Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in disaster relief by collaborating with first responders, governments, and other agencies to provide relief services and sustain life in the absence of other assistance. NGOs can be national, working within one country, international and based in one country but working in multiple countries, or multinational with partner organizations across several countries. They bring valuable resources like information gathering, needs assessments, technical skills, fundraising abilities, and the ability to reach large populations quickly. While NGOs are independent, decentralized, committed, innovative, and have relevant expertise, their tasks may exceed their capabilities and they face constraints around resources, finances, and compatibility with others.

1. Non-governmental
organizations’ role
in a disaster
PAD4391
Nicholas Fialdini

2. Nongovernmental Organizations
(NGO’s)
 Definition: “private organizations which conduct and pursue
activities to relieve sufferings, promote the interests of the poor,
provide basic social services or undertake community development
 - Collaborate with first responder’s, governments at all levels, and
other agencies and organizations providing relief services to sustain
life, reduce physical and emotional distress, and promote recovery
of disaster victims when assistance is not available from other
sources.

4. Types of NGO’s
 National: if they work in one country
 International: if they are based out of one country but work in more than four countries
 Multinational: If they have partner organizations in several countries

5. NGO’s resources
 - Well regarded as information gathering bodies
 -Vital in establishing accuracy in the development of damage and
needs assessments
 - Provide a single skill or group of specific technical skills
 - Number of NGO’s allows for a greater capability to reach a larger
population in less time
 - Amount of financial support provided as a result of the fundraising
abilities of the NGO’s brings significantly more cash resources to help
the needs of the victims

6. NGO’s characteristics
 -They value their independence and neutrality
 -They tend to be decentralized in their organizational
structure
 -They are committed
 -They are highly practice-oriented

7.  Positives:
 They are well linked in their areas of influence
 They are innovative and adaptable
 They are well trained and have requisite expertise to apply their
resources
 They are cost effective
Negatives:
- Their intended tasks are usually not within their own capabilities
and they normally need outside assistance from the government
and local establishment
- Resource and Financial Constraint
- Compatible Understanding :Their direction and way of working is
self assessed.