Funding Insecurity and Organizational Commitment in NGOS and INGOS in Pakistan: A Conceptual Framework of Occupational Stress and Perceived Organizational Support

Abstract

Background: Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and International Non-governmental Organizations (INGOs) may depend on grants, donor commitments, and time-limited projects. When future funding is uncertain, employees can face uncertainty about contract renewal, program continuity, workload and career prospects.

Objectives: This conceptual paper develops a theory-based explanation of how perceived funding insecurity may be associated with occupational stress and organizational commitment in NGOs and INGOs in Pakistan. Major objective is to combine Conservation of Resources theory with Organizational Support Theory and use the Job Demands–Resources perspective as a supporting lens. Occupational stress is proposed as a potential mechanism connecting funding insecurity with commitment, while Perceived Organizational Support (POS) is proposed as a condition that may weaken the negative stress–commitment association.

Methodology: The information for the study was gathered from various online sources including Scopus, Google Scholar, and other online resources especially focusing the social issues. No new data is collected or analysed, and the propositions was treated as theoretical expectations rather than established findings.

Results: Recent research on nonprofit work stress and perceived organizational support suggests that these constructs are relevant to nonprofit settings, while Pakistan-based research has already examined occupational stress among NGO employees. The findings of study do not claim that stress or support has been overlooked altogether; its contribution is the proposed integration of funding insecurity, stress, support, and commitment in one context-sensitive model. Five theoretical propositions are presented for future testing.

Conclusion: This conceptual paper suggests theory-based explanation of the possible relationship between funding insecurity and occupational stress and organizational commitment of NGO and INGO staff in Pakistan. Based on COR theory, it is concluded that lack of funding can be a threat to valuable resources and causes stress. Based on Organizational Support Theory, it is concluded that employees' perception of organizational caring and fair treatment can mitigate the negative relationship between stress and commitment.