What is a NGO?

Tony Koehn
AGSM 653

Definition
In a broadest sense:
Not based on government
Non profit making
Can vary depending on function:
In U.S.: Private Voluntary Organizations
In Africa: Voluntary Development
Organizations

Definition World Bank

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, womens groups and pastoral associations.
Citizen groups that raise awareness and influence policy are
also NGOs

Definition contd
Impossible to give one unique answer, but
NGOs have following characteristics:
1. Engaging in suffering relief activities
2. Promoting interest of the poor
3. Protecting the environment
4. Providing basic social services
5. Advocating community development

Typology
Orientation:
1. Charitable: Needs of the poor/disaster relief
(Feed the Hungry, Red Cross)
2. Service: Provision of health, family planning
or education (Planned Parenthood)
3. Participatory: Self-help project with local
people involvement (Habitat for Humanity)
4. Empowering: Help poor people develop a
clearer understanding of social, political, and
economic factors (Amnesty International)

Typology contd
Level of operation:
1. Community-based organizations
2. Citywide organizations
3. National NGOs
4. International NGOs

Typology contd
Key Issues:
1. Environment
2. Labor Standard
3. Poverty
4. Globalization
5. Animal Rights

NGO facts
1. Began in 1800s as catalyst for social

reform (Red Cross 1859, Save the

Children Fund after WWI)
2. Huge Growth in 1990s (International
NGOs: 1988- 8579 1996- 23,135 UIA
data).
Growth in membership
(Worldwide Fund for Nature: 2000- @5.7
million members 1985- 570,000)
3. Varying size (1 person to thousands)

NGO facts contd

Forest Stewardship Council: 15 full-time

employees, 7 years old, leading certifier in

forest products (year 2000 data)
Green Peace: In 1991, nearly 3 million
members, offices in 32 countries, budget
of $146 million, established in 1971
Effectiveness regardless of size:
RAN & Chiquita
Forest Stewardship Council & Home Depot

Role of NGOs in globalizing

world
Per Boutros-Ghali in 1995
Non-governmental organizations are a basic
element in the representation of the modern
world. And their participation in international
organizations is in a way a guarantee of the
latters political legitimacyFrom the stand
point of global democratization, we need the
participation of international public opinion
and the mobilizing powers of nongovernmental organizations.

Role of NGOs contd

1. Increasing role in development
From relief services (logistics

management) to development
services (strategic management)
2. Creating a smaller, more
interdependent, global community
Internet: Bring forth issues to many

Check these out!

List of NGOs:
www.etown.edu/vl/ngos.html
Union of International Associations:
www.uia.org/uiafaqs/faqorg.htm#NGO
Textile activist:
www.cleanclothes.org
Definition of an NGO:
www.undp.org/ppp/library/files/maslyu01.html
Academics Studying Nike:
http://cbae.nmsu.edu/~dboje/nike/nikemain1.html