Difference between revisions of "What is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)?"
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In effect, NGOs are organizations that are not part of the government sector nor part of the business sector. For such reasons, they are sometimes referred to being part of the "third sector" in society. | In effect, NGOs are organizations that are not part of the government sector nor part of the business sector. For such reasons, they are sometimes referred to being part of the "third sector" in society. | ||
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| + | ==Original meaning=== | ||
The term NGO originally had a more specific meaning. <membersonly>The term originated in the UN Charter, with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) defining the term as "any international organization which is not established by inter-governmental agreement" (US ESCOR, ESC Res 288B, 10th Session, Suppl o. 1. 1950). Ripinsky and van den Bossche (2007) also note that the term was originally intended only to refer to those organizations with consultative status with ECOSOC. However, this original meaning whereby the term NGOs meant international non-State organizations affiliated with the United Nations expanded over time to include NGOs that did not have UN consultative status and were not necessarily international in organization or focus. | The term NGO originally had a more specific meaning. <membersonly>The term originated in the UN Charter, with the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) defining the term as "any international organization which is not established by inter-governmental agreement" (US ESCOR, ESC Res 288B, 10th Session, Suppl o. 1. 1950). Ripinsky and van den Bossche (2007) also note that the term was originally intended only to refer to those organizations with consultative status with ECOSOC. However, this original meaning whereby the term NGOs meant international non-State organizations affiliated with the United Nations expanded over time to include NGOs that did not have UN consultative status and were not necessarily international in organization or focus. | ||
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| + | ==Today's use of the term== | ||
Today, the term NGO reflects this wider usage. Schmidt and Take (1997) define NGOs as “non-state, non-profit orientated groups who pursue purposes of public interest,” excluding the private sector. One of the most widely used definitions is given by Operational Directive 14.70 of the World Bank (1989): “private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development” (World Bank 2001). More broadly, the term is applicable to any non-profit organization (NPO) that is not affiliated with government.<ref>This, however, does not imply that an NGO cannot receive funding from governmental sources. </ref> According to the World Bank, NGOs are “value-based organizations which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service,” and in which “principles of altruism and voluntarism remain key defining characteristics.” The World Bank differentiates two main categories of NGOs with which it interacts: | Today, the term NGO reflects this wider usage. Schmidt and Take (1997) define NGOs as “non-state, non-profit orientated groups who pursue purposes of public interest,” excluding the private sector. One of the most widely used definitions is given by Operational Directive 14.70 of the World Bank (1989): “private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development” (World Bank 2001). More broadly, the term is applicable to any non-profit organization (NPO) that is not affiliated with government.<ref>This, however, does not imply that an NGO cannot receive funding from governmental sources. </ref> According to the World Bank, NGOs are “value-based organizations which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service,” and in which “principles of altruism and voluntarism remain key defining characteristics.” The World Bank differentiates two main categories of NGOs with which it interacts: | ||
Revision as of 18:13, 19 January 2010
A non-governmental organization (NGO) is generally considered to be any non-state, nonprofit, voluntary organization. As a non-state entitity, an NGO is generally independent from government influence—it is not a part of or controlled by government or an intergovernmental agency. As such, an NGO is either not established by a government, or intergovernmental agreement, or, if established in such a manner, is now independent of such influence. As a nonprofit organization, an NGO is not operated for the primary purpose of carrying on a trade or business, although profits may be generated for the mission of the organization. A more accurate term may be nonprofit distributing, in that any surplus that is generated is to be used solely to help the organization fulfill its mission and objectives, with no part of the net earnings of the NGO to be distributed to the benefit of the directors, officers, members, or employees of the NGO, or any private persons, other than reasonable compensation for services rendered. As a voluntary organization, an NGO is not required to exist by law, but is formed by private initiative, resulting from voluntary actions of individuals.
In effect, NGOs are organizations that are not part of the government sector nor part of the business sector. For such reasons, they are sometimes referred to being part of the "third sector" in society.
Original meaning=
The term NGO originally had a more specific meaning.
