text: Chapter 8
  Often the lead agencies coordinate field activities through field offices of another agency or organization.
  Although the latter is from UN High Commissioner for Refugees or the World Food Programme,
  nongovernmental organizations such as Save the Children have filled this role in the past. Lead agencies have
  also contracted other intergovernmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations to implement
  health, food, or transportation programs or to operate refugee camps. The International Organization for
  Migration has assisted in these areas. The International Committee of the Red Cross performed its activities
  with the other agencies in this field. In such situations, nongovernmental organizations operate under legal
  agreements involving them as partners with the host-nation government and a UN agency. The relationship
  between the coalition and the lead agency is critical. A memorandum of understanding between the
  multinational force and the lead agency helps to make the relationship work.
  TYPES OF ORGANIZATIONS
  8-30. Three principal types of civilian organizations operate outside formal national government structures:
  • Intergovernmental organizations.
  • Nongovernmental organizations.
  • International and national donors.
  Intergovernmental Organizations
  8-31. Intergovernmental agreements establish intergovernmental organizations and operate at the
  international level such as the various UN organizations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation
  in Europe. Five major UN organizations are involved in humanitarian relief:
  • UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
  • UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
  • UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
  • World Food Programme.
  • UN Children’s Fund.
  8-32. Intergovernmental agreements did not establish the International Committee of the Red Cross. This
  organization is impartial, neutral, and independent. Its humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity
  of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance. It directs and coordinates the
  international relief activities performed by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in
  situations of conflict and the aftermath. The International Committee of the Red Cross has a distinct status.
  It fulfills a role conferred upon it by international treaties such as the Geneva Conventions of 1949 (and the
  additional protocols of 1977) to which nearly all countries belong. The states party to the Geneva Conventions
  in 1986 adopted the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
  Nongovernmental Organizations
  8-33. Governments do not always fund nongovernmental organizations because those organizations are
  voluntary. Nongovernmental organizations are primarily nonprofit organizations independent of government,
  intergovernmental organizations, or commercial interests. While many nongovernmental organizations come
  to the AO from foreign nations, local nongovernmental organizations may also operate. A nongovernmental
  organization legally differs from UN agencies and other intergovernmental organizations because each writes
  its own charter and mission.
  8-34. Nongovernmental organizations fall into one of two categories:
  • Mandated.
  • Nonmandated.
  A mandated nongovernmental organization has a lead intergovernmental organization that has officially
  recognized the nongovernmental organization in a crisis and authorized it to work in the affected area. A
  nonmandated nongovernmental organization has no official recognition or authorization and works as a
  private concern. An intergovernmental organization or a mandated nongovernmental organization can
  contract or subcontract these nongovernmental organizations. In other cases, these nonmandated
  nongovernmental organizations obtain funds from private enterprises and donors.