INDEX on Organisations

ReliefWeb is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). It publishes daily news about UN action and engagement, but also other news. IRIN is its channel for African news.

The UN daily press briefings by the Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General, keeps you informed about the ongoing events in the United Nations. The same office also publishes the daily schedule of the Secretary-General. 

Resource Pages/Links

The Institute for Global Communications (IGC) hosts various networks. These networks of NGOs that share the same fields of works are very practical entrances to the topic you want to enquire. On ICG's directory of organisations, you'll find links to members of the PeaceNet, EcoNet, WomensNet and Anti-RacismNet.

The Union of International Associations (UIA) has a database of some 11.000 websites, much of it different types of international organisations, NGOs, intergovernmental bodies, etc. Also good on web resources in general.

By type

InterAction
http://www.interaction.org/

Intermediate Technology
http://www.oneworld.org/itdg/index.html

+ The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Informative site with weekly news, country specific pages, and much more. Also in French and Spanish. 

International Development Network
http://www.idn.org/

International Federation for Alternative Trade (IFAT)
http://www.ifat.org

International Federation of Red Cross Crescent Societies (IFRC)
http://www.ifrc.org/

International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)
http://www.icbl.org/

International Organization for Migration (IOM)
http://www.iom.ch/

Interserve
http://www.interserve.org/ 

Institute for Global Communications (IGC)
http://www.igc.org/igc/ 

Jubilee 2000 Coalition
http://www.jubilee2000uk.org/

Médecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF)
http://www.msf.org/

OneWorld - an internet community of 260 organizations involved in human rights and sustainable development issues

Oxfam
http://www.oneworld.org/oxfam/ 

Norsk Folkehjelp
http://www.folkehjelp.no/

Panos - London - featuring news and opinions from developing countries, including ICT topics 
http://www.oneworld.org/anydoc.html?doc_url=http://www.oneworld.org/panos/

Peace Corps. The web site of the American Peace Corps in Africa contains country background information and a presentation of the Corps and its history/histories.

The International Save the Children Alliance is the coordinating organ of the national Save the Children organisations. The alliance currently comprises 26 organisations around the world. Working in over 100 countries, Save the Children is the worlds largest independent movement for children. The site has some info about the organisation and its work. An even more informative site is Save the Children UK.

SOLIDAR
http://www.solidar.org/

The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
http://www.iucn.org/

Transparency international
http://www.transparency.de/

World Resource Institute (WRI) is a US based centre for environmental and development research, providing information and practical proposals concerning sustainable development. The WRI works with institutes in over 50 countries worldwide. Very informative and well structured site.

World Relief Foundation
http://www.worefo.org/

World Vision International
http://www.wvi.org/

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization with 4.7 million supporters and a global network active in some 100 countries. WWF's mission is to protect nature and the biological diversity that we all need to survive. Visit also their global network (also in French and Spanish).

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is an organisation of free independent states cooperating. With its 21 member states and population of 385 million it forms a major integrated trading block. Very informative and ample site about the regional economy. There also exist country pages. 

The East African Co-operation (EAC) is an inter-governmental organization with the mandate to promote regional integration and development among the Republics of Kenya, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.

ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) has a site with a presentation of the organisation and its member countries. ECOWAS headquarters' are in Abuja, Nigeria. Its objectives are to promote cooperation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa. Member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. Also in French. Many empty pages...

European Union (EU) is the union of 15 Western European countries. The EU website is enormous, containing most of the public documents of the union - which are almost ALL governing documents. You'll find hundreds of sub-sites in almost every European language. Almost everything has an English version. The EU site is one of the most comprehensive in Internet, but well organised!

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a global organisation seeing to that "the good times keep on coming". They are working for continued economic growth and make annual reports about the member countries, tipping on possible improvements.

Organization of African Unity (OAU)
http://www.oau-oua.org/index.htm

The Gambia River Basin Development Organization has a test web page, with very, very, very basic information.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a regional, transnational organisation. Member States are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Each member State has responsibility to coordinate a sector or sectors on behalf of the others. SADC headquarters are in Gaborone, Botswana. The working languages of SADC are English, French and Portuguese. Site mostly in English and informative.

WomenWatch is a UN programme working for the advancement and empowerment of women worldwide. WomenWatch is a joint initiative of DAW, UNIFEM and INSTRAW. The site keeps you updated on gender relevant news from the UN, conferences held (Beijing +5, etc.) and is a good starting point to find other links and find out what's up.

WTO - The main entry to the World Trade Organization in English (also French and Spanish entries). Lots of information about world trade, development, etc. Resources.

By subject

Alimentation

CILSS, the Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, is based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Member states are Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. CILSS studies and monitors the Sahel and work with drought preventing. 

FAO is the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Their informative site includes news form all the world, statistical databases, information on programmes and projects, publications and much more. The site can also be seen in French, Spanish and Arab.

IFAD is the International Fund for Agricultural Development (an agency of the UN). The Fund's mandate is to combat rural hunger and poverty in developing countries. Site has some general information and reports. 

SADC Food Security Programme (Southern Africa Development Community). In order to enhance food security for all in the region, SADC established a Food Security Programme. Its secretariat is formed by the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Development Unit in Harare, Zimbabwe. Very informative website with a countries database of food and agriculture in the SADC.

Business

Children

The International Save the Children Alliance is the coordinating organ of the national Save the Children organisations. The alliance currently comprises 26 organisations around the world. Working in over 100 countries, Save the Children is the worlds largest independent movement for children. The site has some info about the organisation and its work. An even more informative site is Save the Children UK.

4-H is an international organisation for youth and children. Their goal is to enable youth to have fun, meet new people, learn new lifeskills, build self-confidence, learn responsibility, and set and achieve goals.

Commerce

SADC Trade, Industry and Investment Review 2000 (part of SADC, Southern Africa Development Community). Based in South Africa, this site offers sectoral reports, country profiles, business contacts, etc. Informative. 

In the website of the Association for Visual Arts contains information about their activities: exhibitions, lectures and concerts for new artists from South Africa.

Bi-Okoto Drum & Dance Theatre is a non-profit cultural arts organization composed of highly talented artists. They offers information too about their repertoire and musician events.

UNESCO is the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Their site contains lots of data about events, programmes, statistics, publications, documents, partners, etc. The site can also be accessed in French, Spanish, Arab and other languages.

OWHC, The Organization of World Heritage Cities has a website in English, Spanish and French with a list of the all cities and some information about it. 

Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is the regional arm of the United Nations, mandated to support the economic and social development of its 53 member States and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development. Located in Addis Ababa. The site can also be seen in French. 

AusAID is the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program. It is an administratively autonomous agency within the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio with 25 missions overseas.

The Austrian Development Cooperation, placed under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It has its main focus is placed on the poorest developing countries. The page only has some general information. The German version is more ample.

Belgium: The website of the Development Cooperation of the Belgium Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents policy and annual reports in English. Also French and Dutch versions.

CIDA (The Canadian International Development Agency) is the lead player in delivering Canada's official development assistance program. Informative website with links. The site has also a French version and a page on operations in Africa.

DANIDA is the Danish agency of development cooperation. It can be reached through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (Danish) page on their official development policy. There are also pages in English about the Danish development policy and in French and German about the ministry.

DfID (British Department for International Development) is the British government department responsible for promoting development and the reduction of poverty, concentrating on the poorest countries in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Informative site with links, all in English.

ECHO, the European Community Humanitarian Office, is aid agency of the European Union. Modern website with a lot of information, including news, operations, statistics, finance, presentation of ECHO and youth section (!). Parallel site exists in French. 

France: The International Cooperation is a department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Informative pages in English, with French, German and Spanish versions.

global.finland is the department for international development co-operation of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The site is also in Swedish and Finnish. Some basic information.

GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit) is the German consultancy organization for development cooperation world wide. Visit their informative site in English, or go directly to their page on Africa (country listing). Country information also in Spanish and French.

ICEIDA is an official institution under Iceland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Agency shall promote cooperation with developing nations by supporting governments in improving their economy within the framework of UN. A further aim is to promote cultural and commercial relations. Page in English.

Instituto da Cooperação Portuguesa is the Portuguese institute of development cooperation, an autonomous body within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some basic information, but all in Portuguese.

Irish Aid is the Irish Official Development Cooperation programme. It provides long-term and emergency support to developing countries, working in partnership with governments and communities in the developing world. You'll go via the page of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Not too informative.

The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of The General Directorate for Development Cooperation (which does not seem to have a website on its own). English. Little information. Also in Italian. 

JICA (Japan International Cooperation) is extending technical cooperation in human resources development for nation building as part of Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programs. JICA's activities take various forms such as dispatching experts and volunteers (JOCV) to developing countries. English, informative and interactive page. Special page on JICA in Africa.

Lux-Development is the development co-operation agent for almost all the bilateral projects financed by the government of Luxembourg, and for Luxembourg's emergency relief work. Delicate and informative website in French and English.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in charge of development cooperation in the Netherlands. The English page about development cooperation lists some policy documents, fact sheets and links.

NZODA (New Zealand's Official Development Assistance Programme) is designed primarily to provide assistance to developing countries that enables them better to meet their own economic and social needs. 

NORAD is the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, answering to the Norwegian ministry of development cooperation, placed under the ministry of foreign affairs. Informative site with many links. They also do have an English index.

SIDA is the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, engaged in a wide specter of countries, also in Africa. Informative website in English, also a page about their engagements in Africa (with country listing). Some fewer pages in Portuguese, Spanish and French.

The Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation has web pages in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

USAID is the independent US government agency that conducts foreign assistance and humanitarian aid to advance the political and economic interests of the United States (in their own words). See their main entry, or go directly to their USAID in Africa page.

+ The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Informative site with weekly news, country specific pages, and much more. Also in French and Spanish. 

World Resource Institute (WRI) is a US based centre for environmental and development research, providing information and practical proposals concerning sustainable development. The WRI works with institutes in over 50 countries worldwide. Very informative and well structured site.

UNESCO is the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Their site contains lots of data about events, programmes, statistics, publications, documents, partners, etc. The site can also be accessed in French, Spanish, Arab and other languages.

ADEA is the Association for the Development of the Education in Africa. Working groups, publications, news, search.

The Institute of International Education helps you to find information about study program in all the world.

Rainbow Organization is the Gay, Bi and Lesbian Organization of the University of Cape Town. Read about its history, activities, etc. But no-updated.

The Council on International Educational Exchange offers in its website information about their study programs in some African countries.

CILSS, the Permanent Interstates Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel, is based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Member states are Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, Gambia, Guinea- Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal. CILSS studies and monitors the Sahel and work with drought preventing. 

ECOFAC (Central African Forest Ecosystems) is a European Union regional programme promoting the conservation and rational use of the forest resources in Central Africa. Partnership countries are Cameroon, Central Afr. Rep., Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Sao Tome e Principe. The interesting site presents the programme and has special pages on national parks, ecotourism, etc. In French and some news in English. Recommended. 

Friends of the Earth (FoEI) is the world's largest federation of environmental groups, uniting close to one million activists worldwide. FoEI's member organizations in 61 countries campaign on the most urgent environmental and social issues of our day, including agriculture, biotechnology, climate change, debt, desertification, development, energy, forests, gender, mining, ozone, sustainability and trade. 

Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI) is an international NGO based in Winnipeg, Canada. RAFI is dedicated to the conservation and sustainable improvement of agricultural biodiversity, and to the socially responsible development of technologies useful to rural societies.

The Rainforest Foundation is dedicated to support indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the rainforest in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfill their rights. Highly profiled site and organisation with strong opinions and some successes to refer to.

Southern Africa Environment Project, SAEP, is a non-profit organization incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia to promote the public interest and further the empowerment of individuals, communities, and institutions in a wide range of activities involving the human and natural environments in Southern Africa.

World Resource Institute (WRI) is a US based centre for environmental and development research, providing information and practical proposals concerning sustainable development. The WRI works with institutes in over 50 countries worldwide. Very informative and well structured site.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organization with 4.7 million supporters and a global network active in some 100 countries. WWF's mission is to protect nature and the biological diversity that we all need to survive. Visit also their global network (also in French and Spanish).

The Water Environment Federation is an international organization working to preserve and enhance the global water environment. Here you'll find information on their activities, publications, conferences, etc.

The Center For World Indigenous Studies is a US-based research and education organization dedicated to wider understanding and appreciation of the ideas and knowledge of indigenous peoples and the social, economic and political realities of indigenous nations. Their ample site includes a journal, bookstore, center for traditional medicine, The Indigenous Peoples Web Ring, links and much more.

Survival International is a worldwide organisation supporting tribal peoples, standing for their right to defend their own future and helping them protect their lived. land and human rights. The site features news, events and presentations. Entries in English, French, Kiswahili, Setswana, Portuguese,  Spanish and other languages. Professional design.

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) is an organisation created by nations and peoples around the world, who are not represented in the world's principal international organisations, such as the UN. UNPO consists of over 50 members who represent over 100 million persons. News, reports, publications, links, etc.

The Rainforest Foundation is dedicated to support indigenous peoples and traditional populations of the rainforest in their efforts to protect their environment and fulfill their rights. Highly profiled site and organisation with strong opinions and some successes to refer to.

The Life in Africa Foundation is mainly dealing with microfinance. "Microfinance" is about savings and loan services tailored to the needs of the poor. Site informative on this issue and on economic life in Africa. Personal.

MIGA - the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency

The World Bank 

Gay & Lesbian

Interpride is the International Association of Lesbian/Gay Pride Coordinators. Fancy website, mostly focused on gay pride parades.

TOGS is the Organisation for Gay Sports, based in Johannesburg. Informs about gay sports, events, organisations, etc.

GaySouthAfrica is the official Internet resource site for the South African gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Site also contains pics gallery.

Rainbow Organization is the Gay, Bi and Lesbian Organization of the University of Cape Town. Read about its history, activities, etc. But no-updated.

Groups & Cultures

Minority Rights Group (MRG) is an international NGO focusing on the rights of ethnic, linguistic and religious minorities. MRG is based in London. Their informative and regularly updated site has news, links, lists events and gives a profile of the organisation.

Health

WHO - The main entry to the World Health Organization in English. Their informative site contains news, governance, health topics, information sources, reports, WHO regional and other offices, related links and a search engine. You can also go directly to their African Regional Office.

+ The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Informative site with weekly news, country specific pages, and much more. Also in French and Spanish. 

Human Rights

Alliances for Africa (AfA) is an African non-governmental peace, human rights and development organisation. Through strategic partnerships with local organisations, AfA undertakes programmes to enhance the interface between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. 

Amnesty International (AI) has an extent and excellent web site with news releases, the well known and respected annual reports, and very much more. Amnesty is the world leading organisation working to protect human rights worldwide. Certain parts of the site can also be seen in French, Spanish and Arab. You might want to see AI's reports on a specific country; here's a link to their Country List.

Human Rights Watch is an NGO dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. It stands with victims and activists to uphold political freedom, investigates and exposes human rights violations and holds abusers accountable. Very informative site, with updated news, publications and more! Good design. Site also available in French, Portuguese, Arab, Spanish, etc.
   Their Africa pages have links to all African countries, news, publications and more.

The site of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights brings you news, information about the High Commissioner, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in over 300 languages, including over 80 African (get your copy!), and much more. Site also in French and Spanish.

+ The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Informative site with weekly news, country specific pages, and much more. Also in French and Spanish. 

Industries

Labour

ILO is the UN International Labor Organization where all African nations are members. The site, though, is mostly dedicated to European and American issues, and has information about standards and fundamental principles concerning rights at work, employment, social protection and social dialogue. Search information about the country of your interest. The site is also in French and Spanish.

Global Unions is the World Trade Union website which is jointly owned and managed by a number of international trade union organisations. The website gives its members the ability to draw the attention of their partners, their members, and the press to the news they produce and the campaigns they run. Updated world unionist news and search facilities.

Law

The International Court of Justice has a web site in English and French, informing about ongoing cases and its mandate.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (in Arusha, Tanzania) was established for the prosecution of persons responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of Rwanda between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1994. Informative web site.

Media & Press

Article19 is a London based NGO, working for the freedom of speech, as expressed in Article 19 of the Human Rights Declaration, on a worldwide basis. Also features news about press freedom. 

The Center for Peace, War and the News Media is a  non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to supporting journalists and news organizations in their efforts to sustain an informed and engaged citizenry.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has small, but interesting reports about the situation of the press in all African countries in 1998.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ, based in Brussels) is the world's largest organisation of journalists, representing 450.000 journalists in more than 100 countries. On their site, you'll find useful links, updated news, publications and more. Their Africa pages bring you news from the continent.

The International Press Institute (IPI) is a global network of journalists, editors and media executives, dedicated to freedom of the press and improving the standards and practices of journalism. Their site includes press freedom news, publications, links and much more.

The International Women's Media Foundation is dedicated to promote the  women's labour situation in the media. It organizes congress, conferences, publications and studies on around the world. It has a special project in Africa, the African Women Media Center to provide African women journalists the training, resources and tools they need to compete equally with their male colleagues. Regularly updated site.

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) is a non-governmental organisation with members in 11 of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries. MISA is promoting media diversity, pluralism, self-sufficiency and independence for Southern African media. It offers daily news, a free newsletter and links. 

The Network for the Defence of Independent Media in Africa (NDIMA) is a Pan-African human rights NGO based in Kenya. Their not too regularly updated site contains information about the network.

The Panos Institute, West Africa, works for a democratic West Africa. The MDWA project aims to serve as a catalyst, facilitator and intermediary to help reinforcing the role of the media in the African democratization process. You'll find here also some African media links.

The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is a UN agency responsible for the promotion of the protection of intellectual property throughout the world through cooperation among states. Intellectual properties include copyright and industrial properties (registered trademarks, etc.). Site is available in English, French, Arab and Spanish versions.

Political

The Africa Policy Information Center (U.S. based) provides information and analysis in order to promote international policies toward Africa that advance economic, political, social justice and human rights. APIC also promotes citizen action to influence public policy. Much useful data. Links.

Alliances for Africa (AfA) is an African non-governmental peace, human rights and development organisation. Through strategic partnerships with local organisations, AfA undertakes programmes to enhance the interface between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights. 

The Carter Center, in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights, wages peace by bringing warring parties to the negotiating table, monitoring elections, safeguarding human rights, and building strong democracies through economic development. 

The Foundation for Democracy in Africa is a Washington based NGO, dedicated to implement the principles of culturally based democratic government within the African society and bringing the countries of Africa into the mainstream of the global economy through free enterprise. Site has news, data, links, etc.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) has its own, very informative web site (Crisisweb). The ICG is a private, multinational organisation committed to strengthening the capacity of the international community to anticipate, understand and act to prevent and contain conflict. Its approach is grounded in field research. Updated news and lots of information, especially about Africa. Recommended. 

The Nonviolence Web  has been built by the volunteer labor. Over six hundred web pages. Over 15,000 visitors. And over a dozen nonviolence organizations which would not be on the web if it weren’t for this initiative. Support the Nonviolence Web and keep this valuable work going! 

Kudirat Initiative for Democracy, KIND,  is an international non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting democracy by strengthening civil society in Africa.

International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO) was one of the first centres of peace research worldwide. PRIO is an independent, international institute in staff, audience and perspective. Informative site in English and Norwegian.

Transparency International is a civil society organisation dedicated to curbing both international and national corruption. An organisation gaining more and more international respect and weight. Informative and well-organized site, with its "Daily Corruption News" site.

Sciences

UNESCO is the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Their site contains lots of data about events, programmes, statistics, publications, documents, partners, etc. The site can also be accessed in French, Spanish, Arab and other languages.

Sports

Technology

Trade

WTO - The main entry to the World Trade Organization in English (also French and Spanish entries). Lots of information about world trade, development, etc. Resources.

Travel

Women & Gender

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