Managing Humanitarian Relief: An Operational Guide for NGOs
ISBN 978-185339-669-4
Eric James
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Abstract
Managing Humanitarian Relief is aimed at relief workers charged with putting together a programme of action to help people in extreme crisis. It provides humanitarian relief managers with a single comprehensive reference for all the management issues they are likely to encounter in the field. This book is organised in two parts. First, it provides an outline of different relief programming sectors: food and nutrition, health, water and sanitation, and shelter. Second, it presents 20 separate management topics that are essential for overseeing programmes. Its easy-to-use format includes checklists, tables, diagrams, sample forms, and no-nonsense tips from practitioners.
Commendations
A ‘must read’ for students of the humanitarian relief system and a ‘must have on the shelf’ for planners and managers of emergency programmes. It combines comprehensive coverage of issues with incisive comments and well-balanced judgments…and, it is clearly-written.
David Hulme, Professor in Development Studies, Institute for Development Policy and Management, Manchester University, UK
This book is a must read for all serious practitioners who work at the sharp end in the delivery of humanitarian and developmental outcomes to disaster affected populations. Eric covers the spectrum from the theoretical underpinnings to the practicalities of managing an NGO in the field. It is a "how to" book that will greatly assist in the professionalization of our programmes and will remain very close at hand during the conduct of our future operations.
Marc Preston, CEO, Australian Aid International
Eric James has created a handbook that makes you wonder how humanitarian agencies ever got along without it! As an academic, I admire its clarity and comprehensiveness; as a practitioner and consultant, I will add this to my toolkit as an indispensible resource.
Dirk Salomons, Director, Humanitarian Affairs Program, School of International and Public Service Columbia University
This book is a must read for all serious practitioners who work at the sharp end in the delivery of humanitarian and developmental outcomes to disaster affected populations. Eric covers the spectrum from the theoretical underpinnings to the practicalities of managing an NGO in the field. It is a "how to" book that will greatly assist in the professionalization of our programmes and will remain very close at hand during the conduct of our future operations.
Marc Preston, CEO, Australian Aid International
Eric James has created a handbook that makes you wonder how humanitarian agencies ever got along without it! As an academic, I admire its clarity and comprehensiveness; as a practitioner and consultant, I will add this to my toolkit as an indispensible resource.
Dirk Salomons, Director, Humanitarian Affairs Program, School of International and Public Service Columbia University
An essential addition to the aid worker's tool kit. This comprehensive guide should be a part of every humanitarian NGO's orientation for new staff. A handy reference for all of the major tasks required for the successful establishment of an emergency mission which will likely help NGO staff to avoid the pitfalls and unintended consequences of decisions that are often, necessarily, taken on the fly.
Peter Medway, Director of Operations, International Medical Corps UK.
In combining a Textbook and Field Manual Dr James has demystified relief work for today’s generation of relief workers. This unique and perfect balance of analyses and practical guides and check-lists makes any field worker or manager’s job immeasurably more productive and rewarding. For years to come, every course on humanitarian relief will use this book and every relief worker will carry one in his to-go kit. CEOs and HR departments would be wise to order in bulk for all staff and new recruits. If every staff of every NGO had a copy of this book the humanitarian field would very simply advance by light years.
Farshad Rastegar, President and CEO, Relief International, Los Angeles.
This book is an important hands-on manual for both the experienced field hand and the person going out into the field for the first time. It tells us what we can do – the nitty-gritty detail of how to act in an emergency. It will answer your questions as they come up. It will help you make fewer mistakes. It is recommended as a reference book to keep with you as you go into the field.
Eric James gives the relief worker practical tools for effective work. In these pages, James explains how to do many tasks, such as developing a full monitoring system, creating a step-by-step recruitment procedure for staff, producing an office equipment procurement checklist, and even labelling keys and changing locks on doors of newly rented apartments. These are the nuts and bolts a practitioner needs when faced with the complexity and multiplicity of tasks at hand in an emergency. Like in any craft, these tools by themselves do not make a good final product. This will depend on the holder of the tools, the sensitivity of the intervener and the human and political skill of the practitioner. But this manual will be a welcomed companion to the crafter of solutions in the field.
Eric James gives the relief worker practical tools for effective work. In these pages, James explains how to do many tasks, such as developing a full monitoring system, creating a step-by-step recruitment procedure for staff, producing an office equipment procurement checklist, and even labelling keys and changing locks on doors of newly rented apartments. These are the nuts and bolts a practitioner needs when faced with the complexity and multiplicity of tasks at hand in an emergency. Like in any craft, these tools by themselves do not make a good final product. This will depend on the holder of the tools, the sensitivity of the intervener and the human and political skill of the practitioner. But this manual will be a welcomed companion to the crafter of solutions in the field.
John Hammock, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the Fletcher School, Tufts University, Founder and Former Director, Alan Shawn Feinstein International Famine Center
About the author
Eric James has studied and worked in International development for over 10 years. He has managed emergency programs in Afghanistan, Albania, Burundi, Liberia and Sri Lanka, amongst other places.
Table of contents
Introduction
1. Understanding emergencies and disaster-affected populations
What is an emergency?
Understanding conflict
The role of NGOs
Humanitarian principles
Problems and dilemmas of the international response system
Standardized initiatives and approaches
2. Understanding disaster-affected populations and programme sectors
Food and nutrition
Health
Shelter
Water and sanitation
Sanitation
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Psychosocial projects
Specifically targeted programmes
Infrastructure rehabilitation
Education
Microfinance development
Gender-based violence
Special approaches
3. Managing in emergencies
Management fundamentals
Management methods
Organizational design
Team building
Assessing management
4. Carrying out an assessment
Gaining information about a disaster zone
Quantitative methods
Qualitative methods
5. Launching in a new country or area
Deciding to enter
Government and legal issues
Levels of involvement
Dealing with HQ
The emergency team
6. Establishing an office and accommodation
Property rental and purchasing
Staff accommodation
Buying office equipment
Office and filing systems
Ordering and maintaining a generator
7. Preparing a proposal and negotiating with donors
Fundraising fundamentals
Writing a proposal step by step
Proposal formatting
Negotiating with donors
8. Managing human resources
HRM systems
Recruitment step by step
Induction
Performance management
Discipline and end of contract
Assessing HR systems: a manager’s tool
9. Planning, managing and reporting on a project
Project cycle management basics
Project design
Planning and management tools
Project launch
Narrative reporting
Holding meetings
Basic problem solving
10. Dealing with stress
Understanding stress
Managing stress
Conflict resolution between individuals
Working in different cultures
11. Overseeing finance and accounting
Overview of NGO accounting
Budgeting
Getting funds in a disaster zone
Petty cash
Financial audit: a manager’s tool
12. Setting up a logistics and procurement system
Logistics fundamentals
Procurement
Shipping
Storage and warehousing
Distribution
Maintenance and disposal
13. Handling transport and maintaining vehicles
Buying and renting road vehicles
Fleet management
Driving safely
Other modes of transport
14. Communicating using radios and satellites
Radio basics
Radio equipment and uses
What is an emergency?
Understanding conflict
The role of NGOs
Humanitarian principles
Problems and dilemmas of the international response system
Standardized initiatives and approaches
2. Understanding disaster-affected populations and programme sectors
Food and nutrition
Health
Shelter
Water and sanitation
Sanitation
Refugees and internally displaced persons
Psychosocial projects
Specifically targeted programmes
Infrastructure rehabilitation
Education
Microfinance development
Gender-based violence
Special approaches
3. Managing in emergencies
Management fundamentals
Management methods
Organizational design
Team building
Assessing management
4. Carrying out an assessment
Gaining information about a disaster zone
Quantitative methods
Qualitative methods
5. Launching in a new country or area
Deciding to enter
Government and legal issues
Levels of involvement
Dealing with HQ
The emergency team
6. Establishing an office and accommodation
Property rental and purchasing
Staff accommodation
Buying office equipment
Office and filing systems
Ordering and maintaining a generator
7. Preparing a proposal and negotiating with donors
Fundraising fundamentals
Writing a proposal step by step
Proposal formatting
Negotiating with donors
8. Managing human resources
HRM systems
Recruitment step by step
Induction
Performance management
Discipline and end of contract
Assessing HR systems: a manager’s tool
9. Planning, managing and reporting on a project
Project cycle management basics
Project design
Planning and management tools
Project launch
Narrative reporting
Holding meetings
Basic problem solving
10. Dealing with stress
Understanding stress
Managing stress
Conflict resolution between individuals
Working in different cultures
11. Overseeing finance and accounting
Overview of NGO accounting
Budgeting
Getting funds in a disaster zone
Petty cash
Financial audit: a manager’s tool
12. Setting up a logistics and procurement system
Logistics fundamentals
Procurement
Shipping
Storage and warehousing
Distribution
Maintenance and disposal
13. Handling transport and maintaining vehicles
Buying and renting road vehicles
Fleet management
Driving safely
Other modes of transport
14. Communicating using radios and satellites
Radio basics
Radio equipment and uses
Setting up a communications system
Organizing a radio room
Radio procedures
How to use radios
Training
Satellite communications
Internet connections
15. Working with local partners and contractors
Identifying partners
Assessing an organization’s capacity
Sub-contractors and the bidding process
16. Building internal capacity
Capacity building
Facilitating training
Presentations
Ice-breakers, energizers and team-builders
Organizational development
17. Dealing with the media
The media and emergency programmes
Advocacy at the field level
Giving interviews
18. Managing security
NGO security fundamentals
Security phases
Security planning cycle
Security management
Developing an effective security plan
Security audit: a manager’s tool
19. Monitoring and evaluating a project
M&E basics
Monitoring
Evaluation
20. Coordinating with other organizations
Understanding coordination
Coordination between NGOs
Coordination between NGOs and the UN
Coordination between NGOs and the military
Coordination with host governments
21. Closing an emergency programme
Handover strategies
Phase-out strategies
Appendix
The Humanitarian Charter
Comparison chart between Sphere Standards and UNHCR Emergency Handbook
Code of Conduct
Summary of international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law
The Humanitarian Accountability Project Principles of Accountability
People in Aid Code
Content of UN standard kits
Organizing a radio room
Radio procedures
How to use radios
Training
Satellite communications
Internet connections
15. Working with local partners and contractors
Identifying partners
Assessing an organization’s capacity
Sub-contractors and the bidding process
16. Building internal capacity
Capacity building
Facilitating training
Presentations
Ice-breakers, energizers and team-builders
Organizational development
17. Dealing with the media
The media and emergency programmes
Advocacy at the field level
Giving interviews
18. Managing security
NGO security fundamentals
Security phases
Security planning cycle
Security management
Developing an effective security plan
Security audit: a manager’s tool
19. Monitoring and evaluating a project
M&E basics
Monitoring
Evaluation
20. Coordinating with other organizations
Understanding coordination
Coordination between NGOs
Coordination between NGOs and the UN
Coordination between NGOs and the military
Coordination with host governments
21. Closing an emergency programme
Handover strategies
Phase-out strategies
Appendix
The Humanitarian Charter
Comparison chart between Sphere Standards and UNHCR Emergency Handbook
Code of Conduct
Summary of international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law
The Humanitarian Accountability Project Principles of Accountability
People in Aid Code
Content of UN standard kits