PNGO was established in September 1993, as a response to the signing of the Oslo Agreements with the objective of enhancing coordination, consultation and cooperation between member organizations working in different developmental domains. Because of the security measurements imposed by the Israel which divided Gaza Strip (GS) and West Bank (WB) into disconnected areas, PNGO adopted to continue its work through its two main offices in GS and WB. These offices are managed by two Coordination Committees elected by the general assembly which represents PNGO members. PNGO carry out its activities through different committees from its members working in the following five main sectors: health, democracy and human rights, women and children, rehabilitation and agriculture. Any NGO can join PNGO once it meets a set of criteria. PNGO role is to establish general guidelines and coordinate the NGOs work but has no line authority on the NGOs.  At present, PNGO boasts of 135 national NGOs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip that work across sectors in different developmental fields

During the past fifteen years PNGO has become an important component of the Palestinian society. PNGO has become an important reference and mechanism for coordinating the Non-Governmental sector. It has succeeded in establishing relations with different civil society organizations, such as the ‘Palestinian Union of Charitable Societies’, the ‘National Institute for NGOs’, the various Palestinian Political Parties and the Professional Unions.

PNGO is a coordination body for the NGO sector in Palestine with the purpose of strengthening the Palestinian civil society and contributing to the establishment of the Palestinian state based on the principles of democracy, social justice, rule of law, tolerance, and respect of human rights through networking, building-up the capacity of NGOs, developing information management center and mainstreaming of society concerns into public policies, plans and programs.

As a network, PNGO works to influence decision-makers in a manner that ensures that all laws, legislations and policies are directed towards creating a legal environment that is responsive to the development needs of the Palestinian people, and the creation of sustainable human development policies.  In doing so, PNGO encourages the local and grassroots organizations in debates concerning the fundamentals of development, democratic governance as well as other global development agendas.

The NGO sector in Palestine, and The Palestinian NGO Network as one of its major forces, believe that one of the keys to success for any organization or body is coordination and networking. PNGO asserts that structured networking efforts help the member organizations to join forces, avoid duplication, and agree on common political and social visions. In this context, PNGO promotes coordination, cooperation and consultation not only among Palestinian NGOs, but also between the Palestinian NGO sector and the different bodies of the Palestinian society. The establishment of a common platform becomes even more vital while witnessing the current political segregation and ever more increased travel impediments between the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. At the same time PNGO is engaged in a wider process of enhancing civil society coordination and strengthening process. PNGO was instrumental in developing a forum of civil society organizations that is meant to present an independent voice of civil society in Palestine. As a matter of fact the civil society forum is crucial in addressing issues like democratic and social transformation and forwarding the agenda of reform at all levels.

Vision:

A leading civil society network that plays primary role in developing a civil society that is independent, free of occupation and sustainable where Palestinians enjoy democracy, tolerance, dignity, social justice, rule of law and respect of human rights

Mission:

PNGO is a coordination framework for the NGO sector in Palestine that has a developmental vision towards; empowering and protecting the autonomy of the CS, consolidating its role in the national struggle and democratization process,based on the principles of democracy, social justice, rule of law and respect for human rightsthrough; lobbying public opinion, mainstreaming of society concerns into public policies, plans and programs, contributing to mobilizing civil society resources and  consolidating coordination and networking.

Mission Statement

Empowering and protecting the autonomy of the Palestinian civil society, consolidating its role in the national struggle and democratization process based on the principles of democracy, social justice, rule of law, tolerance, and respect of human rights

Overall goal

PNGO’s overall goal is to reinforce the role played by NGOs through contributing to the development and empowerment of civil society within an independent democratic Palestinian state based on the principles of democracy, social justice, and respect for human rights

Objectives

PNGO believes that the above-mentioned goal can be achieved by addressing the following objectives: