Table 4: Assessment methods, from easiest to most difficult to implement Name of tool
Resources required
Documentation provided
Guidebook on the Basics of NGO Governance
low: desk research
high: step-by-step guide
Civil Society Accountability: Principles and Practice. A Toolkit for CSOs
low: desk research
high: full report
La Transparencia y la Rendicion de Cuentas en el Tercer Sector
low: desk research
high: extensive explanation, especially given simple method
Accountability Self-Assessment
low: checklist with scores that are automatically calculated
high: several worksheets
The Octagon
low: desk research
medium: some documentation, plus Excel document for generating octagon
Checklist for CSO Laws
low: desk research
medium: some documentation
Compliance Manual
low: desk research
low: minimal explanations
Sustainability Reporting Framework
low: desk research
low: minimal explanations, although some background info provided
Kenyan CSO Standards
low: desk research
low: minimal explanations
Herramienta de Autoevaluación para Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil
low: desk research
low: minimal explanations
Guide Synergie Qualité
average: long method, but can be done with desk research
high: extensive documentation
Organizational Assessment Guide
average: many steps, but not especially challenging
high: extensive documentation
NGO Capacity Profile
average: many steps, but not especially challenging
high: extensive documentation
NPO Certification Model
average: many steps, but not especially challenging
medium: some documentation
NGO Accreditation Criteria Table
average: many steps, but not especially challenging
medium: some documentation
Organisational Assessment Tool
average: short form, plus SWOT analysis
low: brief introduction only
Participatory Capacity Assessment Tool
average: comprehensive questionnaire, option to use external facilitator
high: extensive documentation
UNDP CSO Capacity Assessment Tool
average: comprehensive assessment tool but not especially challenging
high: extensive documentation (tool available, accessible and adaptable)
Democracy Assessment Framework
high: very comprehensive, requires broad expertise
high: extensive documentation
Social Audit: A Toolkit
high: conducting surveys requires expertise
high: extensive documentation
UNDP Framework for CSO Mapping
high: quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis requires expertise
medium: framework available but requires specific adaptation and elaboration.
Handbook on Non-Profit Institutions in the System of National Accounts
high: technical knowledge of statistics required
high: extensive documentation
Participatory Organizational Evaluation Tool (POET)
high: statistical analysis required
medium: strong level of documentation, but given the complexity one might require more, and qualitative portions are minimally documented
A USERS’ GUIDE TO CIVIL SOCIETY ASSESSMENTS
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