Chapter 4
THE ROLE OF
INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS
IN HEALTH
SYSTEMS
Chapter 4: Overview
• Introduction
• Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO)
– The United Nations (UN) System
– Other Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO)
– NGOs and the UN
• What is an NGO?
• Classifying NGOs
– Example NGO Classifications
– Some of the Largest International NGOs
• Countries and NGO Diversity
Introduction
• National health systems have an important
role in providing health services, however
• They are not the only entities tasked with
improving and ensuring health
– Apart from governments or health systems,
they provide conditions for good health
– Partner with nation-states on global health
through collaborative efforts
Introduction
• Spectrum of organizations that directly and
indirectly contribute to global health
– Foundations
– Development banks
– Nongovernmental organizations (NGO)
– Bilateral agencies
– Intergovernmental organizations (IGO)
Introduction
• Nature of NGOs
• Role of NGOs
• Strengths of NGOs
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO)
• Established by treaty among member
states; acts as charter for creating the group
• Distinct agency; differ from organizations
of sovereign states unified by treaties like
the North American Free Trade Agreement
• Distinguished from informal groupings or
coalitions such as the Group of Eight (G8)
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO)
• Vary in function, membership, goals, and
scope, which are often outlined in the treaty
or charter that established the organization
• Developed to carry out mutual interests
with unified aims
The United Nations System
• Created in 1920 as the first IGO with
purpose of achieving world peace
• 193 members divided into 6 main branches:
– General Assembly is the main oversight arm
– Security Council
– Economic and Social Council
– International Court of Justice
– Secretariat
– Trusteeship Council
The United Nations System
• Main programs:
– Children’s Emergency Fund
– Development Programme
– High Commissioner for Refugees
– World Food Programme
• Specialized Agencies:
– International Monetary Fund
– World Bank
– World Health Organization
Other Intergovernmental Organizations
(IGO)
• African Union: foster international
cooperation, peace, and economic and
social development among African peoples
• International Criminal Court: purpose is
prosecuting individuals for international
war crimes, crimes against humanity, and
genocide
Other Intergovernmental Organizations
(IGO)
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development: implement policies that
improve the economic and social wellbeing of people around the
• World Trade Organization: oversees the
implementation of trade deals and serves as
a forum for its member states to settle trade
disputes
NGOs and the UN
• NGO participation with the United Nations
– Economic and Social Council
– UN humanitarian branches
What is an NGO?
• Definition remains vague
– Basic criterion for UN recognition
– Peace Corps definition
• Serve in a wide and varied spectrum of
advocacy and operations around the
• NGOs not formally part of the UN work
closely with the UN in consultative capacities
• Over 15 million NGOs operating in the US
Classifying NGOs
• World Bank classification
– Operational
– Advocacy
• WHO classification
• Relief vs development orientation
Example NGO Classifications
• FONGO—Funder-Organized NGO
• RINGO—Religious International NGO
• PVO—Private Voluntary Organization
• CBO—Community-Based Organization
• CSO—Civil Society Organization
• BONGO—Business-Organized NGO
• TANGO—Technical Assistance NGOBL
Some of the Largest International
NGOs
• Acumen: uses entrepreneurial approaches to
address the problems of poverty
• Amnesty International: aimed at upholding
the whole spectrum of human rights,
including abolishing the death penalty,
protecting sexual and reproductive rights,
combatting discrimination, and defending
refugee and migrant
Some of the Largest International
NGOs
• BRAC: small-scale relief and rehabilitation
project to help returning war refugees;
involved economic development,
education, public health, gender equality
• CARE International: committed to
promoting social change and ending global
poverty CARE currently works in 95
countries around the world
Some of the Largest International
NGOs
• Human Rights Watch: conducts fact-finding
investigations into human rights abuses
around the world
• International Committee of the Red Cross:
mandated to protect victims of international
and internal armed conflicts Such victims
include prisoners, refugees, civilians, and
other noncombatants
Some of the Largest International
NGOs
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without
Borders): independent humanitarian
medical aid agency committed to two
objectives: providing medical aid wherever
needed, regardless of race, religion,
politics, or gender, and raising awareness of
the plight of the people they help
Some of the Largest International
NGOs
• Oxfam International: 18 NGOs working
with 1000s of partner organizations in 90+
to end global poverty and related injustice
• Partners in Health: achieve preferential
option for poor in health care; works to
bring benefits of modern science to those
most in need through service delivery,
training, research, and advocacy
Some of the Largest International
NGOs
• Save the Children International: promotes
children’s rights, provides relief, and helps
support children in developing countries
• World Vision International: dedicated to
working with children, families, and
communities worldwide to reach their full
potential by tackling the causes of poverty
and injustice
Countries and NGO Diversity
• Differences in the types of projects depending
on the development status of the country in
which they work
• Increasingly influential in world affairs
• Often impact the social, economic, and
political activities of communities and
countries
Countries and NGO Diversity
• Have led the way in democratization,
combatting diseases and illnesses, promoting
and enforcing human rights, and increasing
standards of living
• Difficult to estimate the comprehensive value
of NGOs over the past 60 years
• NGOs to continue to play important role in the
future considering varied nature of their work
Conclusion
• Complex system is event more complex given the
number of government, international, and private
and non-governmental organizations
• Many have played a major role in pushing for
sustainable health development at the
international level
• A challenge for leaders is to focus their respective
capabilities (and interests) and facilitate
coordination of actions the context of the
situation, missions and desired outcomes
This Section Reserved
for Instructors
General Question Categories
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Structure and Evaluation Healthcare Services and Systems
Global Burden of Disease
Cultural Influences
Medical Travel and Tourism and Off Shoring
Health Communication, Marketing, Social Marketing
Data and Measurement
Policy, Strategy, and the Regulatory Environment
Global Health Leadership
International Best Practices
Suggested Discussion or Research
Questions
Discussion or Research Questions
• What role do international actors play in health service
delivery in developing countries?
• How are national priorities influenced by international
priorities?
• How has development assistance for health evolved?
• What is the role of non-governmental actors (both
international and domestic) in health service delivery?
Discussion or Research Questions
• List the different definitions for the term
“nongovernmental organization” and identify the central
characteristic that is similar among the various definitions.
• What are the two World Bank categories of NGOs and
what are the primary purpose of each?
• Describe the global role of NGOs.
Suggested Topic Areas To Use When Facilitating
Discussions, Projects, or Case Studies
• Engagement of stakeholders
• Effectively working in and managing teams
• Learning how to get in front of the problem or identify
opportunities
• Learning to communicate effectively
• Assessment of solutions that fit the country
• Embracing systems thinking
• Recognize and embrace diversity
• Sustaining the mission of health as well as health care
Links to Suggested Images
• http://kff.org/global-health-policy/fact-sheet/the-u-s-government-andglobal-health/
• https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/about/federal-collaboration
• http://web.unep.org/10yfp/about/governance/un-interagencycoordination-group-iacg
• http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2007/12/bloom.htm
• http://currents.plos.org/disasters/article/coordinating-the-provision-ofhealth-services-in-humanitarian-crises-a-systematic-review-ofsuggested-models/
• https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/stories/ten_years_ihr.htm
• http://www.slideshare.net/nag03/concepts-typology-of-nongovernmental-organization-k
• https://www.orodataviz.com/project/the-paradox-of-nigerianhealthcare-and-ida-funding/
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