V
Linkages, Context, and Effective
Organizational Performance
Two additional factors are held to influence the performance of organizations
at the local level: linkages with other local organizations, and the
context in which those organizations operate. These are considered in turn
in this section.
Linkages
A dense network of linkages is often associated with higher levels of performance
of an organization and to better development outcomes for individuals.
The significance of three specific linkages for performance of
functions by local organizations is assessed here: local organization’s linkages
with village-level elected governments; with other local organizations,
ranging from village to district levels; and with LDs. Linkages are first
assessed descriptively and then regression analysis is used to identify significant
associations between the linkages an organization has and its quality
of performance of the nine major functions.
Linkages with Village-Level Elected Governments
Linkages with elected government at the village level vary by sector and by
organizational type, but are generally high. Half of the local organizations
in the women’s development sector, nearly 80 percent in the water and sanitation
sector, and just over 70 percent in the watershed sector have linkages
with GPs (table 19).
In the women’s development sector, in which linkages are fewest,
project-initiated CBOs are more likely to link with GPs than any other CBO.
The relationship is slightly more common in Madhya Pradesh than in
Karnataka. In the water supply and sanitation sector, administrative government
bodies always link with elected governments in Karnataka, but
seldom do in Uttaranchal. In Karnataka, all project-initiated CBOs connect
to elected governments, but in Uttaranchal the figure is lower at 66 percent.
In the watershed sector, in which three-quarters of all organizations
link to GPs, figures are higher in Karnataka than in Uttaranchal.