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What is an NGO?

Blog #1: Role of NGOs

Ever heard of “non-profit” or “not-for-profit”? NGOs are its international equivalent. Well, sort of. NGO stands for non-governmental organization and are sometimes referred to simply as private voluntary organizations[1]. NGOs are voluntary groups of individuals or organizations (entity) organized at the local, national or international level[2]  and operate independent of the government. These organizations play a crucial role in addressing a range of human such as health, human rights, public policy, environmental protection, and disaster relief[3​] .  There are two main groups of NGOs: operational NGOs, which focus on development projects; and advocacy NGOs, which are organized to promote particular causes. 

The term "non-governmental organization" was first coined in 1945, upon the creation of the United Nations (UN)[4] . Any kind of private organization that is independent of government control can be termed an "NGO", provided it is not-for-profit. At its best, NGOs are “task-oriented” entities run by individuals with a common interest. 

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Figure 1. Sample NGO logo. Many NGO logos are characterized by a hand (or hands), to indicate a helping hand, carrying the globe, to signify a global reach.

Also known as civil society organizations, since they are founded by citizens and operates in the community, in a way that is distinct from government and from businesses, NGOs typically serve as community advocates, sometimes monitoring government policies and encouraging political participation through provision of information and other services[5].

Who funds NGOs?

NGOs are often funded by donations, with many relying on a large number of small donations, rather than a small number of large donations. These awards may come from any given arm of the United Nations (UN), foreign governments, or philanthropic entities. 

UN agencies include: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank. Foreign government donors include: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), and the Department for International Development (DfID). And the major philanthropic organizations include: Gates Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, and MacArthur Foundation. These funders develop partnerships NGOs to help them deliver services, enrich democratic processes, and meet constituent needs[6].

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NGO orientation

  • Charitable orientation often a top-down effort with little participation by the beneficiaries. This includes NGOs dedicated to meeting the needs of the poor through activities like distribution of food, clothing, or medicine and providing services such as housing, transport, and schools. These NGOs may also undertake relief activities during natural or man-made disasters.

  • Service orientation includes the provision of healthcare, family planning, or education services in which the program is run by the NGO staff while the beneficiaries assist with carrying out the necessary activities alongside benefitting from the service.

  • Participatory orientation is characterized by self-help projects where beneficiaries are involved in implementing the project’s activities by contributing cash, tools, land, materials, labor etc. Participatory oriented NGOs are very similar to cooperatives.

  • Empowering orientation aim to help citizens develop a clearer understanding of social, political, and economic factors affecting their lives, and heighten the awareness of the potential power that they have in being able to have some sort of control in their lives. Empowerment groups sometimes develop spontaneously around a problem or an issue and other times the NGO plays a facilitating role in their development[7] . 

Types of NGOs

  • Community-based organizations (CBOs): typically emerge from personal initiatives. And may include sports clubs, women’s organizations, neighborhood organizations, and religious or educational organizations. Some CBOs are dedicated to raising awareness among the urban poor, for example, helping them understand their rights in gaining access to services. Other CBOs are involved in providing such services.

  • Citywide organizations: include the likes of the Rotary or Lion’s Club, chambers of commerce and industry, coalitions of business, ethnic or educational groups and associations of community organizations.

  • National NGOs: include the likes of the Red Cross, YMCAs and YWCAs, professional organizations, etc. Some National NGOs have state branches and assist local NGOs.

  • International NGOs: these range from secular agencies to religiously motivated groups, i.e., faith-based organizations (FBOs). Their undertakings include funding local NGOs, institutions, and projects, to implementing the project[8] . 

[4] Davies, T. (2014). NGOs: A new history of transnational civil society. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-938753-3.

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