Editing Non-governmental organization (section)

== {{anchor|Project management}}Activities ==
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play a vital role in improving the lives of people who have been affected by natural disasters or are facing other challenges. NGOs can act as implementers, catalysts, and partners to provide essential goods and services to those in need. They work to mobilize resources, both financial and human, to ensure that aid is delivered in a timely and effective manner.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

NGOs also play a critical role in driving change by advocating for policies and practices that benefit disadvantaged communities. They often work in partnership with other organizations, including government agencies, to address complex challenges that require a collaborative approach.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-29 |title=NGO in Kanpur |url=https://www.yogyata.org.in/ |url-status=live|archive-date=Feb 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205014409/https://www.yogyata.org.in/}}</ref> One of the key strengths of NGOs is their ability to work at the grassroots level and to connect with communities directly. This allows them to gain a deep understanding of the issues facing people and to tailor their services to meet the specific needs of each community.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

NGOs vary by method; some are primarily [[advocacy group]]s, and others conduct programs and activities. [[Oxfam]], concerned with poverty alleviation, may provide needy people with the equipment and skills to obtain food and [[drinking water]]; the [[Forum for Fact-finding Documentation and Advocacy]] (FFDA) helps provide legal assistance to victims of human-rights abuses. The [[Afghanistan Information Management Services]] provide specialized technical products and services to support development activities implemented on the ground by other organizations. Management techniques are crucial to project success.<ref>[http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CCS/pdf/int-work-paper4.pdf 100 <!-- application/pdf, 102909 bytes [[Kibibyte|KiB] --> LSE.ac.uk] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011092409/http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/CCS/pdf/int-work-paper4.pdf |date=11 October 2009 }}, Mukasa, Sarah. ''Are expatriate staff necessary in international development NGOs? A case study of an international NGO in Uganda.'' Publication of the Centre for Civil Society at the London School of Economics. 2002, p. 11-13.</ref>

The [[World Bank]] classifies NGO activity into two general categories:<ref name=":0" /><ref name="definition">[http://docs.lib.duke.edu/igo/guides/ngo/define.htm World Bank Criteria defining NGO] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621135344/http://docs.lib.duke.edu/igo/guides/ngo/define.htm|date=21 June 2007}}</ref><ref name=":10" />

# operational NGOs, whose primary function is the design and implementation of development-related projects
# advocacy NGOs, whose primary function is to defend or promote a particular cause and who seek to influence the policies and practices of [[International governmental organisation]]s (IGOs).

{{anchor|Both operational and campaigning|Combined}}NGOs may also conduct both activities: operational NGOs will use campaigning techniques if they face issues in the field, which could be remedied by policy change, and campaigning NGOs (such as [[Human rights organizations|human-rights organizations]]) often have programs which assist individual victims for whom they are trying to advocate.<ref name="WillettsCS-NTWKS" /><ref name=":10" />

=== Operational ===
'''Operational NGOs''' seek to "achieve small-scale change directly through projects",<ref name="WillettsCS-NTWKS"/> mobilizing financial resources, materials, and volunteers to create local programs. They hold large-scale [[fundraising]] events and may apply to governments and organizations for grants or contracts to raise money for projects. Operational NGOs often have a [[Hierarchy|hierarchical]] structure; their headquarters are staffed by professionals who plan projects, create budgets, keep accounts, and report to and communicate with operational fieldworkers on projects.<ref name="WillettsCS-NTWKS" /> They are most often associated with the delivery of services or environmental issues, emergency relief, and public welfare. Operational NGOs may be subdivided into relief or development organizations, service-delivery or participatory, religious or secular, and public or private. Although operational NGOs may be community-based, many are national or international. The defining activity of an operational NGO is the implementation of projects.<ref name="WillettsCS-NTWKS" />

=== {{Anchor|Campaigning}}Advocacy ===
'''Advocacy NGOs''' or campaigning NGOs seek to "achieve large-scale change promoted indirectly through the influence of the political system".<ref name="WillettsCS-NTWKS"/> They require an active, efficient group of professional members who can keep supporters informed and motivated. Campaigning NGOs must plan and host demonstrations and events which will attract media, their defining activity.<ref name="WillettsCS-NTWKS"/>

Campaigning NGOs often deal with issues related to human rights, women's rights, and children's rights, and their primary purpose is to defend (or promote) a specific cause.<ref name="WillettsCS-NTWKS" />

=== Public relations ===
Non-governmental organisations need healthy [[public relations]] in order to meet their goals, and use sophisticated public-relations campaigns to raise funds and deal with governments. Interest groups may be politically important, influencing social and political outcomes. A [[Ethical code|code of ethics]] was established in 2002 by the [[Unification Church#Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (1994–present)|World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wango.org/codeofethics.aspx|title=World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations – Code of Ethics and Conduct for NGOs|website=www.wango.org|access-date=5 April 2020}}</ref>