ngos in complex emergencies center of excellence in disaster management and humanitarian assistance
TRANSCRIPT
NGOs in ComplexEmergencies
Center of Excellencein Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance
Components of a Response UN Humanitarian Agencies Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) International Committee of the Red Cross The Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement Donor Governments/Individuals International/Regional Organizations and Financial Institutions Effected Population Host Nation Agencies Business Community
And when requested/needed… UN/Coalition Military Forces
Voluntary Impartiality Neutrality Independence Humanity Unity Universality
Humanitarian PrinciplesWhich Guide NGO Action
The “NGO Community” NGO Definition:
– Organizations, both national and international, which are constituted separate from the government of the country in which they are founded1
1 Source: Code of Conduct for Int’l Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and NGOs
Diversity:– Size– Operating Styles/language differences– Geographic Focus– Religious background– Programmatic Orientation2
– Funding Sources
2 Source: Paula Hoy, Players and Issues in International Aid, 1998
The “NGO Community”
Who they are…– skilled professionals– volunteers– local/expatriate staff– varying levels of
experience/skills– Administrators/
practitioners
Why they respond…– Humanitarian Principles– Geneva Conventions– The “right” of intervention– Implementing partners of
UN agencies/donor nations
– host nation agreement– CNN Effect– Board of Directors/charter
NGO funding sources Government Donors: Give with
humanitarian objectives in mind but may be constrained by other political/policy issues
• USAID, AusAID, ECHO, Bi-lateral, etc• View NGOs as critical partners in aid delivery• Identify gaps in humanitarian response and target aid to fill
gaps• Will have some form of accountability mechanism
Individuals/general public Foundations Effect of donor fatigue/lack of strategic
interest on operations?
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NGO Strengths Less bureaucratic/more cost-effective Access to local knowledge Flexibility in operations Work protected by international conventions
NGOs Weaknesses Not homogenous system Inter-organization planning – ad hoc at best Often act independently Many only see small part of the ‘big picture’ Sometimes at odds with local authorities
NGO Typesno strict categories – often based on programmatic/regional focus
Advocacy– Press international community for action on particular issues
Development– knowledge of pre-existing disaster levels of basic service
Disaster Relief– Attempt for programs/actions to be “Apolitical”– Operate on principle that food/relief are “above the battle”
Human Rights Organizations– Speak out policy: Monitor actions of politicians, military, police,
other organizations, etc.
Indigenous/Grass-roots– Many become implementing partners for int’l NGOs during
disaster
Major NGOs in Emergencies CARE World Vision Catholic Relief Services Save the Children International Medical Corps Médecins sans Frontières Doctors of the World World (IRISH) Concern Adventist Dev. & Relief Int. Food for the Hungry International Rescue Committee Joint Relief International
Mercy Corps Africare Concern World Relief OXFAM Lutheran World Relief Refugees International American Friends Service
Committee International Aid American Refugee
Committee
NGO Coordination VOLUNTARY CONSENSUS PERSONALITY DRIVEN
Strategic level coordination• IASC, InterAction, ACFOA, VOICE, etc.
Tactical level, typically will coordinate around sectoral or functional areas, i.e.
• Health, Wat/San, Food/Nutrition, logistics, etc.
Some by policy will not collaborate with uniformed/armed military
Elements of Humanitarian Response
Logistics/Planning Assessments Security/Protection Engineering Health Care (physical/mental) International/national law Management/Administration Advocacy/Public Relations Fundraising!
Efforts to improve accountability Sphere Project: Minimum Standards in
Disaster Response– water supply and sanitation– nutrition– food aid– shelter and site planning– health services
Red Cross/NGO Code of Conduct– Some 130 organizations have signed
Donor demands for increased accountability– What is “acceptable loss”
Civil-Military Tensions Stereotypes
– “tree-hugging hippie” NGO with no discipline
– “Rambo” trying to take control of everything
Professional and cultural level– different operating cultures and systems– different acronyms and terminology– different objectives or end states
Possible Security Needs of Humanitarian Organizations Evacuation Mine awareness Security of
facilities/operations Personal Security Stress Management Communication within
& between relief organizations
Lauren Landis: Interaction questionnaire, 1994
NGONGO
Other Other DonorsDonors
ICRCICRC
DonorDonor
DONORDONOR
NGONGO
DONORDONOR
UN Coordinator or UN Coordinator or HOC, OSOCC, etcHOC, OSOCC, etc..
NGNGOO
NGONGO
NGONGO
UNHCRUNHCR
WFPWFP
Red Cross/Red Cross/CrescentCrescent
UNICEFUNICEF
Affected Country Affected Country RequirementsRequirements
THE FOG OF RELIEF:THE FOG OF RELIEF:International Relationships During DisastersInternational Relationships During Disasters
CTF MIL
ITARY FORCES
(CM
OC, etc)
Selected NGO/Donor web sitesInterAction
www.interaction.org
International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)www.icva.ch
Voluntary Organizations in Cooperation in Emergencies (VOICE)www.oneworld.org/voice
The Sphere Projectwww.sphereproject.org
US Committee for Refugeeswww.refugees.org
Global IDP Project (Norwegian Refugee Council)www.idpproject.org
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
US Agency for International Development (USAID)www.usaid.gov
European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO)www.europa.eu.int/comm/echo/en
Australian Government’s Overseas Aid Program (AUSAID)www.ausaid.au
