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DevNet NZ Research: Details
Dead people don't need help
Author: Sunita Devasahayam Year: 2004
Email: sunita83@gmail.com
Degree/Paper Studied: BA (Hons)
When natural or human-induced disasters occur around the world, thousands of victims are dependent on the relief funds from donor countries such as New Zealand. The New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) form the humanitarian community that responds to such disasters. These organisations make vitally important decisions for the futures of these victims, based on their scriptings of a particular region; and humanitarian and geopolitical motives. As an official aid agency, NZAID is likely to be motivated by political and national security considerations, as their relief is allocated to countries of geostrategic concern to New Zealand. However, NGOs are more likely to allocate disaster relief for humanitarian purposes, and to regions they have international partnerships with. This research also examines non-policy factors that shape NZAID and NGO relief allocation. These include public-lobbying and socio-cultural factors such as media coverage and public relations. NZAID is less likely than NGOs to be influenced by these factors, as they have a clearly-defined mandate and stable source of funds. NGOs, however, are accountable to their public donors, and are more likely to be influenced by their interest in a disaster. These non-policy factors are external to the realities of a disaster, yet they shape how and where relief will be allocated.
Research Status: Completed
Pages Updated On: 18-Nov-2008 - 15:20:30