NGOs in West Africa are divided into three categories: African national NGOs, African international NGOs, and non-African international NGOs. NGOs stand for non-governmental organizations. These organizations dominantly work independently from the government, and have specific aims that range from human rights, finance, health, education and more. There are many non-governmental organizations in West Africa, (West African Sahel includes: Burkina Faso, Benin, Cameroon, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal) and much activity between these countries, organizations and the rest of the world.
The history of non-governmental organizations starts most prominently after colonization. Due to land redistribution, new labor laws and the reconstructive government under colonial rule, NGOs started gradually overtime to protect the well-being of indigenous west African inhabitants, but data and recordings of these instances are quite limited.
Most data on NGOs in the Sahel begin in the 1970s. Due to the independence movements, climate issues, economic issues of the time, and civil rights movements in the United States, led to a dramatic introduction of foreign powers in the Sahel. The combination of the oil embargo by the Middle East and The Great West African Drought had mixed effects in the Sahel. With the Niger River that ran very low leading to a migration of farmers and nomads into major cities; foreign powers soon provided economic relief and humanitarian aid to the Sahel, ranging from American, German, Soviet and NATO organizations. This proved to be a part of a larger relief effort that was heavily influenced by the Cold War and the Arms Race. Foreign governments provided a majority of emergency aid but overtime foreign government involvement became foreign voluntary agencies which eventually solidified as NGOs that took on the mantle of providing aid.
African born NGOs later started developing to an international scale in the 1980s and 90s, growing to a point of African International recognition and solidarity. These groups were formed mostly due to the sudden push for democratization, economic, or climate issues, like ECOWAS and GAWA.
Impact of African national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in West Africa Non-governmental organizations, NGOs can work in different capacities but essentially are designed to work autonomously from the government at either local, state, national, or international levels. Overarchingly, NGOs are meant to be, "formal..., non-profit..., self-governing..., voluntary..." organizations. This description will help provide a foundation for how these characteristics are applied to West African national NGOs.
In the 1980s, West African countries- such as Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Liberia- were pushed to implement "neoliberal economic reforms" and had begun doing so. Later in the 1990s, the three countries made efforts to implement "democratic reforms". While these countries tried, the lasting effects of colonization destabilized the states' capacity to provide for its citizens; therefore, highlighting non-state organizations, like NGOs, to fulfill the peoples' need for basic resources. The region's colonial history prompted the increased creation of non-state sources of support, which has been similarly replicated into modern-day. This increased need of non-state resources has led to, "... new inequalities of access and complex mechanisms of accountability for African citizens...".
This colonial legacy has not only increased the need for non-state resources but also has made it difficult for West African/African national NGOs to work. As a result, national NGOs engage in "grey practices" where they promote state accountability but also engage in corruption. This example shows how the region and continent continues to be impacted by European colonization years later.
One way in which West African national NGOs have developed over time is how they obtain financial aid for their organizations. Given the limited research concerning West African NGOs, scholarship about West African national NGOs and their ability to adapt to the evolving financial aid system in less accessible. However, West African national NGOs- specifically Ghanaian NGOs- are quite active and, "...are innovating, adjusting, and responding in various ways to remain sustainable". In the 1990s, international donors decided to focus their donations to national NGOs instead of international NGOs or state governments because national NGOs were perceived as well-structured vehicles to serve local communities and not as prone to corruption. In recent years the perspective of national NGOs in West Africa has changed, and they have been criticized for prioritizing their Western donors over the local communities they serve.
West African national NGOs have provided support to their corresponding country's education sectors and infrastructure. For example, in Ghana, religious NGOs assist with, "... public infrastructure development, such as building schools, roads, wells, and boreholes". National NGOs can help bridge disparity gaps that national governments have not been able to reach and remedy.
Examples of West African national NGOs will be listed down below divided by Human Rights, Finance and Development, Health, and Environment based organizations made to promote change within their corresponding sectors.
Human Rights
Women's rights Association des Femmes Juristes du Bénin: In Benin: (Association of Women Lawyers of Benin - AFJB); NGO focused on educating women on their legal rights BAOBAB In Nigeria BAOBAB Women is an NGO focuses on support for victims of Domestic Violence, and advocates for Gender Rights Equitas Based in Burkina Faso, Equitas is an NGO that focuses on gender equality and education - deconstructing social norms and gender stereotypes
Civil rights Christian Action for the Abolition of Torture-Benin or ACAT-B Based in Benin, ACAT-B is a subgroup of the larger international group ACAT, that is dedicated to ending the death penalty, cruel, and unusual punishment for incarcerated citizens Ligue pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme au Bénin Based in Benin, the League for the Defense of Human Rights in Benin or LDH, promotes human rights across the country
LGBTQ+ Rights Bénin Synergie Plus Network (BESYP) Based in Benin, BESYP is an organization dedicated to fighting AIDS and promoting health for LGBTQ+ citizens Ong Tous Nes Libres et Egaux Based in Benin, Ong Tous Nes Libres et Egaux (TNLE) or All Born Free and Equal is an NGO that works for the promotion of human rights and the fight against STIs, HIV/AIDS Youth Arise Based in Sierra Leone, Youth Arise is a non-profit organization that advocates for gay rights, and supports the LGBT/MSM community with resources and education opportunities SAIL Stop AIDS in Liberia was the first NGO founded by LGBTQ citizens, to educate gay men on HIV/AIDS prevention, and provide counseling for LGBTQ+ community Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana (CEPEHRG) Based in Accra, Ghana, CEPEHRG is a NGO that aims to aid in the health of LGBTQ+ citizens and advocate for LGBTQ+ civil rights Sourire Des Femme An NGO based in Senegal, focused on upholding feminism, and ending discrimination for women in LBQWSW community (Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, and Women who have Sex with women)
Finance/Economy/Development Association pour le Développement des Initiatives Villageoises Based in Benin, The Association for the Development of Village Initiatives (ASSODIV) (Togo) AJEAH or Association of Engaged Youth for Humanitarian Action is a development NGO aimed at improving quality of life and sustainable development La Banque Mondial Mauritanie Based in Mauritania, La Bank Mondial Mauritanie, or The Mauritanian World Bank is a subgroup of the World Bank and is an NGO focused on gaining investments into the agriculture, telecommunications and energy sectors Tenmiya Tenmiya is an NGO based in Mauritania, that aims to invest in water, energy, and environmental sectors of the rural and peri-urban parts of the country with microfinancing, to help end poverty
Health Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative Non-profit Mental Health organization based in Nigeria, aimed at deconstructing mental health stigmas and providing resources for youth groups that struggle with mental health
POD-Mali or Peace One Day Mali! is an NGO that works in healthcare, Nutrition, Food Security, and peacebuilding for children affected by war and conflict Never Alone Principle Defenders Never Alone Principle Defenders is a Health-based NGO in Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast aimed at ending alcoholism and drug abuse in the region (also called ADAPP) Sante Espoir Vie Cote d'Ivoire (SEV-CI) Sante Espoir Vie aka Health Hope and Life is a national NGO based in the Ivory Coast aimed at disease prevention and aid, as well as childbirth and maternal healthcare
Education AHAVA Women Empowerment Initiative NGO based in Benin whose main purpose is legal rights education for women Institut des Droits de l'Homme et de Promotion de la Démocratie Based In Benin, Institute for Human Rights and the Promotion of Democracy (IDH) focuses on human rights education EduShine Education Foundation Based in Nigeria, EduShine is an NGO that focuses on youth education in science and technology in the region DrDoe Foundation: Based in Nigeria, DrDoe is an NGO that advocates for health education OrphanHub Foundation: Based in Nigeria, OrphanHub is an NGO that focuses on empowering orphans, disabled children, and underprivileged youths with digital and technology skills in Nigeria and across other Africa countries.
Environment Green Care Association or GCA Based in Cameroon, GCA organizes environment and development projects for local communities and volunteers which include sustainable agriculture education and training, tree planting, and environmental education Ape Action Africa Based in Cameroon, Ape Action Africa is an NGO aimed at saving endangered primates from going extinct
Impact of African international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) in West Africa International non-governmental organizations (INGOs) can be defined as NGOs who work autonomously from the government in the international realm. Furthermore, INGOs can be described as, "... 'any internationally operating organization which is not established by inter-governmental agreement'". Therefore, INGOs are not born from any international contract.
INGOs tend to locate themselves in major cities. For example, Ghanaian NGOs and INGOs are known to have their organizations' headquarters in Ghana's capital, Accra. However, there are some differences between NGOs and INGOs to consider. Firstly, while West African national NGOs do have their headquarters in massive cities, they also establish them outside massive cities and instead in, "smaller communities'', unlike INGOs. Secondly, NGOs area of focus is either local, state, or national (wiki NGO article) while INGOs deal with projects on an international level.