NGOs in Complex Emergencies Center of Excellence in 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 Principles Which 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 founded 1 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 Orientation 2 –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 Types no 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

NGO Other Donors ICRC Donor DONOR NGO DONOR UN Coordinator or HOC, OSOCC, etc. NG O NGO NGO UNHCR WFP Red Cross/ Crescent UNICEF Affected Country Requirements THE FOG OF RELIEF: International Relationships During Disasters CTF MILITARY FORCES (CMOC, etc)

Selected NGO/Donor web sites InterAction International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) Voluntary Organizations in Cooperation in Emergencies (VOICE) The Sphere Project US Committee for Refugees Global IDP Project (Norwegian Refugee Council) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ US Agency for International Development (USAID) European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) Australian Government’s Overseas Aid Program (AUSAID)

QUESTIONS? Sharon McHale