NGO
Non-profit and non-governmental organisations are crucial in advancing economic, environmental, and social justice worldwide. Since specific financial metrics do not drive them, they can provide an unbiased perspective on global socioeconomic, political, and environmental issues and actions as a collective. They, however, must collaborate with financial institutions, governments, scientific communities, social activists and for-profit companies for knowledge, funding, and cooperation in achieving their goals. As a result, they must demonstrate the equality, social justice, and environmental sustainability they so keenly promote - to enhance their credibility and effectiveness, attract greater participation from development partners, and influence a more significant segment of the target population while keeping compliant with local regulations.
The main principles that the world expects NGOs to advance include:
Environmental
Promote and encourage policies, activities, and actions that:
- Conservation of natural resources – e.g., fair use and preservation of water resources.
- Climate change mitigation – e.g., adapting to changes in the environment.
- Sustainable energy practices
- Wildlife protection
- Environmental education and awareness
- Reduce carbon emissions.
- Preserve, protect and restore forests, grasslands, wetlands, etc.
- Manage pollution, encourage recycling, reusing, and repurposing.
Social
- Promote social changes for better working and living conditions.
- Demonstrate equity among employees, contractors, and target populations.
- Create social changes to mitigate disaster risks.
Governance
- Develop, adapt, and promote fairness, accountability, and openness to improve an organisation's credibility.
- Transparency in operations, stakeholder accountability, ethical fundraising and financial management, legal and regulatory requirements adherence, and effective board oversight.
Economic
- Poverty alleviation empowers individuals, households and communities to take charge of their lives.
- Promote sustainable development linked to the SDGs by implementing interventions to help individuals, households and communities create wealth for a better future.
- Promote fair trade practices.
- Access to essential financial services for the marginalised.
Equality
- Promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.
- Promoting social inclusion, including the participation of the marginalised and vulnerable groups.
- Protect human rights such as the right to life, liberty, security, and civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
- Create opportunities for the underprivileged, such as access to education and universal health.
