The increase of scandals involving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) has provoked concerns from the public for their accountability. In the case of Yemen, the NGOs receive financial support from both local and international donors. These organisations, however, are not obliged to disclose how they manage the donation funds, although the donors usually outline specific requirements on how the funds should be utilised. At the same time, the success of projects undertaken by the NGOs funded by the donors can help to enhance the organisation’s reputation and legitimize its activities to secure more funds. This study investigated the level of accountability practices in the Yemeni local NGOs. A questionnaire survey was sent to 75 active local NGOs. The findings show that the level of accountability practices among local NGOs is moderate. Most of these organisations evaluated the impact of their projects at their completion. However, they tend to avoid an independent assessment of any third party. They also restricted the local communities’ involvement in determining where and how the money of the project should be spent. This suggests that the local NGOs are more likely to be “seen” as being accountable rather than being accountable. A further improvement perhaps through policymaking is thus necessary to ensure effective accountability practices in funds management of the NGOs.

This study examines the factors influencing accountability practices in funds management of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Yemen. A total of 75 local NGOs operate in Yemen, receiving local and foreign funding. A structured online questionnaire was employed for data collection. This study found that accountability was not widely practiced among the NGOs in Yemen. The level of accountability practices of these NGOs was significantly influenced by funding competition and perceived motive. The results of the study offer important implications for both policymakers and NGOs. The relevant regulatory bodies must formulate policies to enhance the NGOs’ accountability for improved efficiency and transparency. The NGOs, on the other hand, are expected to be transparent in ensuring the resources are well managed, and services are delivered efficiently and effectively to the recipients.