By: Ana María Díaz

The risks and drawbacks facing NGOs in Mexico are mainly of a financial and regulatory bent, and tend to affect mainly organizations with weaker structures, undermining their ability to produce the desired results and, in some cases, threatening their very existence. Some of the problems most often encountered include: the absence of a regulatory framework, inefficient management systems and budget controls, inefficacy of the projects undertaken and lack of transparency in the rendering of accounts, while the poor performance of such organizations can be indirectly attributed to Mexico’s incipient culture of donation.

The term “Non-Governmental Organization” or its abbreviated form “NGO” became generalized when the UN wanted to distinguish between specialized inter-governmental entities and private organizations. NGOs are civil society organizations created by volunteers independently of local, regional and national governments and international organizations in response to needs not met by the State. Their goals and purpose are defined by their volunteers, who champion a specific cause, commit to a series of humanitarian undertakings, make governments aware of society’s concerns and oversee programs to ensure these are implemented in accordance with established policies.

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