Project Management : Governing Projects in NGOs

Abstract Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) operate in environments characterized by structural complexity, donor-driven accountability requirements, and heterogeneous operational capacities. Unlike commercial enterprises, NGOs do not merely execute projects; they are fundamentally structured by them. This article proposes a decision-support framework for project governance in NGOs, grounded in a lifecycle perspective and aligned with European Union and international institutional standards. By comparing PM², ISO 21502, PMBOK, and PRINCE2 across the NGO lifecycle, the article provides practitioners and decision-makers with pragmatic guidance for selecting, combining, and adapting project management and governance frameworks without introducing unnecessary organizational rigidity.