Research 

Transnational non-governmental organizations (TNGOs) participate in the evolution of global governance and shape the daily lives of Millions around the world. The growing visibility of these organizations has created much debate about the legitimacy and proper role of civil society actors projecting their influence across national borders.

Although academics and the general public are today more aware of TNGOs and their activities, our understanding of their role in global affairs remains limited in three important respects. First, most studies about TNGOs are confined to a specific sector (e.g., human rights, development, or environment) or focus on limited cases of particularly important issue campaigns (e.g., banning landmines). Second, most NGO research is carried out within the boundaries of a particular academic discipline. The results often reinforce the persistence of disciplinary divides and segmented research programs. Third, rarely do studies of TNGOs link an analysis of organizational characteristics to questions of effectiveness and impact. All of these limitations hamper the establishment of a basic descriptive understanding of TNGOs and their role in global affairs.
 

The TNGO Interview Study

The study and data collection at the core of the TNGO Initiative is designed to overcome these three shortcomings. Leaders from 152 US-registered TNGOs spanning five major sectors of transnational activism were interviewed using an interdisciplinary protocol. Topics of the interviews included governance, accountability, effectiveness, collaboration, communication and leadership. Additional secondary data were also collected. The interview study was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF; Grant No. SES-0527679; 'Transnational NGOs as Agents of Change: Toward Understanding Their Governance, Leadership, and Effectiveness'). For results of this research program, please click here.

Rights-based Approaches to Development (RBA)

During the past decade, many TNGOs in the development sector have adopted a rights-based approach (RBA), introducing an explicit rights focus to their strategies and interactions with local communities, civil society, and governments. While most TNGOs use today RBA or related labels to signify this shift, there is no consensus on what defines RBA at the tactical or strategic levels. At the TNGO Initiative, we evaluate the emerging approaches taken by different development organizations and assess which strategies are most promising in employing rights-based efforts as a tool in the struggle against poverty and discrimination. For additional information on this research program, please click here.