SOUTH AFRICAN MOTIVATIONS FOR SUPPORTING INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Date
2014-01-20
Authors
Miller, Stephen
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Abstract
Humanitarian aid delivered during times of emergency is a critical resource
not only for responding to immediate needs, but also for helping affected
communities to build resilience and to combat poverty over the longer term.
However, recent reductions in official humanitarian aid by many western
governments have resulted in unmet financing needs being at their worst in
over a decade. With limited government resources available, International
Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) have come to rely increasingly
upon private voluntary contributions when responding to complex
humanitarian emergencies.
Existing research into the social giving habits of South African citizens
suggests that substantial private resources for international humanitarian
work may be available for INGOs in this country, despite academic claims to
the contrary. However, minimal research has thus far been conducted into
the propensity for South Africans to donate to international causes.
This research paper is a preliminary investigation into the increasing
internationalisation of charitable giving in South Africa. The primary data
source is the self-reported motivations of South African citizens who regularly
give unrestricted financial support to Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors
Without Borders (MSF) for humanitarian work that is conducted outside of
South Africa’s borders. The paper’s findings are further based on quantitative
data from an on-site poll and an extensive literature review.
The purpose is to better understand the giving behaviour of current donors to
international causes, so as to inform further research into the likelihood for
South Africa to become a major source of private funding for global
humanitarian assistance. The research paper concludes that that there is
great potential for INGOs to solicit financial support for international causes
from South African donors.
Description
MM (P&DM) thesis
Keywords
Humanitarian intervention, Humanitarian aid