The Role of NGOs

In this Session
Learn how NGOs participate in the
intergovernmental arena, including the
negotiation of MEAs. Consider the value of
NGO roles.
Defining NGOs
NGOs at the UN and in MEAs
Defining Objectives: different NGO roles in
negotiations

Defining Non-Governmental
Organisations
How do you describe an NGO? One survey found 48 different
terms and acronyms. Here is a sample:
BINGOs
Big International NGOs
BONGOs
Business Organized NGOs
CBOs
Community Based Organizations
CSOs
Civil Society Organizations
ENGOs
Environmental NGOs
GONGOs Government Organized NGOs

IPOs
Indigenous Peoples Organizations
GROs
Grassroots Organizations
GSCOs
Global Social Change
Organizations
NPOs
Nonprofit Organizations
VOs
Voluntary Organizations

In short, there is no agreed terminology for describing the NGO sector.

In some ways, it is easier to describe what NGOs are not, rather than what they are.
It is generally agreed that NGOs are not:
part of government, or
organized primarily for private profit.

Defining NGOs: What the UN Says

From the UN Department of Public

Information: NGO refers to a non-profit
citizens voluntary entity organized nationally or
internationally. Thus, professional associations,
foundations, trade unions, religious
organisations, womens and youth groups,
cooperative associations, development and
human rights associations, environmental
protection groups, research institutes dealing
with international affairs and associations of
parliamentarians are considered NGOs.

Defining NGOs: What the UN Says

From the Report of the Panel of Eminent Persons on

United NationsCivil Society Relations: Non-governmental
organization (NGO). All organizations of relevance to the United
Nations that are not central Governments and were not created
by intergovernmental decision, including associations of
businesses, parliamentarians and local authorities. There is
considerable confusion surrounding this term in United Nations
circles. Elsewhere, NGO has become shorthand for publicbenefit NGOs a type of civil society organization that is
formally constituted to provide a benefit to the general public or
the world at large through the provision of advocacy or services.
They include organizations devoted to environment,
development, human rights and peace and their international
networks. They may or may not be membership-based. The
Charter of the United Nations provides for consultations with
NGOs.

NGOs, civil society, or major

groups?
The Panel described civil society in the following way:
the associations of citizens (outside their families,
friends and businesses) entered into voluntarily to
advance their interests, ideas and ideologies. The term
does not include profit-making activity (the private
sector) or governing (the public sector). Of particular
relevance to the United Nations are mass organizations
(such as organizations of peasants, women or retired
people), trade unions, professional associations, social
movements, indigenous peoples organizations,
religious and spiritual organizations, academe and
public benefit non-governmental organizations.

NGOs, civil society, or major

groups?
Major Groups is a term
that was introduced in
Agenda 21, agreed by
governments at the Rio
Earth Summit. It
describes nine sectors of
society identified as
having a significant role
in sustainable
development:

women
children and youth
indigenous people
NGOs
Local authorities
Workers and trade unions
business and industry
the scientific and
technical community
farmers

Stakeholders: Yet another term!

Stakeholders:
Those who have an interest in a particular
decision, either as individuals or representatives
of a group. This includes people who influence
a decision, or can influence it, as well as those
affected by it.

NGOs at the UN
Ten years ago there was little talk of civil society in the
corridors of power, but now the walls reverberate with at
least the rhetoric of partnership, participation, and the
role of citizens groups in promoting sustainable
development
The number of NGOs who are active at the UN
has grown rapidly, especially since the 1990s.

NGOs at the UN
NGOs in Consultative Status with ECOSOC

NGOs in Consultative Status

3000
2613
2379
2234
2151
2050
1938

2500
2000

1505

1500

1184
1041
886
784
744

1000
500
0
1940

180

40

1950

1960

1970

1980
Year

1990

2000

2010

NGOs in Intergovernmental
Processes
4 important functions:
Setting agendas
Negotiating outcomes
Conferring legitimacy
Implementing solutions

Role of NGOs in MEAs

Enhancing the knowledge base

Advocacy and lobbying
Membership in national delegations
Contribution to compliance review and enforcement as
well as dispute settlement procedures
Ensuring transparency
Supporting international secretariats
Broader functions of NGOs in international
environmental governance

UNEPs approach to CS
Service-delivery organizations that develop, monitor and
implement projects/programmes or services; these CSOs are often
based at the grassroots level or work closely with community-based
organizations (CBOs).
Representation organizations that aggregate citizen voices; these
include CSO umbrella and network organizations and indigenous
peoples groups.
Advocacy and policy inputs organizations that provide expertise
and lobby on particular issues; these include think-tanks, researchoriented institutions and watchdog institutions.
Capacity building organizations that provide support to other
CSOs, including funding, training and raising awareness; these
institutions include foundations and major NGOs.
Social functions organizations that foster collective social activities,
including religious groups.

Considering the role of NGOs

The following quotes suggest some different opinions of the role of NGOs. What do
you think?

[A] NGOs are

tugboats in
international
channels.
[B] social
movements take
an unlikely idea,
make it seem
feasible, and then
put it into
practice.

[C] civil society is not just a

resting place for social
movements on their way to the
state. It is meaningful and
sometimes crucial as a site of
political action in its own right.

[D] the rise of the global

idiots any group with a
fax machine and a modem
has the potential to distort
public debate .

In Summary

Terminology around NGOs varies. They are defined by the UN

as non-profit citizens voluntary entities organized nationally or
internationally.
A range of other terms are used almost interchangeably,
particularly stakeholders, civil society and major groups.
NGOs have been involved in the UN since its inception; the rate
of involvement has grown exponentially. Different agencies of
the UN have their own accreditation arrangements (see Module
Seven).
NGOs bring knowledge and information, new issues and expert
advice to intergovernmental negotiations and can play different
roles, including:

In Summary

Setting agendas
Negotiating outcomes (by proposing alternative
language and solutions)
Conferring legitimacy
Implementing solutions
Sometimes, a choice has to be made about
working inside or outside official processes.
Both have pros and cons, and the decision
needs to be taken carefully.