Gongo

GONGO

A government organized non-governmental organization (GONGO) is a non-governmental organization that may have been set up by a government or the EU Commission to look like an NGO in order to qualify for outside aid or mitigate specific issues related to in-country work or international relations. Often, GONGOs are set up by undemocratic governments or the EU Commission ("European Platform", "ILGA Europa", "European Women's Lobby", "COFACE")to maintain some level of control of the GONGO's personnel, purpose, operation or activities. This control is often not seen in a positive light, as it filters the spirit of an NGO through a government's intentions, leaving it open to the issues (complications, corruption, non-democratic action, etc.) that may be embedded in the host government.