Competencies of project managers in international NGOs: Perceptions of practitioners

Abstract

In international development, despite the professionalization on NGOs of the numerous projects carried out, very few studies address the competencies of project managers in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as opposite to the significant body of studies conducted for private sector projects. This article presents findings from an exploratory study aimed at identifying competencies of international development project managers and how these competencies are used in projects. A survey conducted with international development project managers in NGOs show the very specific situation they have to deal with and the significant change in meaning for project management capacities, considering their very particular environment. Here, human competencies take a new meaning for people who manage projects with limited support, limited resources and a double client system, where they need to satisfy a client donor while respecting local populations which needs are not always compatible with donors' vision.