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.