Dr Vien Chu

This article examines micro-enterprise development (MED) programmes of non-government organisations (NGOs) in two developing countries, Bangladesh and Indonesia, to explore understandings of success from the perspectives NGO managers and beneficiaries. Interviews were conducted with managers from 20 MED NGOs, and individuals and groups of beneficiaries from four of the NGOs. A review of the NGOs' publicly available documents was also undertaken and compared with interview data. The findings reveal NGOs' understandings of success at the organisational-level-emphasised organisational development. However, NGOs' interpretations of success at the programme level focused primarily on short-term outputs rather than long-term outcomes and impacts, with limited follow-up by NGOs. Implications include potential misconceptions regarding understandings of success from an internal (NGO) versus external perspective, and the need for long-term monitoring to understand how sustainable NGOs' programme outcomes actually are.

Although non-government organisations (NGOs) play an important role in poverty alleviation, their accountability to beneficiaries (the poor) for sustainable poverty alleviation is often criticised. In the literature, a participatory approach to strengthening NGO downward accountability has been widely discussed and various mechanisms for participation are identified; however, it is unclear how a participatory approach is implemented in practice to enhance NGO accountability to beneficiaries. Using accountability concepts, this study examines a participatory approach within the practices of NGOs engaging in microenterprise development in Bangladesh and Indonesia. Findings show that an effective participatory approach needs to address three questions: who participates, what to participate in, and how to participate. Within this approach, participation for beneficiary empowerment involves three stages: consulting, partnership, and delegated control. These stages are not linear, but rather a recurring, iterative process, providing a graduated, progressive approach to empowering beneficiaries. These stages recognise mutual accountability between the poor, as well as the public and private sectors, providing a basis for enhanced NGO accountability to beneficiaries at a strategic level ¿ and enhanced sustainable outcomes for poverty alleviation.