The Role of NGOs in Supporting Education in Africa

Non-Government Organisations (NG0s) which support education in Africa may use different titles such as Council or Trust, are almost always Non-profit organizations. They differ in size, ranging from small local organisations through to large internal multinationals. When founded they will often reflect the ideas, objectives and views of their founders. Funds for new NGOs especially smaller organisations were, and still are, likely to come from supporters, small charities and foundations. Their activities are likely to focus either on specific areas for example village schools or supporting specific causes such as school children with disabilities. Funding for many NGOs has changed significantly from their early years. Many now receive large proportions of their funding from governments. However many NGOs perceive their work to be guided by the principals of neutrality and impartiality. Governments however may view the NGO education programmes they fund as being part of a “counter insurgency strategy” or as one of their “combat teams”. Governments and international funders such as the European Union often now prefer to support consortia where a number of NGOs and multilateral organisations join together to work on a single project. There are significant benefits but also some significant problems.