Integrating Digital Innovation and Sustainability to Build Resilient NGOs and NPOs in Global Rural Contexts: An Interdisciplinary Approach
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Keywords

Digital innovation
Sustainability
NGOs
NPOs
Organizational resilience
Rural development

How to Cite

Louis, A. (2025). Integrating Digital Innovation and Sustainability to Build Resilient NGOs and NPOs in Global Rural Contexts: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Journal of Interdisciplinary Knowledge, 8(knowledge), e01634. https://doi.org/10.37497/jik.v8iknowledge.1634

Abstract

Purpose: This study investigates how digital innovation and sustainability can be strategically integrated to strengthen the resilience of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) operating in global rural contexts. It examines how the convergence of these paradigms enhances organizational efficiency, transparency, and long-term adaptability in low-resource environments.

Design/Methodology/Approach: Grounded in socio-technical systems theory and resilience theory, the study adopts an interdisciplinary mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and case studies across rural NGOs/NPOs in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. It analyzes how digital tools—such as blockchain-enabled transparency, cloud-based collaboration, big data analytics, and mobile connectivity—interact with sustainability frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Triple Bottom Line (People, Planet, Profit) to foster organizational resilience.

Findings: Findings demonstrate that digital innovation significantly enhances operational efficiency and accountability, while sustainability frameworks institutionalize adaptive capacity and community trust. The integration of these approaches yields synergistic benefits—improving governance, donor confidence, and social impact. However, challenges persist, including digital illiteracy, infrastructural deficits, and ethical concerns about data privacy and dependency on external technologies.

Research Limitations/Implications: The research highlights contextual disparities between developed and developing regions, emphasizing the need for culturally adaptable and scalable models of digital–sustainability integration.

Originality/Value: This study contributes a holistic conceptual framework for building resilient, transparent, and sustainable nonprofit organizations, offering actionable insights for policymakers, development agencies, and practitioners committed to inclusive rural development worldwide.

https://doi.org/10.37497/jik.v8iknowledge.1634
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