Non-governmental organization

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an organization that is not part of a government and was not founded by states. NGOs are therefore typically independent of governments. Although the definition can technically include for-profit corporations, the term is generally restricted to social, cultural, legal, and environmental advocacy groups having goals that are noncommercial, primarily. NGOs are usually non-profit organizations that gain at least a portion of their funding from private sources. Current usage of the term is generally associated with the United Nations and authentic NGOs are those that are so designated by the UN.

Types of NGOs

There are numerous possibilities to classify NGOs. The following is the typology the World Bank uses {{fn|1}}:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Operational NGOs

Their primary purpose is the design and implementation of development-related projects. One categorization that is frequently used is the division into relief-oriented or development-oriented organizations; they can also be classified according to whether they stress service delivery or participation; or whether they are religious and secular; and whether they are more public or private-oriented. Operational NGOs can be community-based, national or international.

Related Topics:
Project - Service - Community

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Advocacy NGOs (sometimes called militant NGOs)

Their primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause. As opposed to operational project management, these organizations typically try to raise awareness, acceptance and knowledge by lobbying, press work and activist events.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Acronyms

Nongovernmental organizations are an heterogenous group. A long list of acronyms has developed around the term 'NGO'.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

These include:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• INGO stands for international NGO, such as CARE;
• BINGO is short for business-oriented international NGO;
• RINGO is an abbreviation of religious international NGO such as Catholic Relief Services;
• ENGO, short for environmental NGO, such as Global 2000;
• GONGOs are government-operated NGOs, which may have been set up by governments to look like NGOs in order to qualify for outside aid;
• QUANGOs are quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, such as the W3C and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which defines itself as an NGO, but is a network of the government standards agencies of 147 countries.{{fn|4}}