Topic 5: Aid organistions
Overview
In this Topic we examine the role of international humanitarian assistance through introducing a number of key aid agencies: AusAID, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF; also known as Doctors Without Borders), and working with Faith Based Organisations (FBO). This Topic also examines the challenges these international aid agencies face in fulfilling their mandate when corruption, political tensions, social unrest and physical conflict are present.
Learning outcomes
After completing this Topic you should be able to:
- articulate the role of international humanitarian assistance
- express familiarity with the roles of key agencies involved in complex emergencies, their mandates, priorities, scope of work and expertise, and where they are involved
- outline the trends, opportunities and challenges faced by agencies in complex emergencies
Humanitarian response is complex and varied and not without its confusion. It involves a plethora of actors, international and national, large and small, organizations with complex global mandates and organizations that serve a community or a neighbourhood. There are actions undertaken by militaries and governments and those by families and individuals. There is preparedness for events, immediate response to them, the provision of basic needs and the first elements of recovery. There is also a continual blurring of lines between humanitarian aid, investments in disaster preparedness, recovery programming, and long-term development spending.
GHA Report 2010