Watch: US NGO leaders on the challenges ahead

CEOs of U.S.-based international NGOs reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the way they work, as well as changes and challenges on the horizon, in Devex’s first Leader Roundtable series on Jan. 11. Throughout 2023, the Leader Roundtable series will bring together groups of global development leaders for intimate virtual roundtables with Devex Pro members. This month, we heard from people leading U.S.-based NGOs, including: • Rodney Ferguson, Winrock International. • Karl Hofmann, Population Services International. • Ann Hudock, Counterpart International. • Sylvia Megret, ACDI/VOCA. Read on for some of the key takeaways, or scroll to the bottom of the article to watch the full recording. Remote working Ferguson laid out the pros and cons of the move toward remote working precipitated by the pandemic, saying it had been a “blessing” for recruitment by allowing Winrock to seek out specialists all over the world. He said the changes had not reduced the volume or quality of work and had, if anything, led to improvements. However, he cautioned that younger people might miss out on learning and networking opportunities. Ferguson and other speakers said they were thinking carefully about how to mitigate some of the downsides of remote working. For Hudock, that includes thinking deeply about mental health and wellness — as well as the financial costs of becoming an international employer. “There are some legal and compliance and tax related things that can actually stand in the way of some very important goals,” she said, suggesting that international development organizations could come together to tackle some of those practical hurdles. Localization The shift to remote working had also helped to advance the cause of localization — although speakers noted that not everybody likes that term. Ferguson argued that localization is “imperative” but that governments and funders need to recognize that “we need support” to get there. While “local capacity” is often raised as a challenge, Megret spoke about how donors needed to consider their own capacity. “If the U.S. government is really serious about this it needs to be thinking about how it lacks the capacity and organizational culture, because of its nature as a bureaucracy, to do the things that it needs to do to support local organizations,” she said. At the same time, Hoffman wondered how the value of “transnational development models” such as INGOs could be preserved throughout this move. These models “allow you to move expertise around the world, to share best practices, to get economies of scale, to leverage talent in different places and move it around,” he said. For those people leading transnational organizations, “This is a really interesting challenge for the foreseeable future. How do we deliver that value, maintain those connections, while respecting the expectation that more gets done in national and local settings?” Looming recession The CEOs also tackled the threat of a looming recession — but were largely optimistic that the impact on their organizations could be contained. “Our businesses are largely … recession-resistant based on the business model of longer-term, three [or] five year contracts,” said Ferguson. The bigger danger, he said, is “chaotic instability” that causes currency fluctuations and rampant inflation. Hudock said macro-economic problems could also lead to foreign aid cuts. “When things are very difficult domestically, people will wonder and ask and put pressure on their politicians to explain why we are doing things internationally,” she said, pointing to the United Kingdom as a cautionary tale. “I think we should all be ready to discuss” why development assistance matters. But the speakers wholeheartedly agreed with Hoffman’s comment that “The political cycle is a bigger risk than the business cycle.” Catch up on the full event below.