How many NGOs work in South Sudan, and who registers them?
GiveRadar tracks 117 humanitarian organizations working in South Sudan. This list is drawn from the UN's humanitarian coordination data, not an official charity register. South Sudanese NGOs, national and international, must register with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission under the NGO Act 2016.
That register is a separate system and is not reliably searchable online. What GiveRadar holds instead is a picture of which organizations are reported to be delivering aid in the country, published through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
What is the OCHA Who does What Where data?
The Who does What Where, or 3W, is UN humanitarian coordination data that records which organizations are delivering aid, in which locations and sectors. It helps responders see coverage, gaps and overlaps in a large relief operation.
It is a picture of operational presence, not a register of organizations. An entry can be self-reported or cluster-reported and time-bound, so it shows that an organization reported working somewhere, not that it is legally registered or has been vetted. Current reporting is on ReliefWeb.
What does this data show, and what does it not?
It shows reported humanitarian presence: an organization said it was operating in South Sudan, in a stated location and sector. That is useful for understanding who is active in one of the world's largest aid operations.
It does not show that an organization is registered with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission, effective, well governed or free of misconduct, nor that it remains active in every location. Even an RRC certificate is only permission to operate, and it can expire or be revoked.
How do you check a South Sudanese NGO before you donate?
Confirm the organization's registration with the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission and its current presence through the UN. A name in a coordination dataset is a starting point, not proof of standing.
- Ask the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission to confirm the registered name, certificate number and expiry date.
- Check current operations through OCHA and recent ReliefWeb reporting.
- Cross-check membership through the South Sudan NGO Forum.
- See GiveRadar's integrity score methodology for what each data point proves.
How can you support charities and NGOs in South Sudan?
Most of the organizations here deliver humanitarian services, health and education across a country in prolonged crisis. Give deliberately, verify the recipient and use only channels the organization itself publishes.
- Compare organizations by the outcome you value, and confirm each is registered and currently operating.
- Consider giving through an established humanitarian agency working in South Sudan.
- Keep evidence of your donation. See GiveRadar's guidance for donors for more checks.