What are NGOs?
Some key facts about NGOs.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs for short) deal with many different issues including social injustices.
NGOs do not receive any money or support from the government so have to do their own fundraising.
NGOs view their role as one dedicated to reducing social injustices locally, nationally and internationally.
NGOs carry out work in line with their own values, however not everyone will agree with the values that an NGO might have.
NGOs work locally, nationally and globally to promote social equality, social justice, human rights and democracy — in areas such as conflict resolution, environmental protection, human rights, health issues, child poverty and welfare, animal rights and homelessness.
What is social injustice?
What are the roles of NGOs?
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) play a vital role in addressing various social, economic and environmental issues across the globe. Their roles and functions can vary widely depending on their mission, scope and context, but generally include the following:
- Awareness campaigns. They conduct campaigns to raise awareness about specific issues, such as human rights, environmental protection or public health, aiming to educate and engage the public and policymakers.
- Community development. NGOs work on development projects that aim to improve living conditions, such as clean water access, sanitation and economic development programs.
- Education and training. They offer educational programs and training to empower individuals and communities with knowledge and skills. This can include health education, vocational training and leadership development.
- Essential services. Many NGOs provide essential services directly to communities, such as healthcare, education, housing and emergency relief. They often step in where government services may be limited or unavailable.
- Policy change. NGOs often work to influence public policy and legislation by advocating for changes that align with their goals. They may lobby governments, participate in policy debates and mobilise public opinion.
NGOs are vital for providing humanitarian aid around the world:
- Emergency response. NGOs play a critical role in responding to natural disasters, conflicts and other crises by providing immediate relief such as food, shelter and medical care.
- Long-term recovery. Beyond immediate relief, NGOs often engage in long-term recovery efforts, helping communities rebuild infrastructure and services, supporting resilience and recovery.
What issues are addressed by NGOs?
Below are some of the issues addressed by NGO's and some of the NGO's involved in tackling them.
| Issue | NGO |
|---|---|
| Animal rights | Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) is the second oldest animal welfare charity in the world. Along with global NGOs such as the World Wildlife Fund it works to prevent cruelty and relieve suffering for animals. |
| Health | NGO's such as the Alzheimer's Society and the British Heart Foundation provide help and offer support services to people affected by dementia and heart disease, as well as funding research to combat these health issues. |
| Homelessness | Simon Community, founded in 1971, aims to end homelessness by providing preventative services, temporary accommodation and specialized support for homeless people or those at risk of becoming homeless. |
| Human rights abuse | Amnesty International is a worldwide NGO of over 10 million people fighting for human rights — free from any political, economic or religious influence. It has helped abolish the death penalty in many countries around the world and aims to end serious human rights abuses across the globe. |
| Natural disasters | The International Red Cross helps people affected by natural disasters all over the world. They provide emergency aid such as food, clean water, shelter and medical care in the aftermath of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and wildfires. |
| Poverty | Founded in 1951, Oxfam pressures governments to fight poverty and spread awareness. It focuses on fixing the root causes of poverty, not just the symptoms. Its campaigns have included fighting sweatshops and supporting small farmers. |
| The environment | Friends of the Earth is committed to fighting for a cleaner, healthier planet. It pushes governments to make eco-friendly laws and is currently battling deforestation to combat climate change. |
| War and conflict | International Rescue Committee provides urgent care to families fleeing conflict and disaster, offering food, shelter and basic supplies. They operate in crisis zones like Lebanon, Gaza, Sudan and Syria as well as other parts of the world. |
| Welfare or social security | Law Centre NI has been fighting for social justice in Northern Ireland since 1977. They provide free, independent legal services and support to help people understand and protect their rights in the areas of social security, employment and immigration. |
Local NGOs
Save the Children
The issue
It's a common misconception that poverty only affects very poor countries but even in Northern Ireland (which is part of wealthy Western Europe) poverty is an issue.
A headline from the Belfast Telegraph in October 2023 read:
Almost a quarter of NI children living in poverty, reveals report by charity
The NGO
Save the Children has been working in Northern Ireland for over 70 years and helps children who are affected by poverty.
Its aim is to ensure all children in Northern Ireland have the practical essentials they need and the chance to succeed at school.
The Action
After the pandemic and the cost of living crisis that followed it, Save the Children in Northern Ireland became committed to reducing the level of child poverty by improving the welfare system.
Their report "We don't just want to survive… " set out three priorities to transform the current system and they have vowed to do this by working with policymakers, politicians and partners to allow families to lift their children out of poverty.
This is an example of how NGOs act directly to combat poverty by working with families and lobbying local government to enact change and implement reforms.
National NGOs
Greenpeace
The issue
The UK generates more plastic waste per person than any other country apart from the USA globally - it is a massive contributor to the world's plastic crisis. The NGO Greenpeace is at the forefront of pushing to eliminate microplastics from the UK's rivers and waterways.
A recent headline in the Guardian
Microplastics are infiltrating brain tissue, studies show: ‘There’s nowhere left untouched’
The action
Greenpeace UK has a number of different environmental petitions running in tandem with its current campaigns. While the UK has banned certain microplastics Greenpeace's petition Protect us from microplastics aims to get the UK government to push for a Global Plastics Treaty to help eradicate plastic pollution from entering the food chain and hurting sea creatures in the waterways, seas and oceans around the world.
This is an example of how NGOs can raise awareness about environmental issues and lobby government to change policies relating to pollution and health, through petitions and campaigns.
International NGOs
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)) is an independent, impartial and neutral NGO providing emergency medical aid to people in crisis, with humanitarian projects in more than 70 countries.
In April 2024 the BBC News headline read:
Sudan civil war: The children living between starvation and death in Darfur
The action
Since 2023, Sudan has been in a serious war between two powerful groups: the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. This fighting has made life extremely dangerous for millions of people in the country.
MSF (Doctors Without Borders) is trying to help, but it’s very difficult as the fighting and government rules have made it hard for them to get medical supplies into the country, reach people who need help and work safely without being attacked. In some places, like the Zamzam camp in Darfur, people were trapped without food or medicine and in August 2024 famine was declared.
MSF teams in Sudan and in nearby countries like Chad and South Sudan are treating people injured by bombs and gunfire, helping survivors of sexual violence and on the frontline trying to fighting the spread of deadly diseases like cholera, malaria, and hepatitis E.
This is an example of how NGOs play an important role in providing emergency response medical services and immediate relief in war and conflict zones. Doctors without Borders are one of the few international organisations still working in Sudan, doing everything they can to save lives.
What factors can limit the work of NGOs?
Most people would not disagree with the aims and objectives of the many NGOs who are trying to make the world a better place for those who are most vulnerable and have least influence.
However, as in any walk of life, NGOs often find barriers in their way.
Public support
There are millions of NGOs (depending how they are defined) across the globe and it can be difficult to understand how they differ, why so many are needed and which ones do most with the money they receive.
Most people’s daily lives are stressful and demanding and it is hard for NGOs to find a way to stay in the forefront of people’s minds when there is so much else going on and competing for attention and donations.
Funding
Raising funds for NGOs is a vital but complicated task. Funding requires campaigns which cost money themselves and NGOs must find a balance between spending money on campaigns and getting it to the people that need it.
Raising and distributing large amounts of money requires staff, offices, transport and communications and this all costs money. NGOs have to be careful that this is done efficiently.
Staffing, volunteers and resources
NGOs rely on the services and support of volunteers who give their time and energy for free. The supply of workers is not always steady which can make it difficult to plan and deliver projects.
Other resources may also be provided free of charge (such as transport or communications) but setting up these services and making sure they continue is difficult and time consuming.
Corruption
It is not always easy to ensure that the money is spent in the right way. Some countries may be run by corrupt officials who could try to divert some of the financial aid to themselves.
Stories about such corruption often weaken people’s confidence in charities and make them less likely to donate.
Some NGOs are better than others at making sure that their aid is spent in a responsible way. Some NGOs have been found guilty of stealing donations and keeping them for themselves.
Limited resources to provide aid
NGOs can sometimes face challenges in getting support and aid to the people that most need it. Violence, as well as transport and infrastructure issues are factors that can make the distribution of aid very difficult, if not impossible. Sometimes it's governments or the people controlling an area that block the aid from reaching those most in need of help.
Watch: The role of NGOs
The role of NGOs
Narrator:
Across the world, ordinary people are struggling to lead normal, happy lives because of hunger, disease, war or failing economies.Much of this suffering is due to terrible events over which we have no control.
But some as a direct result of bad government, discrimination, inequality and a failure to recognise basic human rights.This is where non-governmental organisations come in.
They are charities that deal with social injustices such as poverty, discrimination and unfair policies that lead to suffering
NGO's help people directly by providing food, clothes, shelter, equipment or medicine in areas that are in most need.
They also try to prevent social injustice from happening by challenging governments and persuading them to act in different ways.
NGOs may also set up their own schemes to help people improve their lives, through education, training and access to opportunities.
But they don't receive any money or support from the government, so they have to do their own fundraising.
Let's look at three examples of NGO's and how they are combating the problems of poverty, locally, nationally and internationally,
When we think of poverty, we often associate it with people who live in distant countries. But poverty exists here too.Some families don't have enough money to buy the things they need, like a bed, a cooker or a washing machine. This is where NGO's such as Save the Children come in.
They focus on helping people who live in poverty, making their lives that bit better and challenging inequality in our society.
In the UK, often the poorest people, have no idea about how the super-rich individuals and companies manage to amass and retain their wealth. They can feel powerless to change things and stuck in the poverty trap.
NGO's such as War on Want try to persuade government to implement policies that could fund a transformation in public services and avoid harsh cuts which punish the poorest.
Globally - poverty is a massive problem, especially in Africa and many African countries do not have the resources that enable them to find a way to beat poverty.
NGO's like Oxfam believe that people have the power to change their own lives, so they try to help farmers in poverty stricken regions such as Africa, by training them to find better ways to grow more food and sustain themselves.
Not all NGO's are perfect, but without them the world would be a more unequal place.
