NGOs and other nonprofit organizations have always been the quiet architects of inclusive development — the voice that ensures progress is not just for the few, but for everyone. But today, that voice is under strain.
Not long ago, I asked a group of NGO members a simple question: “How do you measure your effectiveness today?” The room fell silent. Their answers were sobering. Many admitted they are standing at a crossroads, caught between shrinking trust from the communities they serve and sharp cuts in aid budgets that once kept their work alive.
This is not just a crisis. It’s a historic opportunity: a chance to rethink what it means to be an effective agency in the changing development landscape and how NGOs can lead in shaping tomorrow’s development agenda.
About the author
Denis Kongeredkongere
Denis Kongere is a social development and policy practitioner who has spent over a decade designing and implementing development programs on social safeguards, influencing, accountability, and community engagement. Today, he leads global strategies that connect civil society with development and multilateral institutions working across Africa, Asia, and Latin America — ensuring communities are empowered to shape the decisions that affect their lives through development financing.
