Quango

A quango (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization^[1]) is an organization to which a government has devolved power, but which is still partly controlled and/or financed by government bodies. The acronym is derived from the shortening of "quasi NGO", where NGO is the abbreviation for a non-government organization.^[2]

As its original name suggests, a quango is a hybrid form of organization, with elements of both NGOs and public sector bodies. Although originating in the United States,^[1] the term is frequently applied in the United Kingdom and, to a lesser degree, other countries in the core and middle Anglosphere.

In the UK, the term quango covers different "arm's-length" government bodies, including "non-departmental public bodies" (NDPBs), non-ministerial government departments, and executive agencies.^[3]

^ ^a ^b Cole Andrew (20 November 2000). "All you ever wanted to know about quangos... but were afraid to ask". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
^ Pifer, Alan. The Quasi-Non-Governmental Organisation. Appendix to D. C. Hague, W. J. M. Mackenzie and A. Barker, Public Policy and Private Interests: The Institutions of Compromise, London, Macmillan, 1975, p. 381.
^ "Departments, agencies & public bodies – Inside Government". Gov.UK. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

[cole-1] Cole Andrew (20 November 2000). "All you ever wanted to know about quangos... but were afraid to ask". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 March 2025.

[2] Pifer, Alan. The Quasi-Non-Governmental Organisation. Appendix to D. C. Hague, W. J. M. Mackenzie and A. Barker, Public Policy and Private Interests: The Institutions of Compromise, London, Macmillan, 1975, p. 381.

[3] "Departments, agencies & public bodies – Inside Government". Gov.UK. Retrieved 13 June 2013.

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