core issue

A focus on the actors

Such a challenge shows the need for a critical observation of humanitarian work in war-torn societies. One of the main tasks of Aid Watch is therefore to analyse the implementing strategies of NGOs that define themselves as “non-profit making” “private voluntary associations” with a “charitable aim”. Only the organizations dealing with situations of crises and armed conflicts are to be considered. On a longer term, this also implies studying programmes for the prevention of violence or for post-war reconstruction in a view towards sustainable development. Less stress is to be put on the fake dichotomy between those working in “development” and those in “emergency”. The former can be involved in a crisis and the latter sometimes conduct long-term programmes when insecurity has become permanent and when countries rebuild themselves after the signature of a peace treaty or the military exhaustion of the combatants. The intervention in war situations constitute the core issue of the study. As Aid Watch does not aim at an exhaustive review, it will only consider the most relevant organizations.