Ould-Abdallah has also been active in the work of non-governmental organizations, including the Global Coalition for Africa and the World Future Council, the International Centre for Ethics, Justice and Public Life of Brandeis University, ICRC, and Search for Common Ground. He is a co-founder and a member of the Advisory Board of Transparency International. He is member of the International Advisory Board of the African Press Organization (APO), as well as serving on the Board of Advisors of the International Peace and Security Institute (IPSI). He served on the Board of Directors of Search for Common Ground from 1997 to 2004, is a current member since 2011.