Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

Chapter one

OVERVIEW OF NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

1.1What are Nongovernmental Organizations?

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is any non-profit, voluntary citizens' group which is
organized on a local, national or international level. Task-oriented and driven by people with a
common interest, NGOs perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen
concerns to Governments, advocate and monitor policies and encourage political participation
through provision of information. Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights,
environment or health. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early warning mechanisms and
help monitor and implement international agreements.

Usually set up by ordinary citizens, NGOs may be funded by governments, foundations, businesses,
or private persons. Some avoid formal funding altogether and are run primarily by volunteers. NGOs
are highly diverse groups of organizations engaged in a wide range of activities, and take different
forms in different parts of the world. Some may have charitable status, while others may be
registered for tax exemption based on recognition of social purposes. Others may be fronts for
political, religious or other interest groups.

The number of NGOs in the United States is estimated at 1.5 million.[1] Russia has 277,000 NGOs.[2]
India is estimated to have had around 2 million NGOs in 2009, just over one NGO per 600 Indians,
and many times the number of primary schools and primary health centres in India.[3][4]

NGOs are difficult to define, and the term 'NGO' is rarely used consistently. As a result, there are
many different classifications in use. The most common focus is on 'orientation' and 'level of
operation'. An NGO's orientation refers to the type of activities it takes on. These activities might
include human rights, environmental, or development work. An NGO's level of operation indicates
the scale at which an organization works, such as local, regional, national or international.[5]

The term "non-governmental organization" was first coined in 1945, when the United Nations (UN)
was created.[6] The UN, itself an inter-governmental organization, made it possible for certain
approved specialized international non-state agencies—i.e., non-governmental organizations—to be
awarded observer status at its assemblies and some of its meetings. Later the term became used more
widely. Today, according to the UN, any kind of private organization that is independent from
government control can be termed an "NGO", provided it is not-for-profit, non-criminal and not
simply an opposition political party.
1
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

One characteristic these diverse organizations share is that their non-profit status means they are not
hindered by short-term financial objectives. Accordingly, they are able to devote themselves to
issues which occur across longer time horizons, such as climate change, malaria prevention or a
global ban on landmines. Public surveys reveal that NGOs often enjoy a high degree of public trust,
which can make them a useful - but not always sufficient - proxy for the concerns of society and
stakeholders

The diversity of NGOs strains any simple definition. They include many groups and institutions that
are entirely or largely independent of government and that have primarily humanitarian or
cooperative rather than commercial objectives. They are private agencies in industrial countries that
support international development; indigenous groups organized regionally or nationally; and
member-groups in villages. NGOs include charitable and religious associations that mobilize private
funds for development, distribute food and family planning services and promote community
organization. They also include independent cooperatives, community associations, water-user
societies, women's groups and pastoral associations. Citizen Groups that raise awareness and
influence policy are also NGOs"

- World Bank

An NGO is . . .

NGO

 A non-profit making, voluntary, service-oriented/development oriented organization,

either for the benefit of members (a grassroots organization) or of other members of
the population (an agency).

NGO

 It is an organization of private individuals who belive in certain basic social principles

and who structure their activities to bring about development to communities that they
are servicing.

NGO

 Social development organization assisting in empowerment of people.

2
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

NGO

 An organization or group of people working independent of any external control with

specific objectives and aims to fulfil tasks that are oriented to bring about desirable
change in a given community or area or situation.

NGO

 An independent, democratic, non-setarian peoples organization working for the

empowerment of economic and/or socially marginalized groups.

NGO

 An organization not affiliated to political parties, generally engaged in working for

aid, development and welfare of the community.

NGO

 Organization committed to the root causes of the problems trying to better the quality
of life especially for the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized in urban and rural
areas.

NGO

 Organizations established by and for the community without or with little intervention
from the government; they are not only a charity organization, but work on socio-
economic-cultural activities.

NGO

 An organization that is flexible and democratic in its organization and attempts to serve the
people without profit for itself.

3
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are now recognized as key third sector actors on the
landscapes of development, human rights, humanitarian action, environment, and many other areas
of public action.

A non-governmental organization (NGO, also often referred to as "civil society organization" or

CSO) is a not-for-profit group, principally independent from government, which is organized on a
local, national or international level to address issues in support of the public good. Task-oriented
and made up of people with a common interest, NGOs perform a variety of services and
humanitarian functions, bring public concerns to governments, monitor policy and programme
implementation, and encourage participation of civil society stakeholders at the community level.
Some are organized around specific issues, such as human rights.

NGOs have been partners of the United Nations since 1947. In accordance with Article 71 of the UN
Charter, NGOs can have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). Their relationship with entities of the United Nations system differs depending on their
location and mandate. For example, NGOs which have an information component can become
associated with the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) to help disseminate information on
the work and aims of the Organization. Many UN Specialized Agencies operate their own
accreditation programmes for NGOs which are relevant to their area of work.

Numerous local, regional and international NGOs have played an essential role in national rule of
law reform processes and at the global and international level. Some conduct research and analysis in
the legal and other fields (e.g. sociology, economics) relevant to the rule of law. In many cases, they
produce reports with policy recommendations, for use in their advocacy. NGOs often serve as early
warning mechanisms and help monitor and implement international agreements. Others group
professionals or other NGOs in specialized fields or professions into associations, networks or
commissions with a view to exchanging knowledge and good practices, and facilitating the provision
of rule of law assistance. Most non-governmental organizations in the rule of law field are engaged
in some form of direct assistance or services, including advising on law-making and other forms of
technical assistance, and/or fund and manage rule of law projects.

The number of national and local NGOs worldwide that engage in such rule of law activities is vast.
This page therefore provides information only about a range of international and regional NGOs that
conduct one of several of these activities. For ease of reference, they are categorized broadly by the
type of organization.

4
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

Apart from "NGO", there are many alternative or overlapping terms in use, including: third sector
organization (TSO), non-profit organization (NPO), voluntary organization (VO), civil society
organization (CSO), grassroots organization (GO), social movement organization (SMO), private
voluntary organization (PVO), self-help organization (SHO) and non-state actors (NSAs).

Governmental related organizations / non-governmental organizations are a heterogeneous group. As

a result, a long list of additional acronyms has developed, including:

 BINGO: 'Business-friendly international NGO' or 'Big international NGO'

 SBO: 'Social Benefit Organization,' a positive, goal-oriented designation as an substitute for
the negative, "Non-" designations
 TANGO: 'Technical assistance NGO'
 TSO: 'Third-sector organization'
 GONGO: 'Government-operated NGOs' (set up by governments to look like NGOs in order
to qualify for outside aid or promote the interests of government)
 DONGO: 'Donor organized NGO'
 INGO: 'International NGO'
 QUANGO: 'Quasi-autonomous NGO,' such as the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO). (The ISO is actually not purely an NGO, since its membership is by
nation, and each nation is represented by what the ISO Council determines to be the 'most
broadly representative' standardization body of a nation. That body might itself be a
nongovernmental organization; for example, the United States is represented in ISO by the
American National Standards Institute, which is independent of the federal government.
However, other countries can be represented by national governmental agencies; this is the
trend in Europe.)
 National NGO: A non-governmental organization that exists only in one country. This term is
rare due to the globalization of non-governmental organizations, which causes an NGO to
exist in more than one country.
 CSO: 'Civil Society Organization'
 ENGO: 'Environmental NGO,' such as Greenpeace and WWF
 NNGO: 'Northern NGO'
 PANGO: 'Party NGO,' set up by parties and disguised as NGOs to serve their political
matters.
 SNGO: 'Southern NGO'

5
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

 SCO: 'Social change organization'

 TNGO: 'Transnational NGO.' The term emerged during the 1970s due to the increase of
environmental and economic issues in the global community. TNGO includes non-
governmental organizations that are not confined to only one country, but exist in two or
more countries.
 GSO: Grassroots Support Organization
 MANGO: 'Market advocacy NGO'
 NGDO: 'Non-governmental development organization'

USAID refers to NGOs as private voluntary organizations. However, many scholars have argued
that this definition is highly problematic as many NGOs are in fact state- or corporate-funded and
-managed projects and have professional staff.

Unique feature of NGOs

Voluntary
they are formed voluntarily: there is nothing in the legal, statutory framework of any country which
requires them to be formed or prevents them from being formed; and

there will be an element of voluntary participation in the organisation: whether in the form of small
numbers of board members or large numbers of members or beneficiaries giving their time
voluntarily.
The word “voluntary” distinguishes NGOs operating in democratic societies from government – i.e.
statutory – agencies. It thus has two meanings in the definition. Insofar as the formation of NGOs is
concerned it means non-compulsory, or non statutory – i.e. formed voluntarily. It also means that
there is an element of unpaid voluntary work contributed to the organisation, most commonly by
Board members not receiving payment for their work (see note 3 below), but also (and possibly on a
large scale in some organisations) by voluntary, unpaid work performed by members and/or
beneficiaries. It should be stressed, however, that it is wrong to assume or require that all NGOs are
or should be characterised by being entirely or largely dependent on voluntary labour.

Independent: Within the laws of society, they are controlled by those who have formed them, or by
Boards of Management to which such people have delegated, or are required by law to delegate,
responsibility for control and management. The term “Board(s) of Management” is used as a general
descriptive one. The constitutions of individual NGOs and/or the laws under which they register and
function may use other terms, such as “Trustee(s)”, “Director(s)”, etc. Depending on the nature of the
organisations, Boards may be selected or elected. Boards may also include, as voting members, paid

6
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

employees of the organisation, usually in a minority, or co-opted to be in attendance without having

voting rights. In such cases they are, like other Board members, not paid for their attendance or work
on Boards, but for their other duties.
Not-for-profit: They are not for personal private profit or gain, although:
NGOs may have employees, like other enterprises, who are paid for what they do. But in NGOs, the
employers – Boards of Management – are not paid for the work they perform on Boards, beyond
(most commonly) being reimbursed for expenses they incur in the course of performing their Board
duties.
NGOs may engage in revenue-generating activities. They do not, however, distribute profits or
surpluses to shareholders or members. They use revenues generated solely in pursuit of their aims.
Not self-serving in aims and related values :
The aims of NGOs are to improve the circumstances and prospects of disadvantaged people who are
unable to realize their potential or achieve their full rights in society, through direct or indirect forms
of action ; and/or to act on concerns and issues which are detrimental to the well-being, circumstances
or prospects of people or society as a whole. This includes self-help and people’s organisations
formed by or among disadvantaged people in order to help themselves and reduce inequalities
between themselves and other sections of society.

7
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

History of NGOs

International non-governmental organizations have a history dating back to at least the late eighteenth
century. It has been estimated that by 1914, there were 1083 NGOs. International NGOs were important
in the anti-slavery movement and the movement for women's suffrage, and reached a peak at the time of
the World Disarmament Conference. However, the phrase "non-governmental organization" only came
into popular use with the establishment of the United Nations Organization in 1945 with provisions in
Article 71 of Chapter 10 of the United Nations Charter for a consultative role for organizations which
are neither governments nor member states—see Consultative Status. The definition of "international
NGO" (INGO) is first given in resolution 288 (X) of ECOSOC on February 27, 1950: it is defined as
"any international organization that is not founded by an international treaty". The vital role of NGOs
and other "major groups" in sustainable development was recognized in Chapter 27 of Agenda 21,
leading to intense arrangements for a consultative relationship between the United Nations and non-
governmental organizations.

Rapid development of the non-governmental sector occurred in western countries as a result of the
processes of restructuring of the welfare state.

Globalization during the 20th century gave rise to the importance of NGOs. Many problems could not
be solved within a nation. International treaties and international organizations such as the World Trade
Organization were centered mainly on the interests of capitalist enterprises. In an attempt to
counterbalance this trend, NGOs have developed to emphasize humanitarian issues, developmental aid
and sustainable development.

The first organizations in Ethiopia which can be defined as NGOs were traditional self help systems.
They existed in the country for centuries before they started to develop some sort of structure. In time
developing further, some were registered as proper organizations and today they are better known as
Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Some of these early self help systems were the Debo and
Afarsata which were systems providing mutual aid and reconciliation. Today the commonly known self-
help systems are Ekub and Edir which is a rotating saving and credit system.

8
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

In 1960 both foreign and local NGOs were established when these self-help groups could no longer
suffice to support the needy of the country. The first NGOs as we know them today, that were
established in the country were the Ethiopian Red Cross and Swedish Save the Children. Following this
and the famine of 1973 and later of 1984, the number of NGOs increased and these were mostly
international. Later on with the change in government in 1990 a more conducive environment was
established further encouraging the growth of NGOs in Ethiopia. This time as their numbers increased
more local NGOs flourished.  Today 90% of NGOs operating in the country are local.

In 1998 it was reported that around 240 local and international NGOs were registered in Ethiopia.
Currently, the number has risen above 350. Considering this number we can say that the NGO sector in
the country as compared with Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti and Somalia is large. However, when compared
to other countries in Africa this is small.

The history of NGOs in Ethiopia began by providing relief services, which lasted for a long time. With
an improvement in the situation after the famine, the focus of NGOs shifted towards rehabilitating
people in need. This was then gradually followed by NGOs involvement in development programs.
Although a large majority of the NGO sector undertakes development programs today, because of
recurring drought in certain pocket areas of the country, there are NGOs which undertake relief activity
alongside their development programs.  A further improvement in their development work is the
establishment of few advocating NGOs.  Today, NGOs advocate on different policy issues that have
implication on their work and/or beneficiaries.

Types of Nongovernmental Organizations

Nongovernmental organizations come in many forms, sizes and types. Many are religiously oriented,
regionally based, technically specialized, or community based organizations. Most are small, though the
more well-known are worldwide entities with international umbrellas and national chapters. When an
NGO is created it establishes a mission or vision statement, and a series of objectives and goals that
guide it as an organization. If an NGO is founded with the mission of responding to disaster victims that
are children, for example, it will seek to raise funds, capacity, and knowhow to deliver programming to

9
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

assist child victims of a disaster. The focus may also be regional, country specific, or to provide a
specific service.

The global community of NGOs encompasses a wide range of organizations, which can usually be
categorized into four basic types:
 humanitarian aid, both emergency response and developmental
 advocacy groups such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty, and Physicians for Human Rights
 faith-based groups are humanitarian aid groups originally founded on faith principles but do not
use religion as a part of the aid given (Mercy Corps)
 missionary aid groups seek to “spread the word” using humanitarian aid to access to those who
need conversion, more or less conditional aid (Samaritan’s Purse, Hope Ships
Types of NGOs: by orientation and level of Operation
NGO types can be understood by their orientation and level of operation.
NGO types by orientation:

 Charitable Orientation often involves a top-down paternal istic effort with little
participation by the "beneficiaries". It includes NGOs with activities directed toward
meeting the needs of the poor -distribution of food, clothing or medicine; provision of
housing, transport, schools etc. Such NGOs may also undertake relief activities during a
natural or man-made disaster.
 Service Orientation includes NGOs with activities such as the provision of health,
family planning or education services in which the programe is designed by the NGO and
people are expected to participate in its implementation and in receiving the service.
 Participatory Orientation is characterized by self-help projects where local people are
involved particularly in the implementation of a project by contributing cash, tools, land,
materials, labour etc. In the classical community development project, participation
begins with the need definition and continues into the planning and implementation
stages. Cooperatives often have a participatory orientation.
 Empowering Orientation is where the aim is to help poor people develop a clearer
understanding of the social, political and economic factors affecting their lives, and to
strengthen their awareness of their own potential power to control their lives. Sometimes,

10
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

these groups develop spontaneously around a problem or an issue, at other times outside
workers from NGOs play a facilitating role in their development. In any case, there is
maximum involvement of the people with NGOs acting as facilitators.

NGO Types by level of operation:

 Community-based Organizations (CBOs) arise out of people's own initiatives. These

can include sports clubs, women's organizations, neighborhood organizations, religious
or educational organizations. There are a large variety of these, some supported by
NGOs, national or international NGOs, or bilateral or international agencies, and others
independent of outside help. Some are devoted to rising the consciousness of the urban
poor or helping them to understand their rights in gaining access to needed services while
others are involved in providing such services.
 Citywide Organizations include organizations such as the Rotary or lion's Club,
chamber of commerce and industry, coalitions of business, ethnic or educational groups
and associations of community organizations. Some exist for other purposes, and become
involved in helping the poor as one of many activities, while others are created for the
specific purpose of helping the poor.
 National NGOs include organizations such as the Red Cross, YMCAs/YWCAs,
professional organizations etc. Some of these have state and cuty branches and assist
local NGOs.
 International NGOs range from secular gencies such as Redda BArna and Save the
Children org1anizations, OXFAM, CARE, Ford and Rockefeller Foundations to
religiously motivated groups. Their activities vary from mainly funding local NGOs,
institutions and projects, to implementing the projects themselves.

NGOs can be distinguished into two groups: Operational and advocacy NGOs. This may be interpreted
as the choice between small-scale change achieved directly through projects and large-scale change
promoted indirectly through influence on the political system.
Operational NGOs have to mobilize resources, in the form of financial donations, materials or
volunteer labor, in order to sustain their projects and programs. This process may require quite complex

11
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

organization. Finance obtained from grants or contracts, from governments, foundations or companies,
require time and expertise spent on planning, preparing applications, budgeting, accounting and
reporting. Major fund-raising events require skills in advertising, media relations and motivating
supporters. Thus, operational NGOs need to possess an efficient headquarters bureaucracy, in addition to
the operational staff in the field.
Advocacy NGOs will carry out much the same functions, but with a different balance between them.
Fund-raising is still necessary, but on a smaller scale and it can serve the symbolic function of
strengthening the donors' identification with the cause. Persuading people to donate their time is
necessary, but, in addition to a small number of people giving a great deal of time, it is also necessary to
be able to mobilize large numbers for brief periods. External donors may not impose onerous
administrative burdens, but supporters still have to be supplied with information on an efficient regular
basis. Major events will aim to attract favorable publicity rather than raise funds. Therefore, despite their
differences, both operational and advocacy NGOs need to engage in fund-raising, mobilization of work
by supporters, organizing special events, cultivating the media and administering a headquarters. Only
the defining activities – implementing projects or holding demonstrations – serve to differentiate them.
In reality, the distinctions are not as sharp as the labels suggest. Operational NGOs often move into
advocacy when projects regularly face similar problems and the impact of the projects seems to be
insufficient. All the large development and environment operational NGOs now run some regular
campaigns, at least by supporting campaigning networks. Similarly, advocacy NGOs often feel they
cannot ignore the immediate practical problems of people in their policy domain. Human rights NGOs
and women's NGOs end up having programs to assist the victims of discrimination and injustice.

Critiques of NGOs

Issa G. Shivji is one of Africa's leading experts on law and development issues as an author and
academic. His critique on NGOs is found in two essays: "Silences in NGO discourse: The role and
future of NGOs in Africa" and "Reflections on NGOs in Tanzania: What we are, what we are not and
what we ought to be". Shivji argues that despite the good intentions of NGO leaders and activists, he is
critical of the "objective effects of actions, regardless of their intentions". Shivji argues also that the
sudden rise of NGOs are part of a neoliberal paradigm rather than pure altruistic motivations. He is

12
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

critical of the current manifestations of NGOs wanting to change the world without understanding it, and
that the imperial relationship continues today with the rise of NGOs.

James Pfeiffer, in his case study of NGO involvement in Mozambique, speaks to the negative
effects that NGO's have had on areas of health within the country. He argues that over the last decade,
NGO's in Mozambique have "fragmented the local health system, undermined local control of health
programs, and contributed to growing local social inequality".

He notes further that NGO's can be uncoordinated, creating parallel projects among different
organizations, that pull health service workers away from their routine duties in order to serve the
interests of the NGO's. This ultimately undermines local primary health care efforts, and takes away the
governments' ability to maintain agency over their own health sector. J. Pfeiffer suggested a new model
of collaboration between the NGO and the DPS (the Mozambique Provincial Health Directorate). He
mentioned the NGO should be 'formally held to standard and adherence within the host country', for
example reduce 'showcase' projects and parallel programs that proves to be unsustainable.

Jessica Mathews wrote in Foreign Affairs in 1997: "For all their strengths, NGOs are special
interests. The best of them ... often suffer from tunnel vision, judging every public act by how it affects
their particular interest". Since NGOs have to worry about policy trade-offs, the overall impact of their
cause might bring more harm to society.

Vijay Prashad argues that from the 1970s "The World Bank, under Robert McNamara, championed
the NGO as an alternative to the state, leaving intact global and regional relations of power and
production."

Others argue that NGOs are often imperialist in nature, that they sometimes operate in a racialized
manner in third world countries, and that they fulfill a similar function to that of the clergy during the

high colonial era. The philosopher Peter Hallward argues that they are an aristocratic form of politics.
He also points to the fact that NGOs like Action Aid and Christian Aid "effectively condoned the [2004
US backed] coup" against an elected government in Haiti and argues that they are the "humanitarian
face of imperialism." Popular movements in the global South such as the Western Cape Anti-Eviction
Campaign in South Africa have sometimes refused to work with NGOs arguing that this will

13
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

compromise their autonomy. It has also been argued that NGOs often disempower people by allowing
funders to push for stability over social justice.

Another criticism of NGOs is that they are being designed and used as extensions of the normal foreign
policy instruments of certain Western countries and groups of countries. Russian President Vladimir
Putin made this accusation at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy in 2007, concluding that
these NGOs "are formally independent but they are purposefully financed and therefore under control."
Also, Michael Bond wrote "Most large NGOs, such as Oxfam, the Red Cross, Cafod and Action Aid,
are striving to make their aid provision more sustainable. But some, mostly in the US, are still exporting
the ideologies of their backers."

NGOs have also been accused of using white lies or misinformed advice to enact their campaigns, i.e.,
accusations that NGOs have been ignorant about critical issues because, as chief scientist at Greenpeace
Doug Parr said, these organizations appear to have lost their efforts in being truly scientific and now
seem to be more self-interested. Rather than operating through science so as to be rationally and
effectively practical, NGOs have been accused of abusing the utilization of science to gain their own
advantages. In the beginning, as Parr indicated, there was "a tendency among our critics to say that
science is the only decision-making tool ... but political and commercial interests are using science as a
cover for getting their way." At the same time, NGOs can appear to not be cooperative with other
groups, according to the previous policy-maker for the German branch of Friends of the Earth, Jens
Katjek. "If NGOs want the best for the environment, he says, they have to learn to compromise

 NGOs are taking funds from various donor agencies. Though they operate within the legal
framework of the country, in most cases they are accountable to the donor agencies rather than
Government of Bangladesh.

 Political parties, critic’s NGOs for taking funds mostly from western donors and from the
national institutes of the capitalistic governments. They argue that this is one kind of patron-
client relationship, which increases dependency and hinders social revolution.

 The most serious allegation against the NGOs is that in spite of hundreds of NGOs working in
Bangladesh for years together, yet the reduction of poverty is not visible. Rather poverty is

14
 Overview of Nongovernmental Organization 2015

increasing day by day while in the name of helping poor people the number of millionaire is
increasing every year.

 NGOs are taking fund from donor agencies for poverty alleviation But they use 50% of their
money for being luxury car 25% money for employee salary 25% money they use for full fill
their mission.

 Some NGOs are related with politics, which is against law.

 NGOs those receiving funds exclusive from Christian church organizations accused of
conversion. If any NGO is involved in such activities government should take action rather than
accusing all NGOs (Task Force Report: 1991).

 It is believed that the personnel working in foreign fund NGOs are highly paid enjoying better
facilities compared to personnel working in government organization.

 NGOs are accused of area biased. They have concentrated themselves in the town . As a reason,
people of these areas are getting benefits from different sources, while people of other remote
areas are deprived of those resources.

 NGOs are working with the government without having any coordination among them. It creates
duplication of activities and wastages of money.

15