What%20is%20a%20NGO?

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What is a NGO?

• Tony Koehn
• AGSM 653

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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

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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

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Definition contd

• Impossible to give one unique answer, but NGOs
  have following characteristics
• Engaging in suffering relief activities
• Promoting interest of the poor
• Protecting the environment
• Providing basic social services
• Advocating community development

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Typology

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

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Typology contd

• Level of operation
• Community-based organizations
• Citywide organizations
• National NGOs
• International NGOs

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Typology contd

• Key Issues
• Environment
• Labor Standard
• Poverty
• Globalization
• Animal Rights

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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- _at_5.7
   million members 1985- 570,000)
3. Varying size (1 person to thousands)

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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

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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 non-governmental
  organizations.

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Role of NGOs contd

• Increasing role in development
• From relief services (logistics management) to
  development services (strategic management)
• Creating a smaller, more interdependent, global
  community
• Internet Bring forth issues to many

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Check these out!

• List of NGOs
• www.etown.edu/vl/ngos.html
• Union of International Associations
• www.uia.org/uiafaqs/faqorg.htmNGO
• 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