NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
AND PEACE OPERATIONS
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WORLD BANK NGO DEFINITION
“Private Organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development.”
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• Dramatic Growth beginning in 2d half of 20 th
Century
– Over the past several decades, NGOs have become major players in all international relief efforts, development, cause advocacy, and in advancing the concept of a “global civil society”
– Billions of dollars spent annually on relief and sustainable development programs
2005 earthquake in Pakistan
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WHY THE DRAMATIC GROWTH IN
NGOs
• Negative Perception of the Welfare State
• Development Crisis
• Perceived Global Environmental Crisis
• Discrediting of Socialism
• Communications Revolution
• Global Economic Growth
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• Overview
– NGOs Play a Key Role in Humanitarian
Assistance and Development
– NGOs are the Rapid Response element for humanitarian disasters all over the world
– “Foot Soldiers” for International relief efforts
– Military in Peace Support Operations will have to work with NGOs
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• United Nations System (Agencies)
• Official National Donor Government Aid
Agencies
• International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC)
• International and National NGOs
• Coalition Military Forces
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Achieved Through:
• Consensus
• Coordination
• Cooperation
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Must Be Achieved While Recognizing:
• Different Cultures of Response
Elements
• Disparate Assessments
• Different Missions & Tasks In Crisis
• Diverse Goals
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• Not Governments…
• Not Businesses...
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ANOTHER DEFINITION OF AN NGO
“A Self-Governing Private, Not For Profit
Organization That Is Geared Toward
Improving The Quality Of Life Of
Disadvantaged People”
Refugees - Kosovo
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The term NGO is very broad and encompasses many different types of organizations
• Advocacy NGOs
• Operational NGOs
– Relief
– Development
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ADVOCACY NGOs
•Their primary purpose is to defend or promote a specific cause and to influence policies and practices
•Examples: Amnesty International and the
Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)
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• Their primary purpose is field work in humanitarian relief and design, development and implementation of development related projects.
• Operational NGOs are the one’s the military must work with in a cooperative relationship in a PSO
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Provide Life Saving Interventions
• Food Distribution
• Shelter
• Water
• Sanitation
• Medical Care
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OPERATIONAL NGOs
ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORKS
• Headquarters in one Country (ICRC)
• Many Autonomous National Chapters (Save the
Children)
• Many National Fund Raising Offices, Pooled
Funds, With A Single World-Wide Field
Organization (World Vision)
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• Autonomous National Headquarters with Field
Organization. Work Assigned by Central
International Organization (CARE)
• Field Work Done Only Through Indigenous
Local NGOs (Oxfam America)
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SURVEY QUESTION:
• Why Work In
Relief/Development ?
– Altruistic—Concern for
Others
– Financial ---Make Money
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MILITARY
• Controlled Application of
Violence
• Hierarchical
• Generally Conservative
• Explicit Mission
Statements
• Not Comfortable With
NGOs
NGO
• Help The
Disadvantaged
• Non-Hierarchical
• Generally Liberal
• Intangible Missions
• Not Comfortable With
The Military
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Typical Western NGO:
• Young & Idealistic
• Liberal Arts Degree
• Believes in Sustainable Development
• Little Formal Operational Doctrine
• Few Formal Training Courses
• Significant Organizational Competition
• Increasing Security Concerns
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VOLUNTARY CODE OF CONDUCT
FOR RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS
• Humanitarian Imperative Comes First
• Aid Is Given Regardless of Race, Creed or
Nationality on the Basis of Need Alone
• Aid Will Not Be Used To Further a Particular
Political or Religious Standpoint
• We Shall Endeavor Not To Act As Instruments of Government Foreign Policy
• We Shall Respect Culture & Custom
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• Build Disaster Response On Local Capacities
• Involve Program Beneficiaries In The
Management of Relief Aid
• Reduce Future Vulnerabilities As Well As Meet
Basic Needs
• NGOs Accountable Both To Beneficiaries &
Contributors
• Disaster Victims Are Dignified Humans, Not
Hopeless Objects
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• Humanity
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
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• UN Charter
– Articles 63 and 64
– Article 71
• UN General Assembly Resolution
43/131
– Importance of NGOs
– States to Facilitate Work of NGOs
– States to Support to NGOs
– Cooperation With Humanitarian
Assistance Organizations Set Up by
UN
• Security Council Chapter 7 Authority to Authorize NGO Humanitarian
Relief
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• Dangerous Environment
• 1994 Safety Convention – Not Solution
• Safety Needs – Acceptance, Protection
& Deterrence
• Safety Aids – Information, Planning,
Training, Coordination, Psychological
Assistance
• Security Council Responsibilities
• When to Go / When to Stay
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NGO STRENGTHS (
World Bank Study)
• Strong grassroots links
• Field based development expertise
• Ability to innovate and adapt
• Process oriented approach to development
• Participatory methodologies and tools
• Long-term commitment and emphasis on sustainability
• Cost effectiveness
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• Have Lost Their Independence--Just
Another Arm Of Governments
• Too Close To The Corporate World
• Fund Raising Is Their Primary Concern
• Excessive Living Standards In The
Midst Of Poverty
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• Coordination Lead Designated by UN
• Humanitarian Operations Coordinating
Committees (HOCCs)
• On-Site Operations Coordinating Centers
(OSOCC)
• Civil Military Operations Centers (CMOC)
• Civil Military Integration Centers (CIMIC)
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• Many Participants in Peace Operation
• NGOs Play A Key Role In Humanitarian
Assistance
• Absolutely Necessary To:
– UNDERSTAND THE “PLAYERS”
– COORDINATION MECHANISMS
– PURSUE UNITY OF EFFORT BY EMPHASIZING:
COOPERATION-COORDINATION-CONSENSUS
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