A non-governmental organization (NGO) is an organization which is not a part of a government. Although the definition can technically include for-profit corporations, the term is generally restricted to social and cultural groups, whose primary goal is not commercial.

Some people consider the "NGO" label misleading, as it implies that anything that is "not government" is NGO. Since NGOs are usually non-profit organizations that gain at least a portion of their funding from private sources, many NGOs now prefer the term Private voluntary organization (PVO).

United Nations

The "NGO" phrase came into use with the establishment of the United Nations in 1945 with provisions in Article 71 of Chapter 10 of the United Nations Charter [1] (http://www.un.org/aboutun/charter/chapt10.htm) for a consultative role for organizations that are not governments or member states – see Consultative Status. The vital role of NGOs and other "major groups" in sustainable development was recognized in Chapter 27 (http://habitat.igc.org/agenda21/a21-27.htm) of Agenda 21, leading to revised arrangements for Consultative relationship between the United Nations and non-governmental organizations.[2] (http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/res/1996/eres1996-31.htm)

Purposes

NGOs exist for a variety of different purposes, usually to further the political and/or social goals of their members. Some example goals include improving the state of the natural environment, encouraging the observance of human rights, improving the welfare of the disadvantaged, or representing a corporate agenda. However, there are a huge number of such organizations and their goals cover a broad range of political and philosophical positions. This can also easily be applied to private/semi-private schools and athletic organizations.

Methods

NGOs also vary in their methods. Some act primarily as lobbyists, while others primarily conduct programs and activities. (For instance, an NGO concerned with poverty alleviation might provide food to the needy people of the world.)

Relations

The relationship among businesses, governments, and NGOs can be quite complex and sometimes antagonistic, particularly when NGOs act to oppose the activities of governments and businesses.

List of NGOs

• Campaign / Issue Organizations
  • AEGEE
  • AIESEC
  • Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics
  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • Amnesty International
  • Council of Canadians
  • Front d'action politique en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU)
  • Greenpeace
  • Human Rights Watch
  • IAESTE
  • Institute for International Assistance and Solidarity (IFIAS)
  • JCI (Junior Chamber International)
  • Oxfam
  • Refugees International
  • Transparency International

• Capacity Building Support Organisations

• Domestic Charitable Organizations
  • Lions Clubs International

• International Relief and Development Organizations (PVOs)
  • CARE
  • Catholic Relief Services (http://www.catholicrelief.org/)
  • Christina Noble Children's Foundation
  • Engineers Without Borders
  • The Hunger Project
  • International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
  • International Rescue Committee
  • IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre
  • Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
  • Mercy Corps
  • WaterAid
  • World Vision

• IT policy
  • FFII
  • Free Software Foundation

• Networks
  • International Freedom of Expression Exchange

• Quasi-autonomous non-government organisation
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which is a marginal case. It defines itself as an NGO, but is a network of the government standards agencies of 147 countries.
  • W3C

• Trade Associations and Industry funded interest groups
  • Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (http://www.balancedenergy.org/), a non-profit lobby organization funded by the US coal industry (http://www.balancedenergy.org/about_abec.asp)
  • The California Raisin Marketing Board (http://www.calraisins.org/About_Crmb/)

• Treaty Organizations (Independent organizations that act very much like NGOs, but are established and mandated by international treaties)
  • International Committee of the Red Cross

External links

• NGOs - The Self Appointed Altruists (http://samvak.tripod.com/ngos.html)