Capacity in the NGO Sector: Results from a National Survey in Cambodia

Capacity has become a prominent theme in the literature on nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the last few decades, due
in part to the increasingly global role these organizations play in development. We analyze data obtained from a national
sample of local and international NGOs operating in Cambodia, documenting capacity differences between these two groups as
well as highlighting overall levels of capacity in the sector. The analysis covers a number of different organizational dimensions
that have been associated with capacity, including structural characteristics and concrete management practices. Results suggest
that international NGOs generally have greater capacity, but overall levels of capacity are relatively low for a variety of
measures. We conclude with an exploratory cluster analysis that identifies four distinctive groups of NGOs based on capacity,
providing additional insights into diversity within the sector. These findings will be useful for comparative NGO research
and for capacity-building programs, in addition to helping establish an agenda for future research to monitor progress.