Winter Term 2005/2006
Specialization Module: Strategic Management
STM-502: Introduction to NGO Management
Tanja-Elisabeth Lenz,
M.A.
Office
Office Hours
Telephone
Fax
Email
LG 1/-148
Wednesdays: 14-16 & by appointment
0361-737-4932
0361-737-49-39
tanja-elisabeth.lenz@uni-erfurt.de
Course Description:
Non-Profit Organizations’ mission to contribute to social change is reflected in their
structure and consequently generates specific management challenges. This course aims
at providing students with an introduction the specific nature of Non-Governmental
Organization Management.
A series of guest lectures by scholars and practioners deals with questions which both
NGOs in the North and the South are facing; such as, what are the consequences of
working for social change in an unstable environment, and what are strategic options
to achieve a sustainable impact.
The individual sessions will deal with the following topics:
1. Introduction to NGOs
2. The participation of NGOs in the UN-System
3. Campaigning and lobbying
4. Fundraising
5. Managing Volunteers
6. Organizational Development
7. Networking
Schedule:
1. October 25, 2005: Introduction and definitions (Lisa Lenz, ESPP)
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2. November 8, 2005: The Role of NGOs in the UN-System (Jeanette Schade,
INEF)
3. November 22, 2005; 18-20: Campaigning and lobbying (Sandra Overhoff,
DWHH)
4. December 20, 2005: Fundraising (Dr. Thomas Kreutzer, FundraisingAkademie)
5. January 10, 2006: Managing Volunteers (Klaus H. Walter, AI-Deutschland)
6. January 24, 2006: Organizational Development (Ute Hausmann, FIANGermany)
7. February 7, 2006: Networking (Joachim Lindau, VENRO)
8. February 14, 2006, 12-14 in LG 1/-152: Written Exam (Lisa Lenz, ESPP)
Meetings will take place in room LG 1/222 from 4-6 pm (unless stated otherwise).
An alternative session has been scheduled for December 6, 2005.
Credits, Grading and Examination:
This course is a 3 credit course (ECTS). This means that the total workload for
the course for an average student should be 90 hours; including the actual time
spend in class and sitting for the exam (20 hours), the preparation for the individual
class meetings (55 hours) as well as the preparation of homework and the written
exam (15 hours).
Your grade will be based on the written examination (120 min) which will take place
in the last session. The extra homework you will be given from time to time will not
be graded, but handing it in is a prerequisite for earning credits. The same is true
for active participation in class discussion.
Attendance:
According to the examination and study rules for the MPP program, if you miss more
than two class meetings without a proper excuse, you can not earn any credits for
the course and the course is graded with “failure” (5.0). If you have to miss a
class, you must send an E-mail stating the reason for your absence at least one
day in advance of the meeting in question.
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Session Overview and Readings:
A course Reader is available at the COPY TEAM Copy Shop located in
Schlüterstrasse 9. (Line 3/6, tram stop: Bergstrasse).
October 25, 2005: Introduction
A requirement for any serious debate about specific management challenges for NonProfit Organizations is to define non governmental organization. Thus, during the
introductory session to the course key terms, organizational forms and typical modes of
operation of NGOs will be introduced.
Reading Assignment:
“Chapter 4: Organizational Characteristics of NGOs” in: Sahley, Caroline (1995)
Strengthening the Capacity of NGOs: Cases of Small Enterprise Development Agencies in
Africa, pp. 46-54.
John Clark (1994): “The Relationship between the State and the Voluntary Sector”
http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/state-ngo.html
November 8, 2005: The Role of NGOs in the UN-System: Basics and Challenges
(Jeanette Schade, INEF)
NGOs are participating in the UN-system since its founding. But beginning with the
1990s the possibilities of involvement and also the range of nonstate actors with
access to the UN have increased dramatically. NGOs feel divided about the pros and
cons of these changes. In particular they worry the enhanced integration of the private
sector into the UN-System. The so called Cardoso Panel on UN-Civil Society
Relations did a survey of existing arrangements. The session will draw the line from
the traditional modes of participation to the current stage of UN-Civil Society
interaction. This will include informal means such as consultations with members of the
Security Council in order to discuss patterns and changes of the relationship between
nonstate actors, UN and its member states.
Jeanette Schade Is a member of the research staff at the Institute for Development
and Peace (INEF) in Duisburg. Having studied philosophy and International Relations
(ENRO) her current research project focuses on US-Politics of Civil Society Building
in Developing Countries. Ms Schades practical experience include work for the German
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Goethe-Institute and Oxfam, mostly in Latin-America as well as the USAID project
"NGO Partnerships Bulgaria".
Reading Assignment:
Chapter 2: “Consultative Status for NGOs at the UN” in: Peter Willetts (2001) The
Conscience of the World. The Influence of Non-Governmental Organisations in the UN
System.
Hill, Tony (2004) Three Generations of UN-Civil Society Relations. A Quick Sketch.
http://globalpolicy.igc.org/ngos/ngo-un/gen/2004/0404generation.htm.
Executive Summary of the Cardoso Report (2004) We the Peoples: Civil Society,
the United Nations and Global Governance. Report of the Panel of Eminent Persons
on United Nations–Civil Society Relations (A/58/81711), pp. 7-14.
Report of the Thirtieth UN Issues Conference (1999) United Nations and Civil
Society. The Role of NGOs: http://globalpolicy.igc.org/ngos/ngoun/gen/2000/1128.htm.
November 22, 2005: 'School, the Best Place to Work'. Campaigning and lobbying on
the national and international Level (Sandra Overhoff, DWHH)
This session is dedicated to a case study about NGO modes of operation: 'School is
the Best Place to Work' is a campaign that seeks to eliminate all child labour through
the provision of formal full-time, quality education. The European campaign of the
German Agro Action (Deutsche Welthungerhilfe), HIVOS (Netherlands) and Concerne
(Ireland) works for this goal on several levels: by lobbying at the German Bundestag
and the European parliament and commission as well as relevant UN bodies.
Networking with other NGOs involved and raising public awareness (e.g. at schools
and via petitions) are also integral parts of the campaign.
Sandra Overhoff has been a policy advisor for the Campaign 'School is the Best
Place to Work' at since October 2004. Prior to being employed by the Deutsche
Welthungerhilfe (DWHH), the political scientist has worked both for international
organizations and German NGOs.
Reading Assignment:
Amnesty International: Campaigning Manual, London 2001. pp. 11-28, 57-72, 263276.
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Further Reading:
Williams, Jody (1999): The International Campaign to Ban Landmines – A Model for
Disarmament Initiatives?
http://www.globalpolicy.org/ngos/governance/landmines/0804nobel.htm.
December 20, 2005: Fundraising (Thomas Kreutzer, Fundraising-Akademie)
Financing its activities is a crucial subject for virtually every NGO. Membership dues
(if applicable) and donations as well as state support and endowments by private
foundations are sources of funding. However, competition is immense especially for the
last two funding options. Thus, acquiring donations professional management of this
“fund raising” process is becoming more and more important.
Session 4 introduces the concept of Fundraising, and provides an overview over
fundraising instruments and methods.
Having studied theology, communication science and pedagogy in Frankfurt/Main, Rome
and Heidelberg, Dr. Thomas Kreuzer has worked in fundraising for many years. Since
1999, he has been managing director of the "Fundraising Akademie", Germany’s first
professional Fundraising institute.
Reading Assignment:
Alan Fowler (2002): "Options, Strategies and Trade-offs in Resource Mobilization"
in: Michael Edwards/Allen Fowler (Ed.), The Earth Scan Reader on NGO
Management, London: Earth Scan Publications, pp.
“Management, memory and money” in: Smillie, Ian (1995), The Alms Bazaar Altruism under Fire - non-profit organisations and international development, pp.
Further Reading:
tba
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January 10, 2006: Volunteers (Klaus H. Walter, AI-Germany, to be confirmed)
Financial constraints force many NGOs to rely on active members and non-paid
activists to support their staff in achieving their organization goals. Dedicated
volunteers’ skills, energy and knowledge are at the same time one of the greatest
assets for a growing number of NGOs. Especially membership and action-based
organizations draw their legitimacy from a healthy volunteer basis. Therefore, recruiting
and retaining volunteers is an important aspect in NGO management.
This session deals with ways of dealing with this challenges using the example of
volunteermanagement at Amnesty International.
Klaus H. Walter is Head of Membership Department of Amnesty International
Deutschland. Prior to taking up his current position he had worked at Amnesty
International’s headquarters, also in the membership service for 8 years.
Reading Assignment:
Katherine Gaskin (2003): A Choice Blend: what volunteers want from organisations
and management, London: Volunteering England.
VSO Position Paper: The Role of Volunteers in International Development.
Volunteers’ Week (2002): “Get it right from the Start. Volunteer policies – the key
to diverse volunteer involvement”, London: National Centre for Volunteering.
Further Reading:
McCurley, Steve and Rick Lynch, Essential Volunteer Management, 2nd edition,
Directory of Social Change: London 1998.
Meijs, Lucas C.P.M. e.a. (2004): “Towards Eurofestation 2004: Volunteering and
the EU.
Conference report“, Dublin.
January 24, 2006: Organizational Development (Ute Hausmann, FIAN-Germany)
Much of the NGO management literature is concentrating on sound financial practices.
This limited view creates the impression that finances are at the core of an NGO's
organisational health, growth or even survival while ignoring the special nature of
NGOs which are working for social change in an unstable environment. Organisational
assessment as a first step to organisational development recognises the importance of
the NGO's vision and mission.
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This session will give a short insight into existing tools for assessing organisations with
a special focus on governance issues.
Ute Hausmann is Policy Officer with the German section of the international human
rights organization FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN e.V.) and board
member of the German Forum for Human Rights. She holds degrees in International
Relations and Development Policy with a focus on NGOs.
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Reading Assignment:
Marco Kirschmann (2004): NGO Organizational Assessment Tool.
http://www.ngomanager.org/tools.htm
La Piana Associates Inc. (2003): Tool for Assessing Startup Organizations. a due
diligence supplement for grantmakers, Washington, D.C.: Grantmakers for Effective
Organizations.
February 7, 2006: Networking (Joachim Lindau, VENRO)
To bundle their interests and enhance the impact of their actions NGOs often form
alliances or networks on a national or even a global level. Numerous more or less
permanent partnerships exist in e.g. Europe and between NGOs in north and south.
This session gives an introduction to their organizational forms and the challenges to
member NGOs - such as managing communication problems and accommodating
competing positions.
Joachim Lindau looks back on numerous years of experience in NGO work and in
networking: as CEO of the German humanitarian organization “Bread for the World”,
chairman of CLONG, the umbrella group of development non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) and board member of VENRO, the Association of German
development non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Reading Assignment:
Jordan, Lisa, Peter van Tujil(2002): “Political Responsibility in Transnational NGO
Advocacy” in: Michael Edwards/Allen Fowler (Ed.), The Earth Scan Reader on NGO
Management, London: Earth Scan Publications, pp. 100-120.
Young, Dennis R., Koenig, Bonnie. L., Najam, A., & Fisher, J. (2002): “Strategy
and Structure in Managing Global Associations” in: Michael Edwards/Allen Fowler
(Ed.), The Earth Scan Reader on NGO Management, London: Earth Scan
Publications, pp. 164-183.
Further Reading:
Brehm, Vicky Mancuso (2004): “Autonomy or Dependence? North–South NGO
Partnerships”, INTRAC Briefing Paper No. 6, July 2004.
February 14, 2006: Written Exam
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Please note that the written examination will take place in LG 1 /-152 from 12.0014.00 (120 min.)
Subject of the examination (knowledge section and essay question) can be the
reading assignments, lectures as well as the in-class discussions.
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(Selected) Further Literature:
Edwards, Michael und Fowler, Allen (Ed.), The Earth Scan Reader on NGO
Management, Earth Scan Publications: London 2002.
Nyamugasira, Warren: “NGOs and advocacy: how well are the poor represented?” in
Development in Practice, Vol. 8, no. 3, 1998.
Sowa, Jessica E.; Coleman Selden, Sally; Sandfort, Jodi R.: “No Longer
Unmeasurable? A Multidimensional Integrated Model of Nonprofit Organizational
Effectiveness” in Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, Vol. 33, no. 4, 2004.
(to be updated online)
Home Organizations of Guest Lectures:
Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org/
http://www.amnesty.de/
Deutsche Welthungerhilfe (German Agro Action)DWHH
http://www.welthungerhilfe.de/WHHEN/index.html
http://www.schoolisthebestplacetowork.org/publish/index.php/index.php
German Section of the FoodFirst Information and Action Network, FIAN
www.fian.de
www.fian.org
Fundraising Akademie
http://www.fundraising-akademie.de/index_neux.html
INEF, The Institute for Development and Peace is a research institution of the
University Duisburg - Essen
http://inef.uni-duisburg.de/page/englisch/start.html
VENRO, the Association of German development non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), is the umbrella organisation of independent and church related NGOs
working in the fields of development cooperation, emergency assistance, development
education, and advocacy.
http://www.venro.org/
Selected Internet Resources:
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“NGO network focusing on European development co-operation with a politically
progressive secular identity”
http://www.eurostep.org/detail_page.phtml?page=index
Institute for Volunteering Research
www.ivr.org.uk
Volunteering England, aBritish volunteer development agency
www.volunteering.org.uk
International NGO Training and Research Center
http://www.intrac.org/
Management accounting for non governmental organizations:
http://www.mango.org.uk/index.asp
Management tools and information for nonprofits worldwide
http://www.ngomanager.org/
SOLIDAR, independent international alliance of non-governmental organisations:
http://www.solidar.org/
Eurostep is a network of 15 major NGDOs from 12 European countries
http://eurostep.antenna.nl/detail_page.phtml?page=about_index
The NGO Café. The WWW Virtual Library on Non-Governmental Organizations:
http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/
Volunteer Service Overseas
http://www.vso.org.uk/index.asp
Directory of Social Change. Information and Training for the Voluntary Sector
http://www.dsc.org.uk/
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