SynthesisPloS one2025
Downward accountability mechanism effectiveness by non-governmental organizations in low- and middle-income countries: A qualitative systematic review.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Beneficiary feedback mechanisms: Exploring ways to systematically integrate community feedback in mass drug administration delivery for NTDs.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDownward accountability, defined as being answerable to beneficiaries for actions and giving affected populations influence in aid processes, remains unstandardized and underinvested across the humanitarian sector. Currently, numerous accountability mechanisms are being utilized by humanitarian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the different mechanisms have varying degrees of effectiveness in providing true accountability to affected populations due to significant barriers or strengths in implementation.
objectiveTo conduct a qualitative systematic review investigating the various downward accountability mechanisms employed by non-governmental organizations in LMICs, and to assess the effectiveness of these mechanisms in delivering downward accountability for populations in low-resource settings.
resultsWe searched 10 databases, including PubMed, Medline, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science, Global Health, EBSCO SocINDEX, ABI/INFORM, ALNAP, and Sociological Abstracts from 2008-2023. Grey literature was searched on Google Scholar. To capture any additional articles, the search was updated in November 2024. Our search produced 1521 articles. After applying our exclusion criteria and screening, 38 articles comprised our final dataset. Each article reported on the effectiveness of five downward accountability mechanisms, including participation, ownership, transparency, program auditing, and social auditing. Associated barriers to accountability included implementation, power asymmetry, and fragmentation within the humanitarian sector.
conclusionsThere are significant gaps in research on the effectiveness of downward accountability mechanisms amongst humanitarian NGOs in LMICs. This research deficit adversely affects the sustainability of local development initiatives and, on a broader scale, undermines overall organizational effectiveness. Implementing balanced accountability mechanisms that promote equality in power dynamics is pivotal to achieving meaningful outcomes for affected populations.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.