Human Resource Management Challenges Facing Local NGOs

Abstract

Partnership with local NGOs has become an important feature in the development sector. Therefore the management of human resources in local NGOs is crucial as it contributes to the performance and sustainability of the organizations. However many local NGOs face diverse challenges in the area of human resource management. Local NGOs have inadequate HR management procedures in the organization and this affects the employee’s work experiences and overall performance at individual and organizational level. Many local NGOs due to the size of the organization and scope do not have a human resource (HR) unit or a human resource manager and therefore they appoint staff to oversee staff issues who often do not have the required human resource skills and competencies to manage the employees. Another area that is challenging local NGOs is the fact that many depend on donor funds that are tied to funding cycles that are short term in nature. This affects the NGOs human resource capacity in terms of the number and type of staff to recruit and employment duration. The mentorship of management and board members in human resource management could be one way to improve human resource competence in these organizations. This paper seeks to highlight human resource management challenges local NGOs encounter and the importance of considering HRM as a strategic process that can contribute to sustaining an organization’s performance.