NGOs in Complex Emergencies Center of Excellence in

NGOs in Complex Emergencies Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

Components of a Response n n n n n 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… n UN/Coalition Military Forces

Humanitarian Principles Which Guide NGO Action n Voluntary n Impartiality n Neutrality n Independence n Humanity n Universality

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 § Diversity: – Size – Operating Styles/language differences – Geographic Focus – Religious background – Programmatic Orientation 2 – Funding Sources 1 2 Source: Code of Conduct for Int’l Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and NGOs Source: Paula Hoy, Players and Issues in International Aid, 1998

The “NGO Community” n Who – – they are… skilled professionals volunteers local/expatriate staff varying levels of experience/skills – Administrators/ practitioners n 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 n Government Donors: Give with humanitarian objectives in mind but may be constrained by other political/policy issues • USAID, Aus. AID, 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 n Individuals/general public n Foundations n Effect of donor fatigue/lack of strategic interest on operations?

Tanzania 1997 Fancy doing “something useful? ” Spend three months living and working in rural Africa on health-related village projects. No skills needed. If you’re 18 -28, find out how by calling HEALTH PROJECTS ABROAD on 01629 640053

NGO Strengths n n Less bureaucratic/more cost-effective Access to local knowledge Flexibility in operations Work protected by international conventions NGOs Weaknesses n n n 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 n Advocacy – Press international community for action on particular issues n Development – knowledge of pre-existing disaster levels of basic service n Disaster Relief – Attempt for programs/actions to be “Apolitical” – Operate on principle that food/relief are “above the battle” n Human Rights Organizations – Speak out policy: Monitor actions of politicians, military, police, other organizations, etc. n Indigenous/Grass-roots – Many become implementing partners for int’l NGOs during disaster

Major NGOs in Emergencies n n n CARE World Vision Catholic Relief Services Save the Children International Medical Corps Médecins sans Frontières Doctors of the World (IRISH) Concern Adventist Dev. & Relief Int. Food for the Hungry International Rescue Committee Joint Relief International n n n n n Mercy Corps Africare Concern World Relief OXFAM Lutheran World Relief Refugees International American Friends Service Committee International Aid American Refugee Committee

NGO Coordination n VOLUNTARY n CONSENSUS n PERSONALITY n Strategic DRIVEN level coordination • IASC, Inter. Action, ACFOA, VOICE, etc. n Tactical level, typically will coordinate around sectoral or functional areas, i. e. • Health, Wat/San, Food/Nutrition, logistics, etc. n Some by policy will not collaborate with uniformed/armed military

Elements of Humanitarian Response n Logistics/Planning n Assessments n Security/Protection n Engineering n Health Care (physical/mental) n International/national law n Management/Administration n Advocacy/Public Relations n Fundraising!

Efforts to improve accountability n Sphere Project: Minimum Standards in Disaster Response – – – water supply and sanitation nutrition food aid shelter and site planning health services n Red Cross/NGO Code of Conduct – Some 130 organizations have signed n Donor demands for increased accountability – What is “acceptable loss”

Civil-Military Tensions n Stereotypes – “tree-hugging hippie” NGO with no discipline – “Rambo” trying to take control of everything n Professional and cultural level – different operating cultures and systems – different acronyms and terminology – different objectives or end states

Possible Security Needs of Humanitarian Organizations n Evacuation n Mine awareness n Security of facilities/operations n Personal Security n Stress Management n Communication within & between relief organizations Lauren Landis: Interaction questionnaire, 1994

THE FOG OF RELIEF: International Relationships During Disasters Affected Country Requirements ES C NGO NGO Donor NGO OR F Red Cross/ RY etc) Crescent TA C, LI O I M (CM TF C NGO UN Coordinator or HOC, OSOCC, etc. ICRC UNHCR DONOR WFP Other Donors UNICEF DONOR

Selected NGO/Donor web sites Inter. Action 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 Project www. sphereproject. org US Committee for Refugees www. 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

QUESTIONS? Sharon Mc. Hale sharon. mchale@coe-dmha. org