How to check an NGO before you partner, apply or donate

Africa has thousands of organisations doing serious work, and a smaller number that are not what they claim to be. Whether you are a donor, a partner, a job seeker or a journalist, a few minutes of checking can save months of trouble. Here is a simple routine that works for any organisation.

1. Confirm that it exists and is registered

Start with the basics: the full legal name, the country it is registered in, and a physical address or a named office. Real organisations are easy to place. If you cannot tell where it works or who runs it, treat that as a warning sign rather than a detail to skip.

2. Look for evidence of the work

A good profile answers four questions: what does the organisation do, where does it work, who funds it, and what has it achieved? Look for named projects, locations and partners. Vague language such as "empowering communities" with no places or numbers tells you very little.

The NGO Directory Africa is built around exactly these questions. It lists 13,580 organisations across 54 countries, with the sector, the country and the type of organisation, and it marks which profiles have been verified.

3. Check the people and the funders

Look at who sits on the board and who leads the organisation. Check whether the funders it names are real and whether they list the organisation as a partner. A claim that a major funder supports a small organisation is easy to make and easy to check.

4. Compare what it says with what others say

Search for the organisation's name together with words such as "audit", "report" or "complaint". Look for news coverage, reports from partners and mentions by local authorities. Consistent, independent mentions over several years are a strong sign of a real track record.

5. Watch for requests for money

Legitimate employers and funders do not charge application fees, and they do not ask you to pay to receive a grant. If a message asks for a payment, a gift card or your bank details before anything has been agreed, stop and verify through a channel you found yourself.

Make it a habit

Keep a short note for each organisation you check, with the date and what you found. Review it before you sign anything or send money. Done once, this takes minutes. Done as a habit, it protects your organisation, your reputation and the communities that depend on good partnerships.