Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Complex Emergencies
The Center of Excellence in Disaster
Management and Humanitarian Assistance
Objectives• Define the NGO system and types of NGOs
• Discuss the NGO strengths & weaknesses
• Describe critical civil-military relationship issues
• Describe current issues and challenges to NGO function
NGO Community
Broad definition:
• Every organization in society which is not
part of government, and which operates in
civil society
Source: The Commonwealth Foundation, February,1996
NGO Community
• Membership– skilled professionals– expatriates staff– local staff– volunteers/members
• skilled/unskilled• active/non-active
– administrators (HQ)– bureaucrats
• Mandate– Geneva Conventions
– agreements with UN agencies
– host nation agreement
– CNN Effect
– Board of Directors/charters
– Humanitarian Principles
Humanitarian Principles Which Define & Protect the NGOs
• Humanity
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
• Independence
• Voluntary
• Unity
• Universality
NGO CharacteristicsFour defining characteristics:
1. Voluntary
2. Independent
3. Not-for-profit
4. Not self-serving in aims and related values
Source: The Commonwealth Foundation, February,1996
Overarching NGO Values
• HUMANITARIANISM
– ‘A core set of values subscribed to by different organizations,
including those working under the banner of development or
conflict resolution which seek to promote human welfare.’
Source: Dylan Hendrickson, Humanitarian action: the new agenda, RRN No 25, 1998.
NGO Diversity
• Size
• Operating Styles
• Geographic Focus
• Religious background
• Programmatic Orientation
Source: Paula Hoy, Players and Issues in International Aid, 1998
Confusion• Roles
• Responsibilities
• Capabilities
• Limitations
• Acronyms!
Development NGOs• Consistent with national interest
• Long-term goals
• Attempt to address the concerns of the unprivileged and under-served in the Third World through:– primary healthcare
– agricultural assistance
– provision of basic services and education
Advocacy NGOs
• Evolving presence and system
• Often a repository of local laws/have critical knowledge of local “actors”
• Work at various levels– field/country
– HQ
Disaster-Relief NGOs
• “Apolitical”
• Food and relief are “Above the battle”
• Claim “Right of intervention”
• Many suffer from “pious hyperbole” in advertising
Hugo Slim
Tanzania 1997Fancy doing
“something useful?”Spend three months living
and working in rural Africa onhealth-related village projects.
No skills needed. If you’re 18-28, find out how by calling HEALTH PROJECTS ABROAD
on 01629 640053
Major NGOs
• CARE• World Vision• Catholic Relief Services• Save the Children• International Medical Corps• Médecins sans Frontières
• Mercy Corps• Africare• Concern• World Relief• OXFAM• AmeriCares
* Represent 95% of participating NGOs
Major NGOs
• Doctors of the World• World (IRISH) Concern• Adventist Dev. & Relief Int.• Food for the Hungry• International Rescue
Committee
• Lutheran World Relief• Refugees International• American Friends Svc.• International Aid• American Refugee Com.• Joint Relief International
* Represent 95% of participating NGOs
NGO Strengths• Critical recipient level humanitarian work
• Small size - less bureaucratic, cheaper & more cost-effective
• Increased scope and independence
• Access to local knowledge
• Non-partisanship essential to security
• Humanitarian work protected by international convention
Source: Paula Hoy, Players and Issues in International Aid, 1998
Health Clinic
Medicines Potable Water
Reception Area
Photo: R. Brennan
Photo: R. Brennan
NGO Strengths
Sphere Standards
• Minimum Standards in disaster response:– water supply and sanitation– nutrition– food aid– shelter and site planning– health services
NGOs Weaknesses
• Not homogenous system
• Lack of collaboration
• Small size
• Identify projects where they have expertise
• Failure to see the ‘big picture’
• Dependence on government funding erodes independence
Source: Paula Hoy, Players and Issues in International Aid, 1998
Dichotomous View
• Prestigious
• Profitable
• Political color to advocacy
• Tension between FO and funders
• Idealistic
• Underpaid
• Independent
• Tension between HQ and projects
Headquarters Field Workers
NGO Threat to Governments• NGOs/Donor government
seen as POWERFUL and SKILLFUL
• National government seen as WEAK and ILL-EQUIPPED
Military Role
Civil-Military Tensions
• Cultural level– “tree-hugging” NGO
– “jar-head” soldier
• Professional level– different operating
systems
– different acronyms
Cultural Level Tensions– Mismatch of backgrounds
– Ambivalence to accept as allies and partners
– Admiration and resistance
– Turf Issues
– Image makers *Hugo Slim
Professional Level Tensions
– Military perceived as insensitive, ill informed
– “Sledge Hammer” response seen as liability
– All come into direct armed conflict
– Fail by association*Hugo Slim
Operational Security Concerns for NGOs
• Personal Security
• Stress Management
• Communication within & among relief organizations
Dilemmas Caused by Aid in Current Conflict
• Fuels conflict
• Base to militant groups
• Cover for guerrillas
• Refugees become hostages
Photo:
UNHCR
QUESTIONS?