Networking and Support Organisations

Acord The Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development (Acord) is an international Africa-led alliance of groups and individuals that addresses rights and social justice that underlie the poverty of those on the fringes of African societies. ACORD seeks to go beyond addressing the consequences of poverty to understanding, challenging and changing the conditions that cause poverty and exclusion through a global programme that unites practical work with advocacy. ACORD believes that people have a right to a just and equal society, and it is committed to making that right a reality.

African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) Independent, development funding institution aiming to address capacity needs in the area of macroeconomic policy analysis and development management.

Bretton Woods Project works as a networker, information-provider, media informant and watchdog to scrutinise and influence the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

British Overseas NGOs for Development BOND is the network of more than 290 UK based voluntary organisations working in international development and development education.

Building Partnerships for Development in Water and Sanitation is an informal global network of business, government and civil society organisations supporting, researching and promoting tri-sector partnerships that bring safe water and sanitation services to the poor in developing countries.

Calandria: Associacion de Communicadores Calandria is a Peru-based organisation set up to co-ordinate civil society groups and support advocacy.

Centre for Operations, Research and Training (CORT) CORT, India is a research and training organisation, focusing on reproductive health research that has immediate policy relevance. CORT has special interest and expertise in contraceptive use dynamics, abortion, operations research in sexual and reproductive health, adolescent sexuality, HIV/AIDS and violence.

Charities Aid Foundation CAF is a UK based charity (with a USA partner) now also working in Russia, Brussels, India and South Africa, providing information support and consultancy to charities and fundraising organisations.

Civilnet JCIE sponsored organisation designed to advance the cause of the non-profit sector in Asia Pacific and world-wide with a special emphasis on Japan's own civil society development. Stresses promoting international cooperation and solidarity among civil society organizations such as philanthropies and grass-roots and other non-governmental organisations through conferences, exchange programs, studies and surveys, and other creative programs.

Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR), Zambia Independent, development funding institution aiming to address capacity needs in the area of macroeconomic policy analysis and development management.

China NPO Network

The Centre for Civil Society at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has a wide range of thriving local, national and international linkages with key organisations and individuals in and concerned with civil society.

Communication for Social Change Consortium aims to build local capacity of people living in poor and marginalized communities to use communication in order to improve their own lives.

The Communications Initiative Information portal with links to articles on development-related subjects, events, training, vacancies and services in the field.

Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Organisations (DENIVA) The Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA) is a registered, indigenous, non-profit making network of Ugandan Non-Governmental and Community Based Organisations (NGOs/CBOs). The organisation's purpose is to empower DENIVA's Member Organisations and other civic organisations for democratic growth and sustainable development through networking, advocacy and capacity building. They run several programmes, including a project to strengthen local governance through civil society organisations (funded by Ford Foundation). This project targets 4 districts in Uganda and aims to strengthen the capacities of civil society organisations (CSOs) to participate in influencing policies and ensuring good governance at the sub-county and district level.

Development and Policy Management Forum DPMF is a regional civil-society organisation that aims at consolidating and institutionalising democratic governance in Africa. The forum conducts research, training and advocacy with a focus on enhancing the capacity of policy makers and civil-society in African countries. Areas of focus include: civil service and democratic governance; conflict and peace-building; regional integration; civil society and leadership.

Development Studies Association The DSA works as a forum to promote the advancement of knowledge on international development, providing information on development research and training and encouraging interdisciplinary exchange and cooperation.

EASUN is a regional development organization committed to strengthening Civil Society Organizations in East Africa on the basis of a conviction that strong civil societies are vital for enhancing people's participation in the social and economic spheres of their communities and nations.

ECAS is an international non-profit organisation, independent of political parties, commercial interests and the EU Institutions. The association's mission is to enable NGOs and individuals to make their voice heard with the EU. ECAS' members cover different areas of activity in the EU and applicant countries: civil liberties, culture, development, health and social welfare.

Euforic is Europe's Forum on International Co-operation.

European Development Research Network (EUDN) EUDN links development think tanks from Europe with the rest of the World. The objectives of EUDN include: generating development-related knowledge, focusing in particular on research strengthening and training; establishing an information centre; promoting research cooperation and promoting the exchange of staff between development think-tanks.

Fahamu is dedicated to strengthening the work of not-for-profit and other non-governmental organisations throughout the world through the use of information and communications technologies.

Financial Management for Emergencies runs a website intended to be 'a survival guide for humanitarian programme managers'.

Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) The Centre is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit research-based and policy-oriented think tank in Ghana. It is dedicated to the promotion of democracy, good governance and the development of a liberal political and economic environment in Ghana in particular and Africa in general. To meet its goals and objectives, the CDD conducts research, monitors and analyses, trains and develops the capacity of other regional and local like-minded institutions. The CDD's main research areas include: governance, peace and security, human rights, and corporate governance.

Global Development Network (GDN) GDN is a global network of research and policy institutes working together to address the problems of national and regional development. GDN: Supports multidisciplinary research in social sciences; promotes the generation of local knowledge in developing and transition countries; produces policy relevant knowledge on a global scale; builds research capacity to advance development and alleviate poverty; facilitates knowledge sharing among researchers and policymakers; and disseminates development knowledge to the public and policymakers.

Global Media Monitoring Project Each year the world's news media come under scrutiny when hundreds of people in over 76 countries monitor the representation and portrayal of women and men in news on television, radio and in newspaper. Global Media Monitoring Project annually launch the results of this effort and challenge the media to ensure that fair gender portrayal becomes a professional criterion like any other such as balance, fairness and honesty which all good journalists should aspire to in their work.

Green Netis an NGO dedicated to supporting and promoting groups and individuals working for peace, human rights and the environment.

Information Management for Humanitarian Operations provides free resources on the use of information resources for humanitarian operations and reconstruction.

Initiatives for Democracy in Eastern Europe (IDEE), Bucharest, Romania IDEE is a public affairs institute designed to serve as a professional communication resource to local and central public actors as well as to NGOs operating throughout Eastern Europe. It develops research, consultancy and training programs, as well as public information, PR and fund raising campaigns.

Indiasocial.org A specialised portal dedicated to the social sector operating in India. It has a database of development activities.

The Institute for African Alternatives (IFAA) is a network institute for policy research on alternative development strategies for the continent, with links to NGOs in the North and South and grassroots organisations in Africa.

Initiative for Central Africa (INICA)The Initiative for Central Africa (INICA) is a platform for discussion and action around people and groups active in cross-border initiatives in Central Africa (civil society, private sector, churches, universities, NGOs, local and national authorities, regional institutions and donors). It aims to act alongside other ongoing initiatives in Central Africa, promoting people to people networks based on drive and passion to move forward.

International Human Rights NetworkThe International Human Rights Network is a non-governmental organisation supporting others in applying Human Rights Based Approaches in their work. Support is provided to states, inter-governmental organisations such as UN agencies and regional organisations, NGOs and other civil society organisations as well as the private sector.

KEPA is the Finnish Service Centre for Development Cooperation, a service base for Finnish NGOs interested in development work and global issues. The international section of the website is available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

NGO Resource Centre (NGORC), Pakistan NGORC is a project of the Aga Khan Foundation which aims to enhance organisational effectiveness and improve systems that promote gender sensitive participatory approaches to sustainable social and economic development. This is achieved through training, consulting services and the dissemination of information and research to development stakeholders and civil society.

One-World Net is the largest web presence devoted to sustainable development and human rights, providing news, in-depth reports, specialist guides and a great deal more.

Participatory Development Associates (PDA), Ghana PDA is an organisation whose aim is to support processes of empowerment and self-determination in communities, organisations and individuals. PDA provides facilitation, training and research services for government, non-government and private organisations, multilateral and bilateral organisations. Areas of focus include: decentralisation; poverty and social assessments
reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS; gender and development;
issues of governance in education, health and forestry.

Poverty Frontiers Poverty Frontiers is a forum for organisations and individuals involved in poverty reduction to exchange best practices and lessons learned. It is an initiative of USAID's Poverty Analysis and Social Safety Net team (PASSN) and works in the following four areas: analysis, tools development, field support, and knowledge management.

PRAXIS Directory of Support Providers INTRAC’s Praxis Directory of CS Support Providers: This global Directory maps hundreds of capacity building organisations around the world

Research and Policy in Development (RAPID) ODIProgramme aims to improve the use of research in development policy and practice through improved knowledge about research-policy links; improved knowledge management and learning systems; improved communication; and improved awareness of the importance of research.

Regional and International Networking Group (RING) The RING is a global alliance of research and policy organisations that seeks to enhance and promote sustainable development through a programme of collaborative research, dissemination and policy advocacy.

Rural Finance Learning Centre The RFLC is an internet portal that is specifically focused on supporting capacity building in organisations seeking to enhance the effective provision of financial services in rural areas. This Centre aims to provide resources and training materials for practitioners, policy-makers, advisers and donors to use for capacity building. It also collates resources, examples and experiences from around the world and to be used for individual study and to improve workshops or training courses in rural finance.

Secretariat for Institutional Support for Economic Research in Africa SISERA is an IDRC research program in Africa, based in Senegal. It is a multi-donor structure created in July 1997, with a mission to reinforce African research centers' capacity in research and management. Its support modalities include core institutional grants, support to collaborative thematic research, electronic connectivity and promoting the dissemination and publication of policy-oriented research. SISERA has a network of African economic research centers considered as its partner institutions. SISERA's main activities include providing financial and technical support to African research centers and organizing an annual forum for discussions on issues of interest to African countries.

South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO) Umbrella body of South African NGOs. The Coalition was formed in August 1995 to co-ordinate NGO input into the Reconstruction and Development Programme. It consists of provincial and sectoral affiliates, working in a wide range of development fields including land, health, urban and rural development. Aims to promote civil society by uniting and strengthening the NGO sector to enable it to influence development policy and advocate for programmes that meet the needs of the poor in the best possible way, at the least possible cost.

Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO) The Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO) is the largest and longest standing national umbrella organization serving the Tanzanian NGO community. TANGO was founded in 1988 by 22 NGOs. It now has over 485 member organizations. As an umbrella body it is committed to promoting the well being of its constituency by acting as a unifying organ and mandated representative in advocating for transformation for the common good.

TRIALOG EU Enlargement and NGDOs forum.

World Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (WANGO) WANGO is an international organisation uniting NGOs worldwide in the cause of advancing peace and global well being. WANGO helps to provide the mechanism and support needed for NGOs to connect, partner, share, inspire, and multiply their contributions to solve humanity's basic problems. Website includes a Worldwide NGO directory (searchable by country and specialisation) with contact details for NGOs in over 170 countries.

World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA-FMANU) The World Federation of United Nations Associations has a mission to inform, sustain and energize a global network of United Nations Associations to support the principles and programs of the United Nations and to help shape its agenda. It also hosts the Federation's Academy for a Stronger UN whose aim is to support capacity building needs of NGOs, and assist them to form United Nations Associations (UNAs) to serve as a hub of local civil society activity in support of the UN.

World Confederation of Labor (WCL) is an international network of 144 workers unions located mainly in developing countries.

United Nations (UN) Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) UN agency coordinating dialogue and cooperation between the UN system and NGOs. Offices in Geneva and New York. (the UN Department of Information also maintains an NGO link service).

United Nations Institute for Training and Research United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) was established in 1965 as an autonomous body within the United Nations with the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of the Organization through appropriate training and research. UNITAR has the following functions: to carry out a wide range of training programmes in the field of social and economic development; to carry out result-oriented research, in particular, research on and for training and to develop pedagogical materials including distance learning training packages, work books, as well as software and video training packs; to establish and strengthen cooperation with other inter-governmental organizations, faculties and academic institutions, in particular for the development of research on and for training.

VENRO VENRO, the Association of German development non-governmental organisations (NGOs), is the umbrella organisation of independent and church related NGOs working in the fields of development cooperation, emergency assistance, development education, and advocacy.