International Nongovernmental Organizations (INGOs)

Originally, the term nongovernmental organization, or NGO, was adopted in 1945 in the Charter of the United Nations to differentiate between the participation rights of intergovernmental specialized agencies (e.g., UNICEF) and those of international private organizations. According to its original usage, therefore, businesses were also NGOs. The term has evolved, however, and although there are many different definitions of NGOs, a common interpretation refers to a subset of the nonprofit sector, dedicated to work on humanitarian relief, international development, conflict resolution, human rights, and environmental protection. That is the definition used in this entry. International NGOs (INGOs) are NGOs operating in more than one country.

INGOs have grown dramatically over the past decades in numbers, resources, and influence. According to the Union of International Associations, INGO numbers grew exponentially from 13,000 in 1981 to over 47,000 by 2001. NGOs dedicated to international relief and development annually disburse around US$20 billion in foreign aid, which means that, as a group, NGOs are the second largest foreign aid donor, second only to the United States Agency for International Development. NGOs represent, thus, an important economic force in international relief and development work.

In terms of their political impact, NGOs have contributed greatly to the emergence and expansion of many current policy concerns, such as those related to the environment, human rights, gender equality, racial integration, humanitarian [Page 938]emergencies, and international development. NGOs have also advanced many policy solutions such as participatory development, micro-finance, fair trade, and diamond certification. Consequently, like Amnesty International before them, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, an NGO network, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, Médécins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) received the same award in 1999, and the Grameen Bank in 2006, in recognition of their contribution to a more peaceful and just world. Overall, NGOs have been awarded eight Nobel Peace prizes. This influence does not appear to be slowing down. A 2005 report by the United Nations called for greater participation of NGOs in UN decision-making events, arguing that these organizations help to democratize supranational policy-making processes.

What has brought about such formidable growth? There are both macro-level and micro-or organizational-level drivers for the growth of the NGO sector.