The World Public Summit: Africa, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme "New World: Africa in Shaping a Shared Future." /PHOTO; courtesy; World People Assembly
Experts have called for greater recognition of the role non-governmental organisations (NGOs) play in Africa’s development, saying stronger evidence and coordinated support are needed to maximise the sector’s contribution to national development.
The call was made during a roundtable titled “NGOs in African Countries: The Invisible Force of Change” at the World Public Summit: Africa, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme “New World: Africa in Shaping a Shared Future.”
The session brought together government officials, researchers, development practitioners and civil society leaders to examine the growing role of NGOs across the continent.
Speakers noted that NGOs continue to complement government efforts by delivering essential services in education, healthcare, environmental protection, social welfare, youth development and women’s empowerment, particularly in communities where public institutions face resource and capacity constraints.
Vyacheslav Ivanov, Chief Expert at HSE University’s Centre for Civil Society and Non-profit Sector Research, said a lack of reliable information continues to limit understanding of the sector’s full contribution.
“Many countries lack comprehensive statistical data to objectively assess the scale of NGO activities, their economic contribution, their impact on addressing social issues, and their role in achieving national development goals,” he said.
Participants said developing common approaches to measuring the work of NGOs would help governments and development partners make informed policy decisions and better support civil society organisations.
John Aggrey, Director General of the Ghana-Russia Centre for Trade and Relations, said NGOs have become indispensable partners in addressing development challenges across Africa.
“NGOs in Africa often operate in areas where government mechanisms are limited. This makes them key players in social transformation,” he said.
The roundtable concluded with participants agreeing to establish an international working group to develop a methodology for researching NGO activities across African countries.
The initiative will draw on international experience while adapting to national contexts, with recommendations expected to be presented at the Second World Public Assembly in Moscow in September 2026.
The discussion formed part of the opening day of the summit, which also featured sessions on media, education, science, literature and humanitarian cooperation, highlighting the importance of collaboration in shaping Africa’s future.
