Collective Governance: An Alternative Model of Third Sector Governance

The prevailing picture of good governance in the third sector in Asia is similar to that of the West. Its organisations are formally constituted, complete with constitution and bylaws, and registered with the government agency designated to perform that function. They have a policymaking board and an implementing team including volunteer and paid staff. They conduct annual general meetings and strategic planning and submit themselves to regular audit. This project found this ‘corporate governance’ model as exemplifying ‘good governance’ according to most of the knowledgeable people we interviewed in China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.