Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) A non-governmental organisation (NGO) is a not-for-profit, voluntary citizens’ group, which is organised on a local, national or international level to address issues in support of the public good. Task-oriented and made up of people with common interests, NGOs perform a variety of services and humanitarian functions, bring citizens’ concerns to governments, monitor policy and programme implementation, and encourage participation of civil society stakeholders at the community level. They provide analysis and expertise, serve as early-warning mechanisms, and help monitor and implement international agreements. Some are organised around specific issues, such as human rights, governance, the environment or health.