Predictors of Local Non-Governmental Organisations' (NGOs') Adoption of Self-Regulation in Ghana

Self-regulation has emerged as one of the strategies employed by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to address their legitimacy crisis resulting from the lack of accountability and transparency in countries with weak government regulatory frameworks. However, our understanding of the predictors of local NGOs' adoption of self-regulation in contexts of weak government regulations remains limited. Drawing on the concept of isomorphism and resource dependency and using data from local NGOs in Ghana, we find that an increase in the number of donors of local NGOs reduces their likelihood of adopting self-regulation practices. We show that donor diversification serves as a disincentive for adopting self-regulation among local NGOs in Ghana. We also find that older and experienced local NGOs are more likely to adopt self-regulation practices than their younger counterparts. Implications of the findings for NGO management are discussed.