Applied Research

Through our close partnership with universities, new research questions and practical experiences are continuously flowing into new research projects. Simultaneously latest research results can be incorporated into our models and methods.
We co-operate closely with a diverse range of Universities: Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, University of St. Gallen, EAFIT University, Colombia, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH), University of Hamburg and University of Basel, Centre for Philantrophy Studies.

A selection of important research projects is presented below:

Governance gaps hinder an optimal program impact
Long-term longitudinal field research at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland (2002-2006)

Effective organisations are characterised by a clear positioning and a professional and innovative implementation process. The co-operation in networks and partnerships is essentially important for internationally active organizations and in particular those working in the development sector. Deficiencies in these areas may cause the loss or waste of resources, ideas for innovation and impact potentials. Scientific research calls this problem a governance-gap.

Organizations are often not aware of the existence of such gaps or the lost potentials. A longitudinal field research at the University of St. Gallen with Prof. Dr. Patrick Renz shows the influenceable factors with which governance gaps can be overcome. Today, Aid Governance supports its partners in finding and resolving those governance gaps and in the sustainable use of their potentials.

New NPO Governance
Research project and publication in collaboration with the Institute for Leadership and Human Resource Management (Institut für Führungs- und Personalmanagement), the Center for Corporate Governance of the University of St. Gallen and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. (2008-2009)

The project answers the question of how the management task and the collaboration between the executives and the management board in not-for-profit organizations can be structured effectively and oriented towards a maximum impact. The results can be obtained in a handbook with case studies and checklists.

Sustainable NGO Governance and Change Processes
Research study of several years in collaboration with Universities in Europe, Brazil and Colombia. (2008-2012)

Sustainable governance of NGOs needs holistic models and integrated systemic approaches. Apart from the Aid Governance approach, there are very few scientific models, which can measure the impact orientation. The research project broadens the topic to include impact- and change process factors with a special focus on the millennium development goals.

International development ethics – organisational integrity of development projects
Presentation at the International Development Ethics Association conference, Uganda 2006

What does «integrity» mean for the realization of a development project or program? Certain projects simply lack the concept of the terms, or the verbal finesse to describe a moral understanding. Daily intercultural and ethical challenges might overwhelm the project and its participants. The article presents a normative framework and defines what integrity means for a development project. Various examples illustrate how development projects can systematically tackle ethical challenges as part of their every day work. 

From evaluation to Change: Governance Assessments as a valuable instrument
Presentation at the global conference of the International Development Evaluation Association, Johannesburg 2009

An innovative concept of standardised governance assessments, as are incorporated by projects, programs and NGOs, can overcome difficulties of evaluations. Recommended is the approach via the organizations governance and its operationalisation. A direct link between the performance and the decision-making process of the organization is the result. This will have a positive impact on all changes.