Johnson Institute to Hold Conference on Accountability of NGOs and Nonprofits

PITTSBURGH-Nonprofits and international nongovernmental organizations (NGO) traditionally have not had much interaction. But, as both types of groups increasingly face calls for greater accountability, scholars contend that the two could learn a lot from each other. A conference, titled "NGOs, Development, and Changing Standards of Accountability," will be held at the University of Pittsburgh from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 7, on the 3rd floor of the 20th Century Club, 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland. The free public conference is sponsored by the Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership within Pitt's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.

The panels, including participants from nonprofits and NGOs, will include discussions of the driving forces behind NGO accountability, pros and cons of recent initiatives, and how groups can learn from past mistakes. One topic of discussion will be how groups can balance being accountable both to their donors and those who they are charged with helping.

Michael Edwards, director of the governance and civil society program at the Ford Foundation, will present the keynote address, "Trends and Issues in NGO Accountability," at 8:30 a.m. Other panelists include L. David Brown of Harvard University, Lisa Jordan of the Ford Foundation, William E. Trueheart of The Pittsburgh Foundation, and GSPIA professors Kevin P. Kearns, Paul Nelson, and Nuno Themudo.

Registration for this event is required; visit www.johnsoninstitute-gspia.org for more information.

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