NGO Co-ordination: No Easy Answer

Abstract

In the last chapter we considered institutional strengthening of individual NGOs. Another constant theme in discussions regarding NGOs is coordination which, again, is rarely fully defined. This may be because there is an inherent assumption that everyone understands what is meant by the term. But is it such an easily understood concept? How does it, for instance, differ from co-operation and collaboration or even control and competition? This is not the place for detailed semantic discussions, and most dictionaries offer adequate individual definitions of these terms. Here it is more important to understand the terms in the context of inter-organizational relationships. Nevertheless, although in this chapter we consider only co-ordination, in order to understand the concept it is important to be able to distinguish between the various related terms. There are five key terms which form a continuum of increased structure, decreased autonomy and an intensified communication. The continuum begins with competition, progresses through co-operation to co-ordination and then on to collaboration,¹ finally ending in control.²