NGOs make the headlines. Time and again, they come into the limelight when they get involved where no one else can or wants to. Whether it is the conservation of natural areas, humanitarian missions in war and crisis zones or political enlightenment and education, NGOs are an important part of civil society. But what actually is an NGO?
NGOs make the headlines. Time and again, they come into the limelight when they get involved where no one else can or wants to. Whether it is the conservation of natural areas, humanitarian missions in war and crisis zones or political enlightenment and education, NGOs are an important part of civil society. But what actually is an NGO?
Behind the abbreviation "NGO" is the term "non-governmental organisation" - in German also NRO or "non-governmental organisation" is common. An NGO must fulfil various criteria in order to do justice to the name. It must be privately organised and independent. An organisation that claims independence but is ultimately sponsored by interest groups cannot claim independence. Just as important as independence from economic and/or political stakeholders is a non-profit orientation. In order to be allowed to call itself an NGO or NRO, an organisation must therefore renounce the claim to profits and may also not distribute profits to its members. This is to ensure independence.
What do NGOs do?
Non-governmental organisations are active in many areas of social and societal life. They are committed to the rights of groups, especially the rights and protection of weak and disadvantaged persons - thus you can find numerous NGOs that are committed to child protection or to the rights of women. But NGOs also work for people with disabilities, for victims of justice, for senior citizens - and currently, of course, strongly for the victims of conflicts and for refugees. The list could be extended considerably.
In addition to protecting and representing individual groups of people, NGOs can also be active in the social and political spheres, pointing out and combating abuses of power and the bending of the law.
And NGOs are also important in animal and nature conservation. As independent admonishers, they stand up for fellow creatures who have no voice and strive to protect the beauty and riches of the planet.
How do non-governmental organisations finance themselves?
Since NGOs are not allowed to distribute profits, many of them rely on donations. Another source of income is membership fees, which accrue where an NGO is organised as a non-profit association. Since NGOs in particular have a high demand for independence and transparency, effective public relations work that is at the same time compatible with the ethics of the organisation and the absolutely correct use of the funds collected are of utmost importance - the credibility of an NGO stands or falls on this.
However, this does not mean that the members or employees of an NGO are not paid. Especially where elaborate work is done, where specialists and experts are needed, NGOs are quite entitled to pay their salaried and freelance staff well according to the usual national standards. This contrasts with volunteer members or staff who work for free or for reimbursement of expenses.
Income from successful projects
Financing through the products of its own projects is also quite legitimate for an NGO. For example, those who promote a vocational training project are allowed to sell the handicraft products that result from the project work - to generate income for further activity and to bring tangible proof of success to the market. In any case, it is important that the money generated is repatriated and used to finance further activities of the NGO.
At NIKIN, we want to help ensure that the work of NGOs involved in forest and nature conservation reaches the consumer. And that each of you has the opportunity to contribute directly and in an uncomplicated way to the preservation of nature. Our special love and bond is with the forest and its inhabitants. Trees clean the air we breathe and the water we drink. Forests are the most important reserves of biodiversity. That's why we work with One Tree Planted and BOS.
One Tree Planted
Since 2014, our partner One Tree Planted has been reforesting areas around the world that have been deforested through clearing, forest fires and other environmental disasters. The mission: one dollar per tree. In North and South America, Africa and Asia, OTP's tree planters are active and plant trees that are suitable for the respective region and can thrive there. We at NIKIN make sure that they don't run out of money for forest reforestation. With every product purchased from us, a tree is planted!
BOS
Since the 1990s, BOS Switzerland has been working hard to protect the last orangutans on Borneo - and to preserve the tropical forests in which they live. In addition to rescuing and rehabilitating the animals, one of the main focuses of its activities is working in the community - because only when people understand why the animals' habitat is also important for them can species protection and nature conservation be implemented in the long term.
