Humanitarian NGOs in Peace Building and Reconstruction Operations

Abstract

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are significant actors in humanitarian and emergency operations as long as they are able to deploy a wide range of materials and logistics. Moreover, they bring in capabilities which are useful in tackling some of the problems that occur in the humanitarian, peace building and reconstruction operations that are organized by states and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Their own approach to aid, reconstruction and service delivery to people affected by natural disasters and human conflicts, however, is the object of controversial evaluation. In principle, this approach is taken to be complementary to that of the states and intergovernmental organizations. In practice, it is very different from it. Consequently, NGO action often clashes with the actions of states and IGOs in humanitarian intervention. This chapter discusses the participation of humanitarian NGOs in, and along with, IGOs’ and states’ actions to respond to composite humanitarian emergencies. This study is based on the assumption that, in the current phase of world politics, the context in which global emergency policies are demanded, developed and carried out is a context that is changing. A set of humanitarian actors, institutions, rules and practices is gradually materializing and strengthening.