Nongovernment Organizations in Humanitarian Activities in the Philippines: Local Contributions in Post-Disaster Settings and Implications for Humanitarian Action and Diplomacy

Abstract

This article stresses the importance of localization and the role of local nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in humanitarian action and diplomacy using a post-natural hazard and a post-conflict response and rehabilitation context. It first assesses the country's framework for disaster risk reduction and management and the roles of different stakeholders, including humanitarian organizations like NGOs. This is followed by two post-disaster cases of local humanitarian work (Marawi and Haiyan), focusing on NGOs involved, their experiences in housing and livelihood projects, as well as their networks, resources, and links. Then, the analysis looks at the importance of local NGOs as actors in humanitarian diplomacy and the international humanitarian order and the relationship between local NGOs and other humanitarian actors in humanitarian diplomacy and action. The conclusion sums up the strengths, potentials, and limitations of local NGOs in humanitarian diplomacy based on the experience of the Philippines as well as recommendations to mainstream localization in humanitarian action and diplomacy.