BOARD MEMBER PARTICIPATION IN NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS: A CASE OF SELECTED NGOs IN TANZANIA

Abstract: Title: Board Member Participation in Non Governmental Organizations: The Case of Selected Non Profits in Tanzania Author: Zabdiel Robinson Kimambo Supervisor: Dr. Thomas Danborg Department: School of Management, Blekinge Institute of Technology Course: Master’s Thesis in Business Administration, 10 credits Background and Problem Discussion: Recent research findings have revealed that Boards do often play an important hands-on role in the failure and turn-around of Non-governmental organization. NGOs are very diverse and unique in terms of set up, mission and mandate. There is therefore no single model on how NGO Boards operate and perform its functions. However, there are common held approaches that apply to effective Board participation practices. Purpose: This research aimed at exploring the differences and similarities in Board Member participation practices in selected NGO Boards in Tanzania. Method: Qualitative and quantitative methodology was employed. Theory: This section discusses the theoretical underpinnings relevant to NGOs, NGO Boards, Board Members, and Board Member roles, Board Member recruitment, participation and evaluation. Analysis: Collected data has been analyzed by means of tables, figures, classifying themes and transforming raw data into meaningful information which assisted in responding to the research question and specific objectives of this research Main Findings Evidence of best corporate governance practices in NGO sector in Tanzania such as the role of the boards to recruit new board members, to set and ensure compliance with organizational policies as well as recruit and evaluate the performance of senior management were found. NGO sector in Tanzania has well established standards and criteria for board member selection. However, these practices are not applied to all NGOs interviewed during this research Majority (75%) of board members in NGO sector in Tanzania are people that work within NGOs and are drawn from senior management cadre. The remaining are drawn from private sector, academia and government. Majority of interviewed members indicated a strong sense of support, trust and confidence on the impact of NGOs work in Tanzania as the main motivational factor for accepting to sit on NGO boards Key barriers that limit effective board member participation in NGOs in Tanzania include: None availability to attend board meetings and activities; lack of clarity on the roles and responsibilities of boards; inconsistencies in relation to total numbers of board members; lack of capacity and lack of induction and performance monitoring and reviews Recommendations: More capacity building is needed for NGO boards in Tanzania in the areas that were found wanting by this research including: recruitment of new board members, roles and responsibilities of boards. More research is needed to investigate impact of the emerging sitting allowances in NGO sector in Tanzania