19 November 2025 Scientific Conference on “Non-governmental organizations in Africa and their role in the development of civil society. The gender dimension”
THE MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND HIGHER EDUCATION
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN STUDIES
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30/1 ул. Спиридоновка, Москва, 123001 |
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30/1 Spiridonovka str., Moscow, 123001 |
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN AFRICA AND THEIR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY. THE GENDER DIMENSION
Scientific Conference
19 November 2025
Second information letter
In selecting this theme for collective panel discussion, the organizers of the future Conference proceeded from the importance of the existence of non-governmental organizations on the African continent as entities that enjoy a high degree of public trust, making them useful and constructive representatives of the interests of society and stakeholders. Although there is no formal definition of NGOs, they are generally defined as non-profit, voluntary groups of citizens organized at the local, national, regional or international level to address issues in support of the public good, as organizations independent of government influence.
The conference will analyze the activities of both international (INGOs) and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in African countries; examine the history of their emergence and their impact on socio-economic, political and cultural processes in these states. It is not only about the humanitarian sphere of activity. It is important to answer the question: is the relationship between NGOs and the state confrontational, or is it aimed at cooperation? Are NGOs able to provide various types of assistance in mobilizing different categories of the population (men, women, youth) in order to increase public pressure on the authorities. After all, despite the general independent nature of many NGOs, they may be financially dependent on their home governments as well as on international structures.
Finally, the unstable situation in the world and on the African continent itself, as well as the gender imbalance in societies, can negatively affect the social aspects of African NGOs' activities. This concerns, first of all, humanitarian support: assistance in poverty alleviation, provision of water to the population, etc.
