CIAO DATE: 11/04

Humanitarian NGOs: Challenges and Trends

Abstract

Non–governmental humanitarian organisations have evolved into a crucial pillar of the international humanitarian architecture. This Briefing Paper reviews the issues and trends affecting the humanitarian non–governmental sector in the wake of the sea–change in the geopolitical agenda after 11 September. Events since threaten to change the landscape of non–governmental humanitarian action in important ways, and are likely to widen the rift between US and European NGOs. Old questions, to do with relations with governments or armed forces or the shape and proper place of advocacy, have become sharper, while new challenges, such as the consolidation of the aid oligopoly, have emerged. While humanitarian agencies have to a surprising extent carried on ‘business as usual’, they are steeling themselves for uncertain times ahead.

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