Types of NGOs based on Legal Mandates and Constitution

By Kavita Dehalwar

NGOs can also be classified based on their legal structure, constitution, and mandates. The legal framework under which an NGO operates can influence its organizational structure, funding sources, and activities. Here are different types of NGOs based on their constitution and legal mandates:

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com
  1. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs):
    • Constitution: Typically informal, with a focus on community-driven initiatives.
    • Legal Mandate: Often registered at the local level, emphasizing community development and engagement.
  2. Nonprofit Organizations:
    • Constitution: Governed by a board of directors or trustees.
    • Legal Mandate: Registered under specific nonprofit or charity laws, with a focus on serving the public good.
  3. Trusts:
    • Constitution: Governed by a trust deed that outlines the objectives and management structure.
    • Legal Mandate: Operates as a legal entity, managed by trustees for charitable or beneficial purposes.
  4. Foundations:
    • Constitution: Governed by a foundation charter or constitution.
    • Legal Mandate: Typically established for philanthropic purposes, with a focus on grantmaking and supporting charitable causes.
  5. Associations:
    • Constitution: Governed by articles of association or bylaws.
    • Legal Mandate: Formed by individuals or organizations with common interests to achieve specific social, cultural, or economic goals.
  6. Cooperatives:
    • Constitution: Governed by cooperative bylaws.
    • Legal Mandate: Formed by individuals with shared economic goals, emphasizing democratic ownership and control.
  7. International NGOs (INGOs):
    • Constitution: Governed by international agreements or charters.
    • Legal Mandate: Operates across borders, often registered under the laws of the country where they are headquartered or established.
  8. Advocacy Organizations:
    • Constitution: Emphasizes advocacy goals in its founding documents.
    • Legal Mandate: Focuses on influencing policies and legislation to promote specific causes or interests.
  9. Social Enterprises:
    • Constitution: May take various legal forms, often incorporating both profit and social impact goals.
    • Legal Mandate: Balances financial sustainability with social or environmental impact, operating for a dual bottom line.
  10. Professional Associations:
    • Constitution: Governed by bylaws or articles of association.
    • Legal Mandate: Represents the interests of professionals in a specific field, often providing support, standards, and advocacy.
  11. Religious NGOs:
    • Constitution: Guided by religious principles or doctrines.
    • Legal Mandate: Operates based on religious beliefs, providing charitable services and community support.
  12. Government-Organized NGOs (GONGOs):
    • Constitution: May resemble an NGO but is initiated or controlled by a government entity.
    • Legal Mandate: Works in collaboration with or under the influence of the government, often to implement specific programs or policies.

Here’s a table with examples of NGOs across various sectors based on their areas of focus:

Type of NGOExamples
Human Rights NGOsAmnesty International, Human Rights Watch
Environmental NGOsGreenpeace, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Health NGOsMédecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Partners In Health
Development NGOsOxfam, CARE International
Education NGOsTeach For All, Room to Read
Emergency Relief NGOsInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World)
Gender and Women’s Rights NGOsUN Women, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Animal Rights NGOsPETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), World Animal Protection
Cultural NGOsUNESCO, National Trust for Historic Preservation
Advocacy and Lobbying NGOsTransparency International, Human Rights Campaign
Research and Policy NGOsBrookings Institution, Center for Global Development
Social Services NGOsSave the Children, International Rescue Committee
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA), Kibera Community Development Agenda (KCODA)
Nonprofit OrganizationsThe Salvation Army, Médecins du Monde (Doctors of the World)
TrustsTata Trusts, Ford Foundation
FoundationsBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation
AssociationsAmerican Cancer Society, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
CooperativesFair Trade Certified, Organic Valley
International NGOs (INGOs)World Food Programme (WFP), Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)
Advocacy OrganizationsHuman Rights Campaign, Greenpeace
Social EnterprisesGrameen Bank, TOMS Shoes
Professional AssociationsAmerican Bar Association, World Medical Association
Religious NGOsWorld Vision, Islamic Relief Worldwide
Government-Organized NGOs (GONGOs)China Association for NGO Cooperation (CANGO), Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO)

Please note that the list is not exhaustive, and there are many more NGOs globally, each contributing to different causes and sectors.

Understanding the legal structure and mandates of NGOs is crucial for effective governance, accountability, and compliance with local regulations. The specific legal framework can vary significantly from country to country, shaping the way NGOs operate and fulfill their missions.

References

Bebbington, A. J., Hickey, S., & Mitlin, D. C. (Eds.). (2008). Can NGOs make a difference?: the challenge of development alternatives. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Clarke, G. (1998). Non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) and politics in the developing world. Political studies46(1), 36-52.

Dehalwar, K. The Slums of Bhopal: A Tale of Struggle and Resilience.

Ebrahim, A. (2003). Accountability in practice: Mechanisms for NGOs. World development31(5), 813-829.

Mercer, C. (2002). NGOs, civil society and democratization: a critical review of the literature. Progress in development studies2(1), 5-22.

Mitlin, D., Hickey, S., & Bebbington, A. (2007). Reclaiming development? NGOs and the challenge of alternatives. World development35(10), 1699-1720.

Raustiala, K. (1997). States, NGOs, and international environmental institutions. International Studies Quarterly41(4), 719-740.

Sharma, S. N. (2014). Fate of Rural Sanitation Scheme. International Journal of Research (IJR)1(2).

Sharma, S. N. The Complex Reality of Delhi’s Slums: A Closer Look at Urban Informality.

NGOS-THE BACKBONE OF SOCIETY

NGOS are the backbone of poor’s, so, here we can know about how can ngos standardized the livelihoods of poor’s

But ngos not only help poor’s by giving them shelter and fodd but they also help in many way

1 By giving education of many things

Ex (education regarding sanitary, education regarding hygiene, education to children’s)

2 By giving employment to poor’s

Ex (according to their skills which they may suits best)

Going right in the middle of the communities and through insightful research, NGOs can ensure that the poorest of the poor in India get to experience sustainable growth and get an access to education and employment opportunities, and avail essential services.

Now, no’s help the poor to reduce poverty and make their life standardized in many ways but Assessing NGO’s performance in poverty reduction is a difficult task. However, it is worth learning from other observations conducted on NGO performance in alleviating poverty.

Likewise, Although NGO’s are appraised for their tremendous work, other scholars have opined that they do not see their essence due to the fact that many have fallen below expectations. In this Chapter, however, researcher’s task is to review the literature of other scholarly works as it relate to NGO’s roles in poverty alleviation.

NGOs general aim is to alleviate poverty through activities that promote capacity building and self-reliance.

NGOs are praised for promoting community self-reliance and empowerment through supporting community-based groups and relying on participatory processes.

In Sub-Saharan Africa for instance where survival for daily bread is a major hurdle, NGOs have been seen as liberators of human suffering the evidence is in Sierra Leone were sixty percent of citizens survival dependent upon donors.

Sustainable development, on the other hand, has emerged over the past few decades as an important paradigm for poverty alleviation.

In India, Poverty has been a firm and importunate problem. All the way through the independence to decades after that. Role of NGO, especially in a country like India, is very crucial. In fact, according to current statistics, a huge chunk of the Indian population is still below the poverty level. Not to mention, the focus of elections and all other political agendas have been around the concern. Various government subsidies and poverty amelioration mechanisms have been incorporated in the country. However, most of them failed to offer a commendable result.

Throughout the last few decades, role of NGO’s is extremely significant in poverty amelioration mechanism. They have brought about some of the best employment opportunities, livelihood programs, self-help groups and also empowerment programs. Many families both in rural and urban areas have enjoyed some of the most viable and consistent benefits from these NGO’s.

Role of NGO in poverty alleviation

  • NGO’s play a significant role in offering relief and other basic amenities to individuals who are suffering from extreme poverty.
  • These non-governmental organizations have initiated some empowerment programs. These programs empower both men and women, thereby offering some commendable benefits in their lifestyle.
  • NGO’s have brought about some viable and effective, skill based livelihood programs.
  • Various public services are provided by the NGO’s both at Macro and Micro levels.
  • NGO’s have also implemented some viable development programs which are extremely handy for the poverty stricken individuals.

Poverty has been a firm and importunate problem in India, all the way through the independence to decades after that. Role of NGO, especially in a country like India, is very crucial. In fact, according to current statistics, a huge chunk of the Indian population is still below the poverty level. Not to mention, the focus of elections and all other political agendas have been around the concern. Various government subsidies and poverty amelioration mechanisms have been incorporated in the country. However, most of them failed to offer a commendable result.

Throughout the last few decades, role of NGO’s is extremely significant in poverty amelioration mechanism. They have brought about some of the best employment opportunities, livelihood programs, self-help groups and also empowerment programs. Many families both in rural and urban areas have enjoyed some of the most viable and consistent benefits from these NGO’s.

Role of NGO in poverty alleviation

  • NGO’s play a significant role in offering relief and other basic amenities to individuals who are suffering from extreme poverty.
  • These non-governmental organizations have initiated some empowerment programs. These programs empower both men and women, thereby offering some commendable benefits in their lifestyle.
  • NGO’s have brought about some viable and effective, skill based livelihood programs.
  • Various public services are provided by the NGO’s both at Macro and Micro levels.
  • NGO’s have also implemented some viable development programs which are extremely handy for the poverty stricken individuals.

Apart from this, various other strategies are incorporated by the NGO’s to reduce poverty.

Providing resources to the poor

NGO’s offer socio-economic services

Helping to achieve the developmental goals.

NGOs MICROFINANCE ROLE A STRATEGY FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION

Microfinance is another important sector that NGO’s have fully utilized in reaching out to the poor. Their roles in this sector, has immensely contributed to alleviating poverty among the poor. The purpose of using microfinance to alleviate poverty is as a result of what role microfinance can play and what impact it created on the beneficiaries. Microfinance has a very important role to play in development according to proponents of microfinance.

Now, these are the ways we can eliminate and reduce the poverty and improve the lives of poor’s by ngos .through examines the lives of poor’s ,by that properly, we can use microfinance and empowerment programs by all above mentioned activities we can improve the livelihoods of poor’s through NGOS.