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NGOs in Complex Emergencies

NGOs in Complex Emergencies. Objectives. To understand the complexity of the ‘NGO community’ To understand the principles and characteristics of NGOs Identify coordination mechanisms of NGOs. Components of a Response. International Organizations (IOs)

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NGOs in Complex Emergencies

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  1. NGOs in Complex Emergencies

  2. Objectives • To understand the complexity of the ‘NGO community’ • To understand the principles and characteristics of NGOs • Identify coordination mechanisms of NGOs

  3. Components of a Response • International Organizations (IOs) • United Nations (UN) humanitarian agencies and programs • Regional Organizations • International Organization for Migration (IOM) • Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) • The Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement • Donor Governments/Agencies (USAID/DfID, etc) • Affected Population • Host Nation Organizations/Agencies • International/Regional Financial Institutions • Business Community • General Public (public opinion/direct donations) • And when requested/needed… • UN/Coalition Military Forces

  4. The “NGO Community” • Broad Definition: • Every organization in society which is not part of government, and which operates in civil society1 • Diversity: • Size • Operating Styles • Geographic Focus • Religious background • Programmatic Orientation2 • UN Agencies and the Red Cross are not NGOs! 1 Source: The Commonwealth Foundation, February,1996 2 Source: Paula Hoy, Players and Issues in International Aid, 1998

  5. 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” food/relief are “above the battle” Human Rights Organizations - Speak out policy: Monitor actions of politicians, military, police, other organizations, etc. Indigenous Many are implementing partners for int’l NGOs community level knowledge of actors and customs NGO Typesno strict categories – often based on programmatic/regional focus

  6. Who they are… Skilled professionals Paid workers and volunteers Local and expatriate Why they respond… Humanitarian Principles and Geneva Conventions Host nation agreement and/or CNN Effect Some claim the “right” of intervention Varying Sizes/programmatic focus Local/Int’l, global, regional or community interests Implementing partners of UN/Donor agencies Competition for funding sources The “NGO Community”

  7. UN System Overview

  8. Voluntary IMPARTIALITY: Aid is given regardless of race, creed, or nationality. NEUTRALITY: Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint. Independence Humanity Unity Universality Guiding Humanitarian Principles

  9. NGO Strengths • Critical recipient level work • Less bureaucratic/more cost-effective • Access to local knowledge • Neutrality essential to security • Work protected by international conventions NGOs Weaknesses • Not homogenous system • Lack of collaboration • Failure to see the ‘big picture’ • Government $$ erodes independence • Can be perceived as threat to host nation Source: Paula Hoy, Players and Issues in International Aid, 1998

  10. 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 • Implementing partners of UN Agencies • Foundations • Individuals/general public • Effect of donor fatigue and/or lack of strategic interest on NGO operations?

  11. Major Government Donors to NGOs • ECHO • European Community Humanitarian Office • JICA • Japanese International Cooperation Agency • AusAID • Australian Council for International Aid • DfID • UK Department for International Development • USAID • United States Agency for International Development • CIDA • Canadian International Development Agency

  12. Major Donors: Examples of funding(Source: ReliefWeb, 12 April 02. USDoS: PRM)

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

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  15. NGO Training • RedR • Security Management Workshops • Transport Access in Emergencies • Site Selection and Planning • People in Aid • World Vision Security Training • Individual organization training/recruitment policies • i.e. OXFAM GB: Knowledge/experience with Sphere Standards

  16. 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

  17. NGO Coordination • VOLUNTARY • AS NEEDED • 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 • NGOs may have own coordination mechanism separate from the UN.

  18. THE FOG OF RELIEF: International Relationships During Disasters Affected Country Requirements NGO Red Cross/ Crescent INT’L MILITARY FORCES CIMIC, CMOC, etc) NGO NGO NGO Donor NGO UNHCR UN Coordination: HOC, OSOCC, etc. ICRC NGO DONOR WFP UNICEF DONOR Private Donors

  19. Selected NGO/Red Cross/Donor web sites International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA) www.icva.ch InterAction www.interaction.org Voluntary Organizations in Cooperation in Emergencies (VOICE) www.oneworld.org/voice Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) www.acfoa.au The Sphere Project www.sphereproject.org International Committee of the Red Cross www.icrc.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

  20. Selected UN System web sites Humanitarian Information Center - Afghanistan www.hic.org.pk United Nations Joint Logistics Center www.unjlc.org Relief Web and UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Online www.reliefweb.int www.reliefweb.int/ocha_ol/ United Nations System Locator www.unsystem.org United Nations www.un.org United Nations Children’s Fund www.unicef.org UN Development Program www.undp.org UN High Commissioner for Human Rights www.unhchr.ch UN High Commissioner for Refugees www.unhcr.ch World Food Program www.wfp.org

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