Chains and the Challenges of Development Aid Contracting," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 9(4), pages 1-12, December.
    8. Nicola Banks & Tony Brockington, 2019. "Mapping the UK’s development NGOs: income, geography and contributions to international development," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 352019, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    9. Dang, Canh Thien & Owens, Trudy, 2024. "Non-governmental organizations’ motivation to diversify:: self-interest or operation-related? Evidence from Uganda," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120200, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    10. Krasynska Svitlana, 2015. "Contra Spem Spero: The Third Sector’s Resilience in the Face of Political Turbulence and Legislative Change in Ukraine," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 6(2), pages 167-186, August.
    11. Canh Thien Dang & Trudy Owens, 2017. "What motivates Ugandan NGOs to diversify: Risk reduction or private gain?," Discussion Papers 2017-11, University of Nottingham, CREDIT.
    12. Berta SILVA & Ronelle BURGER, 2015. "Financial vulnerability: an empirical study of Ugandan NGOs," CIRIEC Working Papers 1515, CIRIEC - Université de Liège.
    13. repec:bla:annpce:v:89:y:2018:i:1:p:125-155 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Nolte Isabella M., 2019. "Heterogeneous Partnerships in A Fragile Environment: A Study of Motives for Collaboration in Myanmar," Nonprofit Policy Forum, De Gruyter, vol. 10(2), pages 1-12, July.

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