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

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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?