ABSTRACT
As corporate governance and accountability frameworks increasingly encompass stakeholders and reflect a growing consciousness of the larger societal context—where individuals, communities and organisations co-exist—there should be less divergence between what is understood as accountability for the private, 'not-for-profit' and the public sectors. Non-profit organisations have started to introduce processes intended to demonstrate ethical conduct and accountability. A growing repository of examples can be found on websites maintained by not-for-profit organisations dedicated to corporate responsibility, sustainability and social partnerships. True stakeholder engagement creates the nexus for the learning and a framework around which organisations in all three sectors can build effective, sustainable partnerships that are economically, environmentally and socially viable. There is growing consensus that it is not sufficient for the 'terms of engagement' to be mutually understood and standards observed by the relevant party, if there are no consistent means to assure and evaluate adherence.
