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World NGO Day

On 27 February 1950, a United Nations resolution introduced the concept of “international non-governmental organization”, which meant recognition of the NGO sector.

Third Sector Day is a great opportunity to learn about the activities of non-governmental organizations. It is undoubted that on this day the world must thank such organizations for the great work that has been done to the society.

Non-governmental organizations, unlike state bodies and similar enterprises, are private and are formed on the initiative of their founders, who are private individuals. Unlike enterprises and similar public bodies, non-governmental organizations operate in public rather than private interests. They are usually non-profit and many are active in humanitarian or social areas.

The World Day for Non-Governmental Organizations institution was initiated in 2009 by a Latvian-born law student  Marcis Liors Skadmanis. Nowadays he is an UK social entrepreneur and philanthropist. This initial popularization and development was supported by the non-governmental organization “Latvian Civil Alliance”.

World NGO Day was officially recognised and declared by the member countries of the IX Baltic Sea NGO Forum of the Council of the Baltic Sea States that took place in Lithuania in 2010. The member countries of the Baltic Sea NGO Forum are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Norway and Sweden.

World NGO Day is a global initiative aiming to:

  • highlight the efforts and achievements of NGOs from all sectors,
  • offer the opportunity for people to understand more clearly what NGOs are doing for society at a local, national and international level and,
  • provide a platform for NGOs to discuss the issues that affect their work and share their knowledge and experience with one another.

World NGO Day is widely celebrated in different countries of the world, such as Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Nepal, the USA, various countries in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. World NGO Day is celebrated in the form of various large-scale events: discussions, forums, seminars, lectures, exhibitions, information events on the work of NGOs on television, radio, and in schools.

On 27 February 2014, the Minister for International Development, Executive Director of United Nations Office for Project Services, European Commissioner for Development  and NGO leaders, marked the first commemoration of the World NGO Day in Helsinki, Finland.