NGOs and the development challenges of the twenty-first century*

Internationally, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are increasingly viewed as the third sector1 without which governments cannot alone address development challenges to meet the needs of the fast-growing population. In Egypt, an assessment of the present socio-economic situation concludes,

the State can no longer afford to maintain its heavy involvement in production. Nor can it afford to pursue the role of major provider of jobs in the economy, and meet the challenges of providing free access to all stages of health care and education.2