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Non-governmental organizations are important bodies in a country that are not under the control of the state or the government. They all possess a common objective to provide services at no cost to the beneficiaries. Thus, they are non-profit or rent seeking bodies solely out for the well-being of their members and the target public. They are usually funded by donations which may be regular subscriptions or voluntary contributions. They are highly diverse groups of organizations engaged in a wide range of activities, and take different forms in different part of the world. Some may have charitable status while others may be registered for tax exemption based on recognition of social purposes. Others may be established for political, religious, or other interests.

The NGOs act as subsidiaries in the development of any country as the services rendered by private and public sectors are insufficient to satisfy the insatiable needs (as stated in economics) of the totality of individuals in a society. The voluntary sector (third sector) may be better placed to articulate the needs of the poor people, to provide services and development in remote areas, to encourage the changes in attitudes and practices necessary to curtail discrimination, to identify and redress threats to the environment and to nurture the productive capacity of the most vulnerable groups such as the disabled or the landless population (Elliot 1987, Fernandez 1987, Garilao 1987).