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The non-profit sector in the BRICS countries: current structure and development trends. Executive Summary
This research study was conducted at the initiative of the Civil BRICS Council for the purpose
of performing a systemic analysis of the non-profit sector (hereinafter, the ‘NPO sector’),
encompassing both non-profit organizations (NPOs) and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs), in each of the constituent member countries of BRICS. Since February 2025, BRICS
has consisted of 10 member states: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia,
South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The framework of this research work
encompasses individual in-depth studies of the respective NPO sectors of each member
state, thus enabling the researchers to pinpoint both consistent patterns common to all
member states and country-specific features of NPO sector development in member states
taken individually, within the overall context of the expanded BRICS.
This report resulted from a desk research study covering an analysis of relevant open source
data, statistics, and sector-specific publications and studies, as well as materials gleaned from
interviews with and surveys of experts and NPO/NGO representatives who have in-depth
knowledge of the NPO sector in their respective countries. The overall purpose of the study
is to provide the Civil BRICS Council with critical information to guide its decision-making on
the question of whether to expand the Council’s membership and in developing a strategy
for its further operations. In addition, the study was undertaken with the supplemental aim
of facilitating greater mutual understanding and reciprocity between the civil societies of
BRICS member states, as well as identifying key commonalities among them.
