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Global society has been a victim of immense suffering in the form of poverty, unemployment, lack of healthcare and education, disease, disasters, crime, inequality and environmental degradation. Governments worldwide have been fighting these stigmas to achieve a harmonious existence but to do so they need the help of their citizens. Over the year’s people have been trying to help this cause, working independently from the government through the establishment of institutions known as NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations)
What is an NGO?
An NGO or NON-Governmental organisation is an institution that works independently from the government and seeks to address various issues in society, such as poverty, healthcare, education, inequality, environmental protection, crime, and disaster management.
Core Functions of NGOs: Works Done by NGO’s
- An NGO’s main focus is to address socio-economic, cultural, and humanitarian issues that are stunting society’s growth and affecting the world’s citizens.
- Another important function of NGOs is to raise awareness of various causes through events, campaigns, etc., and advocate for social justice and policy reforms.
- Assisting those in need with the help of services such as duster management, relief and rehabilitation.
- Community building and empowerment of marginalised groups in society is an extremely vital role played by NGOs.
- Promoting innovation and indulging in research and development is another way NGOs assist the government and work towards the betterment of others.
Related Blog: The Crucial Role of NGOs: How They Drive Social Change
Types of NGOs Based on Focus Areas
After understanding the precarious state of global society, many people have taken it upon themselves to help the people and assist the government through the establishment of NGOs. NGOs often operate across a broad spectrum but this section has provided a segregation of NGOs based on their main focus areas:
- Environmental protection NGOs
- Human Rights protection NGOs which fight for justice and equality.
- NGOs providing healthcare facilities to the neglected populace.
- Education NGOs provide quality education services to marginalised groups.
- Animal Welfare NGOs try to protect the interests of all animals and conduct rescue missions and rehabilitation programs for animals.
- Women empowerment NGOs look to spread awareness of the need for equality and protect the rights of women against crimes.
- Child welfare NGOs help protect the interests of children and provide services such as rehabilitation, healthcare, education and protection against crimes.
- Some NGOs are focusing on advocacy and policy reforms and influence.
How NGOs Work?
NGOs have been protecting the interest of society for a long time and their process operates according to a well-designed guideline that gives them structure and sets the path.
- The first step would be to identify the problems within society.
- After identifying the problems, an NGO will decide which problem to tackle based on which their objectives will be put into place which will help them achieve their mission.
- According to their mission statement and vision, the NGO will proceed to set up a well-tailored program that will help their cause and bring out the best results.
- To do what they do NGOs need money and hence their next step would be to raise funding for their operations.
- After acquiring the resources NGOs will move on to the implementation process.
- Once the programs have been implemented, NGOs will look to spread awareness for their cause and advocate changes in policies according to their goals.
- To grow their operations, NGOs will look to collaborate with local communities and businesses.
- NGOs will monitor their operations and regularly conduct evaluations to ensure the best results.
How Are NGOs Funded?
NGOs can be funded in many ways:
- Funded through donations from individuals
- Corporate sponsorships
- Government grants
- Crowdfunding
- Membership fees
- Events
- Product sales.
Key Challenges Faced by NGOs
- The biggest challenge faced by most NGOs is raising funding for their operations.
- Even though NGOs function independently of the government they have to operate according to the law which gives rise to many restrictions.
- Finding skilled staff to volunteer or participate in the NGO’s cause is another big challenge which many NGOs tend to face.
- Maintaining a sense of transparency and holding accountability for their operations is another big challenge faced by NGOs especially when they are trying to gain the trust of their donors.
- Many NGOs face much interference from the government from time to time especially if they are advocating for social and cultural justice.
- Infrastructural and logistical limitations also pose a big challenge if not dealt with well by the NGOs.
- High competition is another challenging factor especially while looking for donors.
FAQs About NGO Work
Q1. What skills are needed to work for an NGO?
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
- People skills
- Time management
- Problem-solving abilities.
- Team player.
Q2. How do NGOs measure their impact?
NGOs conduct regular evaluations of their programs by collecting data, analyzing it and then discerning the effectiveness of the implemented programs.
Q3. What is the future of NGO work?
- Working on building local agents.
- Achieving change and equality.
- Rethinking their goals and objectives.
Q4. How do NGOs help in disaster relief?
Following disasters, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) assist with the preparation and distribution of food, water, medication, and shelter supplies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, NGOs have been a great help to global society and their contributions have bettered the lives of many across the globe. NGOs are an indispensable part of society and rely on the public’s benevolence to participate and volunteer to help their cause.
Step Up for a Cause: Support the Sakal Relief Fund!
The Sakal Relief Fund has been operating on a global scale for many decades, helping people across the board to better their lives and giving them an equal opportunity to survive and live a healthy and peaceful life. For more information, you can log on to our official website.
