Each LCD is an independent organization headed by an Executive. Each LCD organization is governed by its own board of directors/trustees to whom the Chief Executive reports. Currently LCD Malawi and LCD Ethiopia are registered as branches of LCD rather than local NGOs.

The rapid growth in the number of LCD organizations in recent years, particularly since 2005, has brought with it the challenges of managing a family of nine independent, yet interdependent, organizations. In order to meet this challenge an International Management Team (IMT) has been established to coordinate the management of activities in different countries and of group-wide activities. The IMT meets 2-3 times per year and is made up of the chief executives of each LCD organization in addition to a group Finance Director, who oversees the finances of the entire group.  The IMT is co-ordinated by the Group CEO who is based in South Africa.

In terms of governance of the group, initial steps have been taken toward the establishment of LCD International, which will be an independently registered organization tasked with preserving the vision, principles and ethos of LCD and overseeing and regulating interaction between the various LCD organizations. The board of LCD International will include representatives of the boards of the individual LCD organizations. LCDI will be managed by a Group CEO with the support of a Group Finance Director and other specialist staff.