Risk Management for NGOs

This essay discusses the identification and management of risks for NGOs with effective risk management strategies. It outlines the steps involved in the risk management process and provides a risk matrix for NGOs. The pros and cons of risk management for NGOs are also discussed.

Running Head: NGOs RISK MANAGEMENT 0
Risk Management for NGOs
Risks Analysis Identification and Management for NGOs
(Student details :)
12/19/2018

NGOs Risk Management 1
Contents
Risk Management for NGOs......................................................................................................2
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Description.................................................................................................................................3
General Analysis........................................................................................................................5
Actualization..............................................................................................................................7
Recording risks information...................................................................................................8
Discussion................................................................................................................................10
Pros of RM for NGOs..........................................................................................................12
Cons of RM for NGOs.........................................................................................................13
General recommendations........................................................................................................15
Conclusion................................................................................................................................16

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Risk Management for NGOs
Introduction
This essay is focused on identification of probable risks occurred for NGOs while
implementing projects along with providing strategies or solutions for mitigating those risks
effectively. As we know that Non-government Organizations (herein after referred as NGOs)
are functioning in a specific environment like conflicts, poverty, natural disaster, under
donors funds and restrictions, local government rules, compliance between international and
national laws are facing so many risks hence this discussion is an attempt for assessing those
risks and finding their effective solutions (AustralianGovernment, 2008).
Risk can be defined as the common thinking about what might go wrong in a NGO or
any other organization (Gartner, 2018). In this context, more precise definition of risk is ‘the
effects of uncertainty on NGOs objectives’. With the change in an internal dynamics as well
as external environment in which an organization operates, potential risks arrive, vanish or
evolve. Hence risk management is the process of coordinated activities for controlling or
reducing risks. During risk management (RM), anticipating risks is the first step, then it aims
at averting risks and finally at optimizing risks’ impact if they do happen (Colquitt, Lepine,
Wessaon, & Gellatly, 2011).
In this way, this document is a direction for all those NGOs staff includes directors,
directors, senior staff, managers and any other staff who really want to manage their risks as
well as work well (SHF, 2018). This discussion will help in formulating a risk management
framework or policy for identifying, monitoring as well as managing risks in NGOs by
providing a step-by-step approach. Step-by-step approach may contain description, general

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analysis, actualization, discussion, general recommendations as well as summary of the
discussion (Designingbuildingswiki, 2018).
Source: (Careersin Audit, 2013)
Description
S. No. Step Key components
Building the context Organizations objectives taking into account
Identification of stakeholders
Identification of risk criteria
Identification of risk assessment criteria (United Nations
Somalia, 2018).
Risk assessment What, when and how about the risks
Potential cost to money, time, and performance

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Impacts of each risk
Source of the risk
Risk analysis Analysis of existing controls
Consequences of the risk been considered
Application of likelihood criteria
Development of risk matrix
Risk evaluation Comparison of the risk against se criteria
Development of guidelines about retention and escalation
Making decision for treating risk
Continue monitoring and reviewing risk
Risk treatment Identification of treatment options
Assessment of all treatment options
Implementation of treatment plans
Analysis and evaluation of residual risks
Consideration of consultation and communication
requirements (Reference for Business, 2018).
The modern world’s environment in which NGOs are operating is evolving quickly,
as is the process of the risk management functions as well as the procedure of making
decisions about risks (Chenhall, Hall, & Smith, 2010). The changes of the modern world are
affecting not only NGOs but also the community which is served and the organizations those
are funding them (Clarke, 2017). For the NGO’s success in terms of executing their mission
as well as accomplishing their long-term goals, NGOs must keep pace with modifications in
the whole political, economic and cultural environment of the risk management practice so

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that understanding of risks can be illustrated. Hence risk management is a strategic challenge
today (DepartmentofLabour, 2002). Service or social change oriented NGOs always need to
operate in the dynamic, political, economic, technological, as well as institutional
environments hence the risk associated with them are huge. Besides, questions about their
effect on society raised by stakeholders, the broader society as well as the governments in
front of NGO leaders is also a big challenge for the NGOs (Sadgrove, 2016).
In this way, risk management allow NGOs to modify the way they respond to the
society and the world as well as seek to form it. As a result, several development NGOs are
changing their strategies so that risks can be mitigated in an effective way as well as NGOs
are changing their functioning strategies more often than in the previous eras. Thus, for
NGOs, modification is apparently essential; each NGO’s mission statement promises it for
improving some undesirable aspects of the modern world. However, change will bring
uncertainty as well as risk in the path which has to be prevented and resolved (Reddy, 2018).
General Analysis
Risks identification, analysis as well as effective management in NGOs contribute to
compliance as well as good governance. Further, an effective risk management can contribute
to a strategic typical running as well as business planning of the NGOs. It creates confidence
among NGOs staff so that they can assist in delivering desired outcomes, making informed
decisions about opportunities as well as managing threats to the acceptable extent (National
science foundation, 2008).
Hence, some key benefits of risks management in NGOs are as follows:
 RM prepares the NGO for challenging events
 RM prepares the NGOs for improving overall resilience

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 RM reduces the probability of critical potential costly surprises
 RM improves the decision-making quality among NGOs at all levels
 RM improves processes of effective planning
 RM enables NGOs for the effective execution of major decisions
 RM improves confidence of the stakeholders in the NGOs
 RM prioritise resources
 RM helps in establishing clear roles, purposes and accountabilities for the NGOs staff
Source: (Clarke, 2017)
In this way, effective RM improves overall performance of any NGO. In order to
identify the category of risks, the type of risk which is faced by a NGO is organizational in
nature. These organizational risks are internal as well as external that may affect the safety
and security of staff or the reputation of the NGOs. For instance, any financial risk to a NGO
will directly impact the human resources management processes and systems of a NGO
(United Nations Somalia, 2018).
Furthermore, there are 3 broad areas of risk faced by the NGOs which require focus:
 Contextual: these are the risk factors which are external as well as often outside of the
control.

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 Programmatic: these are the risks of not fulfilling programme objectives and the needs
of beneficiaries which can harm the functionality of NGO.
 Organizational: these are the risks which affect the safety and security of NGOs and
its staff reputations (Sadgrove, 2016).
In order to measure the probability of a risk happening and its consequences, there are
three key steps to be followed:
 Step1: Choose a scale
 Step 2: Label each point on that scale
 Step 3: Provide more descriptive examples for every point on the scale
Actualization
Furthermore, once the above steps will be implemented then for assessing the overall
level of risk in the NGOs, they will require creating a ‘risk matrix.’ The NGOs risk matrix
will be constructed utilizing the levels of probability of risks as well as their consequences as
discussed in the previous steps (Reference for Business, 2018).

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Source: (Careersin Audit, 2013)
Hence, overall risks measurement is obtained from the blend of probability and
consequences. It increases from the minimum point situated in the bottom left hand corner to
the maximum point situated in the top right hand corner. According to the above instructions
every NGO will need to develop a risk matrix to suit their organization (SHF, 2018).
Moreover, decision-making regarding escalation, retention and treatment comes into
the next step of the risk management procedure of NGOs (Reddy, 2018).
Source: (United Nations Somalia, 2018)

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Recording risks information
It is a way by using which risk info comprising the risk analysis results and risks
response planning can be stored into a risk register. The purpose of the risk register is to hold
all the risk information that is generated by the whole risk management process. Hence the
risk register helps in documenting all that info coherently and systematically
(AustralianGovernment, 2008).
In this way, when a NGO is planning their project then the whole process of project
plan for implementing risk management in the NGOs can be illustrated with the help of
figure represented below:
Source: (Gartner, 2018)

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Therefore, the above model figure is demonstrating the actualization that is how the
specific theoretical topics apply to reality and model a risk management process for NGOs.
Hence, a clear illustration of RM and how it is associated to the real life among NGOs is
illustrated in the above figure.

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Discussion
In whole, the RM process is a set of activities the NGOs carry out for identifying,
assessing, managing and monitoring the risks to which NGO may get exposed (Clarke, 2017).
In this context, below figure is outlining the major steps involved in the RM process of the
NGOs:
Source: (Sadgrove, 2016)
Hence, there are 5 key steps of an effective RM process for NGOs:
 Identification of risks
 Analysis of risks
 Evaluation of the risks
 Planning of risk response
 Monitoring and review of the risks.
Additionally, in order to accomplish any project or task in the NGOs, senior managers
in of NGOs usually manage their ideas on the basis of four major factors of RM process
(Sadgrove, 2016). There are these major steps which assist NGOs in managing the risks in
their organization. They are as follows:

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 Step-I: Risk Identification
 Step II: Risk Quantification
 Step III: Risk Response
 Step IV: Risk Monitoring and Control
Therefore, NGOs should mandatorily understand and identify the risks while planning
any project for NGOs. After the risks are dispersed to different team members for effective
handling, then they all must combine all risks in a sole sheet in order to avert any duplication.
Later then, they should evaluate the effect of the risks with the help of a risk matrix. For that
NGOs require to split their team in to subgroups where all groups will be functioning on
identifying the causes which shoot out project associated risks. In this way, each team can
come up with a plan which can remove off all the risks recognized (Reference for Business,
2018).
Finally, planning of the RM process where NGOs need to find an effective solution
for the risks identified will be done. Thus, through executing and implementing a proper RM
process, NGOs will be capable to identify their upcoming project’s strengths, weaknesses as
well as opportunities. The RM procedure discussed in this essay will helps NGOs for
accomplishing the project’s success. Therefore, risks assessment attached to the project’s
goal which depends on the preparation, planning, results as well as evaluation process will
provide a successful operation to all NGOs (Burke, Koyuncu, Wolpin, Yiriks., & Koyuncu,
2015).
Moreover, there is information which implies the importance of RM for NGOs, they
are as follows:
 Successful Planning

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 Assists with Preparation
 Assists Evaluation
 Optimizes Results
Pros and cons of the RM for NGOs on a local, national and international level are as
follows:
Pros of RM for NGOs
 To ensure safety from illness and accidents
 To ensure security from crime and violence
 To ensure reputational safety from damage to image
 To ensure operational security in terms of removing inability for achieving objectives
 To ensure security from legal and compliance issues
 To ensure safety against fraud, corruption, theft and diversion
 To ensure security of information from data breach and loss
 By adopting effective RM approach, NGOs will have the capability to research freely
with innovative methods if taking risks is necessary there.
 By adopting RM, NGOs will be adapting to local situations as well as responding to
local demands flexibly and hence they will be able to create integrated projects and
sectorial projects.
 Because of RM, NGOs enjoy well rapport with public as well as can concentrate to
very poor public.
 Through RM, NGOs have the capability to converse at all levels, since from the
neighborhood to the uppermost levels of administration or government.
 Through RM process, NGOs are capable to employee both highly motivated staff and
experts with lesser restrictions from the government.

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 Collaborated work
 Handling the strategic plans
 Managing past projects
 Nurturing risks associated with the projects
 Stability of earnings and revenue
 Reduces loss and impact
 Identification of likely threats
 Provides supervision
 Identification of risks
 Provides support
 Faster competition
 New opportunities
 Harvesting knowledge from the world (Reddy, 2018).
Cons of RM for NGOs
On the other hand, managing the risks identified causes the waste of time to
recompense the projects. It motivates only those projects which respond to enhance the funds
in the organization and demoralizes the projects which are showing huge risks for the system

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of NGOs (Reddy, 2018). Additionally, there are some cons of the effective RM for NGOs as
follows:
 Complex calculations
 Un-managed losses
 Ambiguity and uncertainty
 Dependence on external entities
 Risk Mitigation process (Humanitarian Outcomes, 2016).
 Difficulty during implementation
 Performance
 Potential threats (Di Serio, De Oliveira, & Siegert, 2011).

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Source: (AustralianGovernment, 2008)
General recommendations
In order to implement an effective operation of the NGOs from the perspective of
risks analysis, identification and management there are some general recommendations which
can assist the NGOs for their efficient operation in future (Humanitarian Outcomes, 2016).
 The NGOs must develop a risk treatment plan before the occurrence of the risks
 Before implementing the risk treatment plan, its effectiveness must be assessed
 Residual risks must be evaluated and identified during occurrence of risks
 Always create a new risk treatment plan for those residual risks (Van, 2009).
 Communication and consultation unit must be there in the NGOs
 After implementing a risk treatment, NGOs must re-assess and re-rate the risks treated
 NGOs must adapt to function with high-risk partners
 NGOs should review and improve security of national-staff
 While mitigating the risks in the NGOs, they must introduce innovation in the projects
and processes so that quality of the services can be improved.
 Risks attached to innovation must be evaluated, analysed and reduced with some
distinct criteria (Jones, 2013).
 They must prepare for the host-country’s legal challenges
 A NGO must always:
 Monitor and review risks
 Reduce and control risks
 Determine the risks appetite
 Prioritise the risks
 Analyse the risks

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 Identify risks correctly and effectively (Lewis, 2008).
Conclusion
In conclusion, significance of risk analysis, identification and management for NGOs
has been identified with the help of this essay. Non-government organizations that are known
as NGOs are functioning in a specific environment for example: conflicts, poverty, under
donors’ funds as well as restrictions, natural disaster local government rules and regulations,
defiance amid international and national laws hence they need to have an effective risk
management process. Thus, the essay has intended to identify likely risks occurred for NGOs
during their project implementation as well as provided strategies and solutions for mitigating
those identified risks. In this way, we have seen that how a risk measurement, evaluation,
assessment, identification and analysis procedure can help in effective operation of the NGOs
as well as risk management allow them to imply new technologies, innovation, research,
experimentation for the betterment of the society. As when risk management framework and
model is there for any NGO then there will be no barrier which can stop them to do effective,
efficient and challenging work for the welfare of the society and community. Finally, risk
management is a way to manage uncertainty in an organization which ultimately enable them
for the better execution of their services for the community we live in.

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