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NGOs and Disaster NGOs and Disaster Response—Response—Who are These Who are These Guys and What Do They Guys and What Do They

Want AnywayWant Anyway??

Melinda HofstetterMelinda Hofstetter

Center for Disaster Center for Disaster Management and Management and

Humanitarian AssistanceHumanitarian AssistanceTulane University, Washington D.C.Tulane University, Washington D.C.

www.cdmha.orgwww.cdmha.org

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The CDMHAThe CDMHA

is a joint program of:

Tulane UniversityTulane University and the

United States Southern CommandUnited States Southern Command

University of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida in partnership with

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Mission of the CDMHAMission of the CDMHAFacilitate civil-military operations and cooperation

Develop and implement education and training programs in disaster and crisis management

Facilitate collaborative education, training, research and information and communication services between disaster response and humanitarian assistance agencies (e.g. the military, NGOs, PVOs, etc.)

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ObjectivesObjectives Make sense of the NGO universe so that Make sense of the NGO universe so that

you will find it easier to work with themyou will find it easier to work with them Standards of Conduct Standards of Conduct Discuss NGO concerns about working Discuss NGO concerns about working

with the military and whywith the military and why How NGOs fit into the disaster relief How NGOs fit into the disaster relief

equationequation The civil and military relationshipThe civil and military relationship

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NGOs and PVOsNGOs and PVOs““An extraordinarily complex An extraordinarily complex

system which makes medieval system which makes medieval Europe look centralized and Europe look centralized and ordered by comparison.”ordered by comparison.”

John Paul Lederach, director of the John Paul Lederach, director of the Mennonite Central Committee and the Mennonite Central Committee and the

Conflict Analysis and Conflict Analysis and Transformation Program Transformation Program of the eastern of the eastern Mennonite UniversityMennonite University

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DefinitionsDefinitionsNo distinction between NGOs No distinction between NGOs

and PVOsand PVOsDoes not include professional Does not include professional

associations, businesses, and associations, businesses, and foundationsfoundations

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Who Are They?Who Are They?Working Definition:Working Definition: Non-profit organizations or associations Non-profit organizations or associations

of private citizens with any of private citizens with any common common interestinterest

The cThe common interestommon interest, for our purposes, is , for our purposes, is international humanitarian assistance international humanitarian assistance activities (development and relief) activities (development and relief)

May be international or local May be international or local

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CharacteristicsCharacteristics NGOs vary greatlyNGOs vary greatly Organizational structure is similar to Organizational structure is similar to

businessesbusinesses• Non-rigid hierarchy; significant Non-rigid hierarchy; significant

flexibility and authority at the field flexibility and authority at the field levellevel

International NGOs often team up with International NGOs often team up with local NGOslocal NGOs

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What do They Do?What do They Do? Operational vs AdvocacyOperational vs Advocacy Grassroots, long-term projects, Grassroots, long-term projects,

development workdevelopment work Willing to work in high risk areas; not Willing to work in high risk areas; not

constrained by sovereigntyconstrained by sovereignty Emphasis on sustainabilityEmphasis on sustainability Full integration with local populationFull integration with local population Good positioning for disaster responseGood positioning for disaster response

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Who Pays Them?Who Pays Them?Funding SourcesFunding Sources

• Private Donations (citizens and Private Donations (citizens and foundations)foundations)

• International Organizations (UN)International Organizations (UN)

• National GovernmentsNational Governments

• Importance of MediaImportance of Media

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Core ValuesCore Values NeutralityNeutrality

• Aid will not be used to further a particular Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint.political or religious standpoint.

ImpartialityImpartiality• Aid is given regardless of race, creed, or Aid is given regardless of race, creed, or

nationality.nationality.• Aid is based on need alone.Aid is based on need alone.

IndependenceIndependence• Aid agencies shall not act as instruments of Aid agencies shall not act as instruments of

government foreign policy.government foreign policy.

INCREASED THREAT TO AID INCREASED THREAT TO AID WORKERSWORKERS

Increased Range of Conflict since Cold WarIncreased Range of Conflict since Cold War• Civil WarsCivil Wars• Ethnic conflicts and genocideEthnic conflicts and genocide• Complex crisesComplex crises• Identified as symbols of western values Identified as symbols of western values • Increased banditry and crimeIncreased banditry and crime

Ignorance, indifference and indiscriminate Ignorance, indifference and indiscriminate violence violence

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Core ValuesCore Values Should offer access and protection from attack; not Should offer access and protection from attack; not

always true anymorealways true anymore Core values will impact NGO willingness to work Core values will impact NGO willingness to work

with the military.with the military.

• Even perception of value violation will be avoided.Even perception of value violation will be avoided.

PERCEPTION IS REALITY!PERCEPTION IS REALITY!

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Who Monitors These Guys?Who Monitors These Guys? Little External MonitoringLittle External Monitoring Self-Control: NGO StandardsSelf-Control: NGO Standards

• Red Cross Code of ConductRed Cross Code of Conduct

• InterAction PVO StandardsInterAction PVO Standards

• Sphere Minimum Standards in Sphere Minimum Standards in Disaster ResponseDisaster Response

15 is the six inches between the other guy’s ears

Seize the High Ground!Seize the High Ground!THE KEY TERRAIN

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PERCEPTIONS THE MILITARY PERCEPTIONS THE MILITARY HAVE OF NGOsHAVE OF NGOs

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PERCEPTIONS NGOs HAVE OF THE MILITARYPERCEPTIONS NGOs HAVE OF THE MILITARY

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NGO and Military Cultures: DifferencesNGO and Military Cultures: Differences

NGOsNGOs IndependentIndependent Decentralized Decentralized

AuthorityAuthority On-The-Job On-The-Job

TrainingTraining Few Field ManualsFew Field Manuals Long-term Long-term

PerspectivePerspective

MilitaryMilitary Highly DisciplinedHighly Disciplined Hierarchical Hierarchical

CommandCommand Extensive Branch Extensive Branch

TrainingTraining Doctrinal PubsDoctrinal Pubs ““End-State” End-State”

ApproachApproach

NGOs AND THE MILITARYNGOs AND THE MILITARY

Clear separation of Clear separation of missions and missions and operationsoperations

POW monitoringPOW monitoring Medical aidMedical aid Single neutral agendaSingle neutral agenda

Overlapping Overlapping humanitarian humanitarian missionsmissions

Chaotic complex Chaotic complex environmentsenvironments

Neutrality concernsNeutrality concerns Security concernsSecurity concerns

Humanitarian aid to soldiers and sailors

Complex inconsistent “partnership”

Tradition Today

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NGO and Military Cultures: NGO and Military Cultures: SimilaritiesSimilarities

Motivation: Adrenaline Motivation: Adrenaline Junkies and IdealistsJunkies and Idealists

Desire to See the WorldDesire to See the WorldSeparation from Family and Separation from Family and

FriendsFriends

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Both are mission driven.Both are synergistic.

They shouldn’t be antagonistic.But attitudes can cause them to be so.

It’s the PERCEPTIONPERCEPTION!!!

LTC M.M. Smith, USA

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Humanitarian EmergenciesHumanitarian Emergencies International assistance requiredInternational assistance required Donors rely more on NGOs, because of Donors rely more on NGOs, because of

their access to the populations in needtheir access to the populations in need• And again, their access is dependent on their And again, their access is dependent on their

neutralityneutrality Most humanitarian emergencies do NOT Most humanitarian emergencies do NOT

involve the militaryinvolve the military• The need for civ-mil cooperation may be the The need for civ-mil cooperation may be the

exception rather than the ruleexception rather than the rule

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Review of Emergency ResponseReview of Emergency ResponseEmergency RespondersEmergency Responders

Affected Country’s GovernmentAffected Country’s GovernmentNational Bilateral donors: OFDA, ECHONational Bilateral donors: OFDA, ECHO

UN Agencies: OCHA, UNHCR, WFP, UN Agencies: OCHA, UNHCR, WFP, WHO, UNDPWHO, UNDP

Religious OrganizationsReligious OrganizationsNGOsNGOs

Military Forces (on rare occasions)Military Forces (on rare occasions)

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UNAgenciesUNICEF

WFPUNDP

NGO

UNHCR

NGO

NGO

USG

Red Cross

ICRC

Affected Country/Government

NGO

Donor

OtherGovernments

NGO

Donor

NGONGO

The Fog of Disaster The Fog of Disaster Relief Relief

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Do They Coordinate?Do They Coordinate? US Embassy Country TeamUS Embassy Country Team Other USG Agencies (OFDA "DART")Other USG Agencies (OFDA "DART") UN Coordination Entities [UNHCR, WFP, UN Coordination Entities [UNHCR, WFP,

UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, Special Humanitarian UNDP, UNICEF, OCHA, Special Humanitarian Coordinator]Coordinator]

NGO-Only Coordination Bodies/Field-level NGO-Only Coordination Bodies/Field-level coordination meetingscoordination meetings

Host Government Ministries / AuthoritiesHost Government Ministries / Authorities Civil-Military Cooperation or Operation CentersCivil-Military Cooperation or Operation Centers

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NGO Role in Disaster ResponseNGO Role in Disaster Response

NGOs, as implementing NGOs, as implementing partners of donor partners of donor

organizations, organizations, are are the legsthe legs on which disaster on which disaster

response stands.response stands.

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NGO Fears About Working NGO Fears About Working With the MilitaryWith the Military

Perceived Violation of Core ValuesPerceived Violation of Core Values• KosovoKosovo• ChechnyaChechnya

Military Domination of Military Domination of Humanitarian ResponseHumanitarian Response

Appropriate Military Role: Refer to Appropriate Military Role: Refer to Humanitarian CommunityHumanitarian Community

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Common MistakesCommon Mistakes

Assuming Control of Assuming Control of Humanitarian ResponseHumanitarian Response

Intelligence / Information Intelligence / Information ExchangeExchange

NGO INFORMATIONNGO INFORMATION Best source of refugee informationBest source of refugee information First hand observation and knowledgeFirst hand observation and knowledge Situational/non-threat focusSituational/non-threat focus Direct access to local leaders and Direct access to local leaders and

factionsfactions

Sensitive to association with government/military agencies!

AREAS OF EXPERTISEAREAS OF EXPERTISE Local SituationLocal Situation EnvironmentEnvironment Health and Medical IssuesHealth and Medical Issues ReligionReligion Clan/tribe relationships & hierarchyClan/tribe relationships & hierarchy DialectsDialects Psychological ProfilesPsychological Profiles Personality ProfilesPersonality Profiles Local OrganizationLocal Organization Effects of Local Weather and Terrain on Equipment and Effects of Local Weather and Terrain on Equipment and

PersonnelPersonnel

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Civ-Mil Services Typically Requested Civ-Mil Services Typically Requested by NGOsby NGOs

Security ServicesSecurity Services Landmine LocationsLandmine Locations Security Briefings Security Briefings Convoy SupportConvoy Support Guidance on Local SecurityGuidance on Local Security Technical Assistance Technical Assistance Access to Remote Areas, Ports, and AirfieldsAccess to Remote Areas, Ports, and Airfields Logistics AssistanceLogistics Assistance

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Avoiding the Common Avoiding the Common MistakesMistakes in Humanitarian Responsein Humanitarian Response

Intelligence/information exchangeIntelligence/information exchange

SustainabilitySustainability

ProportionalityProportionality

Target populationsTarget populations

““Warlord photo ops”Warlord photo ops”

INDIRECT CONTACTINDIRECT CONTACTFunctional military counterpartsFunctional military counterpartsState Department/other agenciesState Department/other agenciesOther third partiesOther third parties““Virtual contact”- the internetVirtual contact”- the internetCivil Affairs and IntelligenceCivil Affairs and Intelligence

Learn about them before you deploy!

DIRECT DIRECT CONTACTCONTACT

BasicsBasics• De-mystify information De-mystify information

sharingsharing• Be honest and openBe honest and open• Build rapportBuild rapport

DiscretionDiscretion• What and WhyWhat and Why

•Cooperative

•Non-intrusive

•Give and Take

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Coordination Coordination at JTF Levelat JTF Level

CJTFCJTF

CMOCCMOC

NGOs and IOsNGOs and IOs

UN Relief AgenciesUN Relief Agencies

OFDA / DARTOFDA / DART

HACCHACC

Command

Coordination

RegionalCMOC(s)

RegionalCMOC(s)

CINCCINC

HOCHOC

Agencies atStrat. Theater

Level

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CMOC

Military:

U.S. + ?

NGO

IO

PVO

ICRCUS Gov’t

Agencies

UN

Agencies

HN/Local

Populace

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DOD UN/IOs

Religion Business

HostNations

USG

NGOs

Zone of Collaboration/Coordination

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Alphabet SoupAlphabet Soup

CMOCCMCC

CIMIC

HOCHACC

OSOCCHAC

CMAC

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Cooperation as Vector Analysis:

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Cooperation: “Unity of Effort”

MilitaryEfforts

IO/NGOActivities

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Humanitarian Space

Overview of InterventionOverview of Intervention

Complex

EmergencyInternational

Community

Political / Military Response

Humanitarian Response

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