Organisations

Developmental civil society organisations in Kiribati are mainly involved in environmental, health and education matters.

The work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Te Toa Matoa has been valuable towards the attainment of Education for All (EFA) goals. Te Toa Matoa is a disabled people's organisation whose aim is to promote disability awareness in all Kiribati's communities. Its activities have helped change attitudes towards the disabled and made schools more inclusive towards the disabled.

NGOs are involved in various environmental and sustainable development programmes. The Kaoki Mange (Return the Rubbish) project was started by an NGO, Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific-Kiribati. The project was later adopted nationally with the help of the government and private sector. As a result of the success of the projects Kiribati was named Regional Champion for the 2005 "Year of Action Against Waste" for the Pacific Region.

The Kiribati Association of Non-Government Organisations (KANGO) is the official umbrella organisation for the 39 local Kiribati NGOs. KANGO's role is to support and empower the local NGO community and to achieve their development goals through their own initiatives, working in partnership with government and donors particularly the New Zealand International Aid and Development Agency (NZAID).

Organisations seeking official recognition as NGOs should apply to the Registrar of Societies.

Kiribati is member of Commonwealth, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation Agreement (SPARTECA), Pacific Community (SPC), South Pacific Forum (SPF), and the United Nations (UN) and its specialised agencies,