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Eco-Leadership in an NGO

Student's Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course

Instructor

Date
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Eco-Leadership in an NGO

Executive Summary

Utilizing the eco-leadership discourse helps adopt a holistic view embedded in qualities

like systemic ethics, organizational belonging, leadership spirit, connectivity, and

interdependence (Western, 2019). Eco-leadership helps the consultant, executive director, and

other officials view an NGO as an ecosystem connected to wider ecosystems that retain talent

and enhance sustainable changes. Notably, eco-leadership maximizes connectivity and

interdependence (Western, 2021). The Chalker Foundation is a renowned NGO operating in

Africa to enhance the healthcare outcomes of patients. Notably, the Chalker Foundation utilizes

eco-leadership to enhance connectivity to external stakeholders that support its operations of

providing sustainable health interventions within sub-Saharan Africa. Eco-leadership enables the

Chalker Foundation to succeed in partnerships with other NGOs within Africa, like AMREF and

EQUINET, that train health workers and offer resources that support their professional practice.

The mission of the Chalker Foundation is to impact the African population with sustainable

healthcare services. Therefore, team of professionals running the Chalker Foundation embraces

eco-leadership and various leadership theories to develop the necessary capabilities for strategic

partnerships in the delivery of healthcare programs.

The Chalker Foundation serves roles supported by a larger group of corporations that

target to improve children's health in local communities. Also, the Chalker Foundation embraces

the belief of distributed leadership learned from its partners like The Foreign, Commonwealth, &

Development Office, Coles-Medlock Foundation, and Souter Charitable Trust (AfriKids, 2023).

At Chalker Foundation, the practiced eco-leadership helps empower the social purpose of
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supporting healthcare programs across Africa. The meta-discourse of eco-leadership ensures the

qualities of connectivity and independence are maximized at the Chalker Foundation. The

leaders embracing the discourse of eco-leadership consider ecosystems in terms of society,

nature, and technology. Society provides social trends, regulations, people, and architecture

considered when making strategic partnerships. Technology is a priority in eco-leadership since

it ensures communication, biotechnology, and computers enhance connectivity. Nature

safeguards resources and is considered by eco-leaders to address climate change, pollution, air

purity, and water resources.

A Consulting Report

As an organization development and leadership consultant of Chalker Foundation, I am

guided by our NGO's history, vision, and status to discuss the eco-leadership qualities that will

be feasible in guiding coordination with the Executive Director to advance programs in Africa.

Connectivity and interdependence

The intertwining of connectivity and interdependence in today's world is profound and

makes them critical qualities for eco-leaders (Western, 2019). Technology connectivity has

enabled global interdependence in trade, information sharing, and cultural exchange, making our

world more interconnected than ever before. Eco-leaders embracing connectivity and

interdependence foster collaboration but also highlight the impact of respecting ecosystems

across NGO departments. Certainly, connectivity and interdependence play a crucial role in

promoting eco-leadership in children's health. Interconnected communities allow for the

exchange of knowledge and best practices in children's health globally, fostering a collective eco-

leadership approach to address common health challenges. Connectivity and interdependence

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networks enable the sharing of resources such as medical expertise, technology, and funding to

support initiatives that enhance children's health on a broader scale.

Connectivity enables the rapid spread of technological innovations related to child

healthcare, supporting eco-leadership through the implementation of advanced solutions that can

positively impact the health and well-being of children worldwide. Moreover, interconnected

networks provide a platform for collective advocacy on global issues affecting children's health

(Kaufman et al., 2019). This interconnectedness enhances the impact of eco-leadership by

influencing policies that prioritize children's health. The theory of social interdependence

supports the quality of connectivity and interdependence (Lawless, 2021). Connectivity allows

for constant communication and interaction, fostering mutual influence among individuals or

groups. This interconnection enhances the dynamics of social interdependence as actions and

decisions. Social interdependence theory underscores the importance of collective goal structure.

Connectivity enables effective coordination and collaboration toward a common objective,

reinforcing the concept of shared interdependence in achieving societal goals.

Systematic ethics

Systematic ethics in the areas of children's health involves establishing ethical

frameworks, guidelines, and decision-making processes to ensure the well-being of children in

healthcare settings (Western, 2019). It addresses issues such as consent, privacy, and the balance

between parental rights and the children's interests. Systematic ethics in eco-leadership

emphasizes sustainable practices that meet the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations. Ethical eco-leadership seeks to distribute resources fairly, ensuring

that all children have access to essential needs such as healthcare and a clean environment.
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However, this promotes a more justice society and prevents inequalities where every child has an

equal opportunity to thrive.

Eco-leadership with a focus on systematic ethics looks to behold short-term gains and

considers the long-term well-being of children. This involves implementing policies and

practices that not only address immediate health concerns but also create conditions for sustained

health and prosperity, promoting a holistic approach to children's development. Systemic ethics

is supported by deontological ethics theory that emphasizes ethical rules and moral duties. In a

systematic context, these rules and duties become a foundation of ethical guidelines within a

society or organization. Systematic structure establishes rules that align with deontological

principles, creating a framework for ethical behavior. Systematic ethics are often embedded in

legal and institutional frameworks. Deontological theory emphasizes adherence to moral

principles, and these principles are frequently reflected in laws and institutional policies, forming

the systemic structure of ethical standards (Chen & Schonger, 2022).

Leadership spirit

Leadership spirit in the areas of children's health involves guiding and inspiring others to

prioritize and address the well-being of children, fostering collaboration among healthcare

professionals, educators, and communities to ensure a holistic approach to children's health.

Leaders instill eco-leadership in children's health by promoting sustainable practices in schools

and teaching them about the importance of a healthy environment for their well-being.

Organizing community clean-up initiatives and tree-planting activities can foster a sense of

responsibility for the environment, instilling leadership qualities as children actively participate

in preserving their surroundings. Incorporating eco-friendly policies in educational institutions

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and leading by example helps to cultivate a culture of environmental consciousness among

children. The ecological theory supports leadership spirit (Grainger et al., 2022). Leadership

spirit recognizes the importance of an interconnected system. In leadership, understanding the

intricate relationship between team members, departments, and external factors is crucial in

mirroring the interconnected ecosystem. Both leadership and ecological system requires

adaptability. A strong leader must adapt their style to different situations, much like how

ecosystems adapt to environmental change. Leadership spirit aligns with ecological theory in its

focus on sustainability. Effective leaders consider the long-term impact of their decisions on the

team and organization just as ecological theory emphasizes the importance of sustainable

practices.

Organizational belonging

Organizational belonging refers to the possession or items owned by an organization. It

involves promoting and providing for children. It can be exercised either through medical

equipment, educational material, or resources aimed at supporting children within an

organizational setting. Eco-leadership promotes organizational belonging. Aspects of

organizational belongings such as funding and medical supplies play a crucial role in eco-

leadership. Effective allocation of these resources ensures sustainable and environmentally

conscious practice within healthcare organizations. Organizational belonging extends to

community outreach and education programs. Eco-leadership in children's health involves

engaging communities in environment-friendly practices. This could range from promoting

outdoor activities to educating families about sustainable living habits. The post-structural theory

is relevant in eco-leadership and promotes the quality of organizational belonging

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(Larsson, 2018). The distribution and management of organizational belongings, such as

financial resources and assets, are integral components of an organizational structure. How

resources are allocated reflects the organizational hierarchy, decision-making process, and

overall structural design.

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References

AfriKids. (2023). Chalker Foundation for Africa. https://www.afrikids.org/chalker/

Chen, D. L., & Schonger, M. (2022). Social preferences or sacred values? Theory and evidence

of deontological motivations. Science Advances, 8(19), eabb3925.

https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abb3925

Grainger, T. N., Senthilnathan, A., Ke, P. J., Barbour, M. A., Jones, N. T., DeLong, J. P., ... &

Germain, R. M. (2022). An empiricist's guide to using ecological theory. The American

Naturalist, 199(1), 1-20.

Kaufman, E. K., Kennedy, R. E., & Cletzer, D. A. (2019). Understanding the nature of eco‐

leadership: A mixed methods study of leadership in community organizations. Journal of

Contemporary Water Research & Education, 167(1), 33-

49. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704x.2019.03310.x

Lawless, W. F. (2021). Exploring the Interdependence Theory of Complementarity with Case

Studies. Autonomous Human–Machine Teams (A-HMTs). Informatics 2021, 8, 14.

Larsson, O. (2018). Advancing post-structural institutionalism: Discourses, subjects, power

asymmetries, and institutional change. Critical Review, 30(3-4), 325-

346. https://doi.org/10.1080/08913811.2018.1567982

Western, S. (2019). Leadership: A critical text (3rd ed.). SAGE.

https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/102241_Sample_Chapter_13_f

rom_Western___Leadership%2C_3e.pdf
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Western, S. (2021, January 26). A brief guide to eco-leadership. Social Science

Space. https://www.socialsciencespace.com/2020/03/a-brief-guide-to-eco-leadership/