The study set out to investigate factors influencing the effectiveness of strategic planning processes among local NGOs in Malawi. Employing qualitative methods, the study used the 'levels of complexity' and 'stages of organization development' models to analyze factors influencing the strategic planning process and the roles and responsibilities played by the board, management, donors, consultants and communities respectively in five selected local NGOs. The study revealed that the level of implementation of the strategic plans was low (46%). In comparison, the implementation was lower for organizational capacity building activities as compared to project activities. HIV and AIDS NGOs had higher levels of implementation as compared to their human rights counterparts. The major causes of the low implementation were the local NGOs' inadequate financial independence from donors to respond effectively and autonomously to the needs and priorities of their beneficiaries; and inadequate capacity for the boards, management, donors, consultants and communities to effectively go through the strategic planning process. In order to improve the strategic planning processes among the local NGOs, the study recommends that local NGOs must become less dependent on 'non developmental donor funding' through: • Making themselves and their services more relevant and therefore more needed by both the beneficiaries and the donors, • Developing skills to negotiate with donors for more 'developmental or good quality funding', • Identifying alternative sources of funding while taking care not to be distracted from their core mandate and; • Investing in the 'strategic capacity' of the board, management, donors, consultants and communities to effectively manage the strategic planning process. Finally, the study recommends that in order to ensure effectiveness of the strategic planning processes, literature or theories guiding the strategic planning processes in local NGOs need to provide guidance on the facts that most local NGOs are not financially sustainable, they do not have adequate capacity to effectively manage the strategic planning process and that they often are not accountable to the communities they serve. / Development Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

The study set out to investigate factors influencing the effectiveness of strategic planning processes among local NGOs in Malawi. Employing qualitative methods, the study used the 'levels of complexity' and 'stages of organization development' models to analyze factors influencing the strategic planning process and the roles and responsibilities played by the board, management, donors, consultants and communities respectively in five selected local NGOs. The study revealed that the level of implementation of the strategic plans was low (46%). In comparison, the implementation was lower for organizational capacity building activities as compared to project activities. HIV and AIDS NGOs had higher levels of implementation as compared to their human rights counterparts. The major causes of the low implementation were the local NGOs' inadequate financial independence from donors to respond effectively and autonomously to the needs and priorities of their beneficiaries; and inadequate capacity for the boards, management, donors, consultants and communities to effectively go through the strategic planning process. In order to improve the strategic planning processes among the local NGOs, the study recommends that local NGOs must become less dependent on 'non developmental donor funding' through: • Making themselves and their services more relevant and therefore more needed by both the beneficiaries and the donors, • Developing skills to negotiate with donors for more 'developmental or good quality funding', • Identifying alternative sources of funding while taking care not to be distracted from their core mandate and; • Investing in the 'strategic capacity' of the board, management, donors, consultants and communities to effectively manage the strategic planning process. Finally, the study recommends that in order to ensure effectiveness of the strategic planning processes, literature or theories guiding the strategic planning processes in local NGOs need to provide guidance on the facts that most local NGOs are not financially sustainable, they do not have adequate capacity to effectively manage the strategic planning process and that they often are not accountable to the communities they serve. / Development Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Development Studies)

The study set out to investigate the factors influencing turnover among professional staff in some selected NGOs in Malawi. Using qualitative and participatory methods, the study used the levels of complexity model to analyse the factors leading to the problem of staff turnover in the selected NGOs. The main findings were that: · Professional staff turnover was 50% within a period of 18 months across all the NGOs interviewed. · For the professional staff, the main factors contributing to staff turnover were: ineffective organisational policies, systems and procedures; poor relationships and communication; and poor organisational values and culture. · In addressing the problem, NGO leaders tend to concentrate on efforts to improve salaries and other monetary benefits; and training opportunities. In order to more comprehensively address the problem of staff turnover among the professional staff however, NGO leaders must adopt a process or an Organisation Development (OD) approach. / Public Administration & Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

The study set out to investigate the factors influencing turnover among professional staff in some selected NGOs in Malawi. Using qualitative and participatory methods, the study used the levels of complexity model to analyse the factors leading to the problem of staff turnover in the selected NGOs. The main findings were that: · Professional staff turnover was 50% within a period of 18 months across all the NGOs interviewed. · For the professional staff, the main factors contributing to staff turnover were: ineffective organisational policies, systems and procedures; poor relationships and communication; and poor organisational values and culture. · In addressing the problem, NGO leaders tend to concentrate on efforts to improve salaries and other monetary benefits; and training opportunities. In order to more comprehensively address the problem of staff turnover among the professional staff however, NGO leaders must adopt a process or an Organisation Development (OD) approach. / Public Administration and Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

Community-based organizations are considered as one of the major institutions involved in community development apart from the state and non-governmental organizations. The idea of local participation is the one that has resulted into their emergence as participation is considered to be an essential part of human growth. With the advent of democracy in 1994, and the coming in of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Malawi, there has been a mushrooming of community-based organizations in the country. Now that its over fourteen years since their emergence in Malawi, its high time a study was conducted to establish contributions the community-based organizations are making in the development if the country, identify the challenges they are facing and find possible solutions that can help improve their effectiveness. This thesis presents findings of such a study done in Kasungu district in Malawi. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)

Community-based organizations are considered as one of the major institutions involved in community development apart from the state and non-governmental organizations. The idea of local participation is the one that has resulted into their emergence as participation is considered to be an essential part of human growth. With the advent of democracy in 1994, and the coming in of the HIV and AIDS pandemic in Malawi, there has been a mushrooming of community-based organizations in the country. Now that its over fourteen years since their emergence in Malawi, its high time a study was conducted to establish contributions the community-based organizations are making in the development if the country, identify the challenges they are facing and find possible solutions that can help improve their effectiveness. This thesis presents findings of such a study done in Kasungu district in Malawi. / Development Studies / M.A. (Development Studies)