Non-governmental Organisations

You may have heard about non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in various contexts. Most likely, I'd imagine, you may have heard about NGOs through the activities of their activists or wider campaigns around certain issues.

Take the environment - ever heard of extinction rebellion? How about Greenpeace? If you have, then you may already know perhaps the core truth of NGOs: NGOs reach for aspirational goals, often ones that benefit those most in need.NGOs also have an important role to play as global organisations. But is it all good?

We will be examining the roles and issues associated with NGOs. Here's a quick overview below...

• We will first define non-governmental organisations.
• We will look at a list of examples of non-governmental organisations.
• We will consider internationalnon-governmental organisations and look at examples of such.
• We will look at the difference between international organisation and non governmental organisations.
• Finally, we will study the advantages and disadvantages of non-governmental organisations.

Definition of non-governmental organisations

First, let's clarify the definition of 'non-governmental organisations'.

There are four issues that NGOs typically address:

1. Welfare

2. Empowerment

3. Education

4. Development

Fig. 1 - The four realms of issues for NGOs.

NGOs are a part of civil society. This is the sphere where social movements become organised. It is neither part of the government nor part of the business sector - it acts as the bridge between individuals/families and the state in addressing a range of social issues and interests.

In the context of development and NGOs, this range of social issues might include addressing concerns about the environment, gender inequality, access to food and water, lack of local infrastructure, etc.

List of examples of non-governmental organisations

Let's look at a list of some of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) below:

• Oxfam

• Cancer Research UK

• Salvation Army

• Shelter

• Age UK

• Citizen's Advice

International non-governmental organisations

In the context of global development, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) are those who work internationally on a range of issues in developing countries. They often provide development aid for local projects and are often vital in emergencies.

For instance, INGOs can provide natural disaster relief and camps/shelters for refugees in war-torn countries.

Examples of international non-governmental organisations

There are many examples of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs). Some of the most prominent are:

• Oxfam

• Doctors Without Borders

• WWF

• Red Cross

• Amnesty International

Difference between the terms 'international organisation' and 'non-governmental organisation'

You may be wondering - what is the difference between the terms 'international organisation' and 'non-governmental organisation'? They are not the same!

'International organisation' is an umbrella term. It includes all and any type of organisation which operates on an international or global, scale. A non-governmental organisation, or NGO, is an organisation that tries to achieve social or political aims but is not controlled by a government.

Non-governmental organisations are a type of international organisation operating internationally, i.e. INGOs. NGOs that operate within one country would not be considered international organisations.

Advantages of NGOs and INGOs

Let's look at the advantages and criticisms of NGOs and INGOs in global development strategies.

NGOs' reliance on funding from donors keeps them focused and true to the social issues the public finds most pressing.

NGOs are successful at small-scale projects

By working with local people and communities, NGOs are more effective and efficient than centralised governments in quickly administering development projects.

NGOs help the poorest of the poor

Unlike larger organisations, which rely on the assumption of a 'trickle-down' effect, NGOs focus on community-based, small-scale development projects. They are better positioned to help those most in need - 90% of those reached by SolarAid live below the poverty line! ¹

NGOs are not driven by profit or by political agendas

Consequently, NGOs are seen as more trustworthy by local people. They can provide a more continuous supply of aid, compared to aid from governments that can be affected by elections or by the state of a country's economy.

Criticisms of NGOs and INGOs

The work these organisations do is not universally applauded, of course. This is because:

NGOs and INGOs' reach is limited

In 2021, it was estimated that the UK alone provided £11.1 billion in development aid.³ In 2019, the World Bank provided $60 billion in aid.⁴ To put this in perspective, the largest INGO, BRAC, has a budget of just under $1 billion.⁵

NGOs and INGOs are increasingly reliant on government funding

This undermines independence and trust in NGOs by removing the sense of impartiality felt by local people.

Not all donations to NGOs and INGOs reach development projects

NGOs spend large proportions of their donations on operational costs, such as administration, marketing, advertising, and employee wages. The ten largest charities in the UK spent a collective £225.8 million on administration in 2019 alone (about 10% of donations). Oxfam was found to be spending 25% of its budget on administration costs.⁶

'Populist' agendas are attached to NGO and INGO aid

The reliance on Western populations for aid means NGOs often follow development agendas and campaigns that attract the most donations. This means that perhaps more impactful or sustainable agendas may go unfunded and unexplored.