NGOs (non-governmental organizations) list of 50 well-known > CommonSense

Below is a list of 50 well-known NGOs (non-governmental organizations) from around the world, presented in no particular order. Each entry includes an overview of the NGO’s activities and notable achievements. Please note that “top” rankings vary by source, and this list is intended to highlight a broad range of influential NGOs working in diverse fields.

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1. **Oxfam** 
  - **Activities**: Oxfam focuses on alleviating global poverty, advocating for social justice, and providing emergency relief during humanitarian crises. Their programs include fair trade initiatives, women’s rights advocacy, and policy research on inequality. 
  - **Achievements**: Oxfam has impacted millions through crisis response (e.g., distributing food, sanitation kits) and long-term development projects. They have also influenced global policy debates on taxation, labor rights, and climate change.

2. **Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) / Doctors Without Borders** 
  - **Activities**: MSF provides emergency medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, natural disasters, or lack of healthcare. They operate in over 70 countries, offering essential services such as surgery, vaccination campaigns, and mental health support. 
  - **Achievements**: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999, MSF is widely recognized for its rapid response in crisis zones like conflict-ridden regions and areas hit by outbreaks (e.g., Ebola). Their independent, impartial stance ensures medical aid reaches the most vulnerable.

3. **Save the Children** 
  - **Activities**: Save the Children promotes children’s rights, provides health and nutrition programs, improves access to education, and offers emergency relief. They work in both developed and developing nations, focusing on the well-being of the most marginalized children. 
  - **Achievements**: They have reduced child mortality rates through vaccination programs, improved education access in conflict areas, and driven policy changes to protect child refugees.

4. **BRAC** 
  - **Activities**: BRAC (originally founded in Bangladesh) is one of the largest NGOs globally. It works across microfinance, education, healthcare, legal aid, and community empowerment. Their model often emphasizes social enterprises alongside traditional NGO work. 
  - **Achievements**: BRAC’s microfinance program has helped millions out of poverty, and its low-cost schools have improved literacy rates across remote regions. Their approach is frequently cited as a leading example of integrated development.

5. **CARE International** 
  - **Activities**: CARE tackles global poverty and social injustice, focusing particularly on women and girls. Their programs range from health, food security, and education to humanitarian relief efforts and climate adaptation. 
  - **Achievements**: CARE’s “CARE Package” initiative, originally launched after World War II, continues to serve as a model for global emergency relief. They have significantly advanced gender equality programs and built resilience in disaster-prone communities.

6. **Mercy Corps** 
  - **Activities**: Mercy Corps addresses global poverty, conflict, and natural disasters through emergency response and long-term development projects. They emphasize market-driven solutions, youth empowerment, and resilience-building. 
  - **Achievements**: Active in over 40 countries, Mercy Corps played a critical role in responses to major crises such as the Syrian refugee crisis and drought in the Horn of Africa, reaching millions with food assistance and livelihood support.

7. **International Rescue Committee (IRC)** 
  - **Activities**: IRC offers emergency aid, resettlement assistance, and long-term support to refugees and communities affected by war, persecution, or disaster. They focus on health, education, economic well-being, and women’s protection. 
  - **Achievements**: Cofounded by Albert Einstein in 1933, IRC has resettled thousands of refugees in safe countries, rebuilt infrastructure in conflict zones, and fostered economic independence through vocational training and micro-enterprise programs.

8. **Plan International** 
  - **Activities**: Plan International advances children’s rights and equality for girls in over 75 countries, focusing on education, healthcare, child protection, and disaster relief. 
  - **Achievements**: Their “Because I am a Girl” campaign has mobilized resources and policies supporting girls’ education and empowerment. Plan’s extensive community-based programs have improved the lives of millions of children worldwide.

9. **World Vision** 
  - **Activities**: A Christian humanitarian organization, World Vision provides humanitarian aid, child sponsorship, clean water projects, and economic development programs. They also respond to natural disasters and conflicts with emergency relief. 
  - **Achievements**: World Vision’s sponsorship model has funded community development across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, improving school enrollment rates, access to healthcare, and clean water availability.

10. **Amnesty International** 
  - **Activities**: Amnesty International campaigns globally for human rights and works to stop abuses of political, economic, and social rights. They conduct research, lobby governments, and mobilize public opinion to pressure for legislative and policy changes. 
  - **Achievements**: They have contributed to the release of thousands of political prisoners and have shaped important global conversations around issues like torture, the death penalty, and freedom of expression.

11. **Human Rights Watch (HRW)** 
  - **Activities**: HRW investigates and reports on human rights violations globally. Their in-depth research informs advocacy efforts aimed at governments, armed groups, corporations, and international organizations. 
  - **Achievements**: HRW’s reports have been pivotal in exposing genocide, war crimes, and systemic abuses, often prompting international action or sanctions. Their campaigns have led to policy changes and accountability measures worldwide.

12. **ActionAid** 
  - **Activities**: ActionAid focuses on tackling the root causes of poverty, particularly by empowering communities to claim their rights to food, education, and fair governance. They work on women’s rights, tax justice, and emergency relief. 
  - **Achievements**: ActionAid has supported grassroots movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, influencing national policies on land rights, education funding, and reducing gender-based violence.

13. **Habitat for Humanity** 
  - **Activities**: Habitat for Humanity builds and rehabilitates affordable housing in partnership with local communities. Volunteers and homeowners work side by side to construct safe, decent housing solutions. 
  - **Achievements**: Operating in over 70 countries, Habitat has helped more than 39 million people achieve stable, affordable housing. Their model of “sweat equity” has been praised for fostering community ownership and empowerment.

14. **World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)** 
  - **Activities**: WWF is dedicated to wildlife conservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. Their work includes protecting habitats, conserving endangered species, promoting sustainable resource management, and advocacy on climate change. 
  - **Achievements**: WWF’s iconic panda logo is recognized worldwide. They have led conservation successes for species like tigers and pandas, while driving global efforts to protect critical ecosystems such as the Amazon and the Coral Triangle.

15. **Greenpeace** 
  - **Activities**: Greenpeace focuses on environmental protection, campaigning against climate change, deforestation, overfishing, and nuclear energy. They use direct action, lobbying, and research to influence policy and public opinion. 
  - **Achievements**: Known for high-profile protests and campaigns, Greenpeace has influenced bans on toxic substances, driven awareness of whaling and ocean pollution, and helped shape international climate agreements.

16. **International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)** 
  - **Activities**: IFRC coordinates humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and health services globally. It provides aid during conflicts, natural disasters, and health crises, working closely with national Red Cross/Red Crescent societies. 
  - **Achievements**: With millions of volunteers worldwide, IFRC delivers rapid relief in almost every major humanitarian crisis. Their global network has saved countless lives through disaster preparedness, blood services, and first aid training.

17. **The Nature Conservancy** 
  - **Activities**: The Nature Conservancy aims to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. They use science-based approaches and partnerships with businesses, governments, and local communities to preserve biodiversity. 
  - **Achievements**: The organization has protected over 125 million acres of land and thousands of miles of rivers worldwide. Their innovative conservation finance mechanisms have set new standards for public-private environmental projects.

18. **Relief International** 
  - **Activities**: Relief International works in fragile settings, delivering emergency relief, healthcare, education, and economic development programs. They prioritize conflict zones and areas with significant refugee populations. 
  - **Achievements**: By integrating humanitarian response with long-term development, Relief International has strengthened livelihoods in places like South Sudan and Afghanistan, reducing reliance on external aid.

19. **WaterAid** 
  - **Activities**: WaterAid is dedicated to improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in some of the world’s poorest communities. They also advocate for policy changes to ensure sustainable water management. 
  - **Achievements**: Since 1981, WaterAid has helped over 28 million people gain access to safe water and sanitation, significantly reducing waterborne diseases and improving overall health.

20. **Heifer International** 
  - **Activities**: Heifer International combats hunger and poverty by providing livestock, agricultural training, and community development. Their model emphasizes “passing on the gift,” where recipients of animals give offspring to other families in need. 
  - **Achievements**: They have supported millions of small-scale farming families worldwide, boosting food production and household incomes, and fostering community solidarity through the gift-passing principle.

21. **Doctors of the World (Médecins du Monde)** 
  - **Activities**: This medical NGO delivers healthcare to vulnerable populations, including refugees, homeless individuals, and communities without sufficient medical resources. They run clinics, vaccination programs, and mental health services. 
  - **Achievements**: Active in nearly 80 countries, they have provided direct healthcare to millions of people, often operating in challenging environments such as war zones, informal settlements, and remote rural areas.

22. **Room to Read** 
  - **Activities**: Room to Read expands literacy and gender equality in education by establishing libraries, publishing local-language children’s books, and supporting girls’ education programs. 
  - **Achievements**: They’ve reached over 32 million children and improved reading skills significantly in Asia and Africa. Their comprehensive approach includes teacher training and extensive community involvement.

23. **Global Citizen** 
  - **Activities**: Global Citizen is an advocacy organization that uses digital platforms and events (like the Global Citizen Festival) to raise awareness and push for policy changes on issues such as poverty, health, education, and climate action. 
  - **Achievements**: They have secured billions of dollars in commitments from governments and corporations, helping to fund global immunization efforts, education initiatives, and sustainable development projects.

24. **PATH** 
  - **Activities**: PATH focuses on global health innovation, designing and implementing solutions for diseases, maternal and child health, and health systems strengthening. They collaborate with governments and private-sector partners to scale proven interventions. 
  - **Achievements**: PATH has pioneered advancements in vaccine delivery, diagnostics, and family planning tools, reducing mortality rates and improving health outcomes in low-resource settings.

25. **Girl Effect** 
  - **Activities**: Launched by the Nike Foundation, Girl Effect creates media, mobile platforms, and social programs to empower adolescent girls in developing countries. They tackle issues like early marriage, education gaps, and health risks. 
  - **Achievements**: Their culturally resonant programs—such as radio shows, magazines, and digital channels—have changed social norms and increased girls’ access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

26. **Landesa** 
  - **Activities**: Landesa secures land rights for the world’s poorest people, especially women, by partnering with governments and communities to reform land laws and policies. 
  - **Achievements**: Over the past five decades, Landesa has helped more than 180 million families gain secure land rights, boosting agricultural productivity, income, and social status.

27. **Transparency International** 
  - **Activities**: Transparency International fights corruption and promotes transparency in government, business, and civil society. They publish the annual Corruption Perceptions Index and advocate for stronger accountability mechanisms. 
  - **Achievements**: Their work has led to anti-corruption reforms worldwide, including legislation on bribery, whistleblower protection, and open data initiatives.

28. **The Carter Center** 
  - **Activities**: Founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, The Carter Center focuses on conflict resolution, democracy promotion, and disease eradication (e.g., Guinea worm disease). They monitor elections, mediate peace negotiations, and support public health programs. 
  - **Achievements**: The Center’s work has led to near-eradication of Guinea worm disease (cases reduced from millions to fewer than 30 annually). They’ve also observed 113 elections in 39 countries, promoting fair democratic practices.

29. **Handicap International (Humanity & Inclusion)** 
  - **Activities**: Handicap International supports people with disabilities and vulnerable populations in conflict zones and disaster areas. Their programs include rehabilitation, mental health support, inclusive education, and policy advocacy for disability rights. 
  - **Achievements**: They shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 as part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Their physical rehabilitation services have reached millions of individuals globally.

30. **Rainforest Alliance** 
  - **Activities**: Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming agricultural and business practices in forests and farmlands. They certify farms and forest products that meet rigorous environmental and social standards. 
  - **Achievements**: Their certification seal is recognized worldwide. By promoting sustainable practices in coffee, cocoa, and other commodity supply chains, they have helped preserve millions of hectares of forest and improved farmer incomes.

31. **Concern Worldwide** 
  - **Activities**: Concern Worldwide focuses on reducing extreme poverty and responding to humanitarian crises. They deliver nutrition, health, and livelihood programs in countries facing conflict, disasters, or chronic poverty. 
  - **Achievements**: Their emergency response and development work has benefitted millions across Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, particularly improving nutrition outcomes for children under five.

32. **Catholic Relief Services (CRS)** 
  - **Activities**: CRS is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the US. They provide emergency relief, agricultural support, health services, and educational opportunities in over 100 countries. 
  - **Achievements**: Their large-scale food assistance programs and peacebuilding initiatives have helped stabilize communities during crises like the Rwandan Genocide aftermath and the Syrian refugee crisis.

33. **Malaria No More** 
  - **Activities**: Malaria No More is dedicated to eradicating malaria by providing mosquito nets, diagnostic tests, and treatments, and by mobilizing political and financial support globally. 
  - **Achievements**: They have helped distribute millions of insecticide-treated nets in Africa and influenced government policies to increase funding. Their campaigns have contributed to a significant drop in malaria deaths worldwide.

34. **Freedom House** 
  - **Activities**: Freedom House conducts research on democracy, political freedom, and human rights, publishing annual reports like “Freedom in the World.” They also advocate for free expression, civil liberties, and fair elections. 
  - **Achievements**: Their authoritative indices on global freedom conditions shape policy debates and strategies among governments, NGOs, and multilateral organizations, often leading to diplomatic pressure or reforms.

35. **International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)** 
  - **Activities**: IPPF promotes sexual and reproductive health rights, offering contraception, HIV/AIDS services, and maternal health programs through local clinics and advocacy campaigns. 
  - **Achievements**: Operating in over 150 countries, IPPF has improved access to family planning services and played a key role in global policy discussions on reproductive rights and women’s health.

36. **Pact** 
  - **Activities**: Pact empowers communities through capacity building, governance support, health initiatives (particularly HIV/AIDS), and economic development projects. They partner with local organizations to sustain long-term solutions. 
  - **Achievements**: Through holistic community engagement, Pact has strengthened civil society organizations in over 40 countries, improved health service delivery, and promoted income-generating activities for marginalized groups.

37. **Operation Smile** 
  - **Activities**: Operation Smile provides free surgeries for children and adults with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities. They train local medical professionals to build sustainable, community-based care. 
  - **Achievements**: Founded in 1982, Operation Smile has provided hundreds of thousands of free surgeries worldwide and built local capacity by establishing in-country teams of surgeons and nurses.

38. **SOS Children’s Villages** 
  - **Activities**: SOS Children’s Villages supports vulnerable children without parental care or at risk of losing it. They provide family-like care, education, healthcare, and community development programs. 
  - **Achievements**: Active in 137 countries, they’ve offered a nurturing home to countless orphaned and abandoned children, often helping them transition successfully into adulthood.

39. **World Animal Protection** 
  - **Activities**: World Animal Protection advocates for the humane treatment of animals in farming, disaster zones, and the wild. They rescue animals after natural disasters and campaign against inhumane farming and wildlife practices. 
  - **Achievements**: Their disaster relief programs have assisted millions of animals worldwide, and campaigns like “Sea Change” have reduced ghost fishing gear in oceans, protecting marine life.

40. **Partners In Health (PIH)** 
  - **Activities**: PIH delivers healthcare to the world’s poorest regions, working to strengthen public health systems, train local health workers, and treat diseases like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and Ebola. 
  - **Achievements**: In Haiti, Rwanda, and beyond, PIH has achieved dramatic reductions in mortality rates by integrating community-based care with hospital services. Their model has influenced global approaches to health equity.

41. **Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)** 
  - **Activities**: EGPAF aims to end pediatric HIV/AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention programs. They work with local health systems to provide testing, treatment, and education for mothers and children. 
  - **Achievements**: EGPAF has helped reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission significantly in high-prevalence countries and improved access to antiretroviral therapy for pregnant women living with HIV.

42. **Winrock International** 
  - **Activities**: Winrock International focuses on agricultural development, natural resource management, and economic empowerment. They conduct training and projects to promote sustainability and local entrepreneurship. 
  - **Achievements**: Winrock has advanced clean energy initiatives, improved water resource management, and boosted incomes for smallholder farmers worldwide through agribusiness education and market linkages.

43. **International Justice Mission (IJM)** 
  - **Activities**: IJM combats human trafficking, modern slavery, and other forms of violence against vulnerable populations by partnering with local law enforcement, governments, and communities. 
  - **Achievements**: IJM’s efforts have rescued thousands from exploitation and strengthened legal frameworks to prosecute perpetrators. Their model of victim rescue and justice system reform has been replicated in multiple countries.

44. **Conservation International (CI)** 
  - **Activities**: CI works to protect nature for the benefit of all life on Earth, focusing on climate, oceans, and wildlife. They engage with governments, corporations, and indigenous communities to develop sustainable practices. 
  - **Achievements**: Conservation International has helped establish protected areas covering millions of hectares. Their high-profile partnerships, like those with global corporations, promote sustainability in supply chains.

45. **International Medical Corps (IMC)** 
  - **Activities**: IMC provides emergency medical relief and healthcare training in conflict and disaster zones. They focus on building local healthcare capacity so communities can become self-reliant. 
  - **Achievements**: From the 1984 famine in Ethiopia to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, IMC’s frontline medical teams have saved lives and later trained local professionals to sustain health services.

46. **Ashoka** 
  - **Activities**: Ashoka identifies and supports social entrepreneurs with innovative solutions to social problems. They provide financial support, networking, and professional services to help scale these ventures. 
  - **Achievements**: Ashoka has built a global network of over 3,500 social entrepreneurs in 93 countries, many of whom have pioneered groundbreaking models in education, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.

47. **International Alert** 
  - **Activities**: International Alert focuses on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and economic recovery in war-torn or fragile regions. They facilitate dialogue, conduct research, and guide policy reforms. 
  - **Achievements**: Their mediation efforts have reduced tensions and fostered stable governance in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. They also advise international organizations on conflict-sensitive development.

48. **Global Partnership for Education (GPE)** 
  - **Activities**: GPE brings together governments, donors, international organizations, and civil society to improve education in low-income countries. They fund and coordinate efforts to increase equitable access to schooling. 
  - **Achievements**: Since 2002, GPE has helped enroll over 160 million more children in primary school, reducing barriers for girls, children in conflict zones, and those with disabilities.

49. **TechnoServe** 
  - **Activities**: TechnoServe aims to harness the power of the private sector to help people lift themselves out of poverty. They provide business solutions, training, and market linkages for entrepreneurs and farmers in developing countries. 
  - **Achievements**: TechnoServe has boosted incomes for millions of smallholder farmers by improving agricultural practices and connecting them to global markets, often leading to sustained economic growth in rural areas.

50. **Sightsavers** 
  - **Activities**: Sightsavers works to eliminate avoidable blindness and fights for disability rights. They provide eye examinations, cataract surgeries, and treatments for neglected tropical diseases such as trachoma and river blindness. 
  - **Achievements**: Sightsavers has conducted millions of eye surgeries worldwide and advocated for policies ensuring inclusive healthcare and education for people with visual impairments.

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**Note**: 
- These NGOs operate in various regions and often collaborate with each other, governments, and private-sector partners. 
- The scope and scale of their impact may vary, but all are recognized for driving meaningful change and addressing critical global challenges.