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Polish aid

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Humanitarian actors

The main actors of the international humanitarian system include the United Nations (UN), the European Union, governmental organisations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

I. United Nations

The UN carries out humanitarian actions through specialised agencies with individual areas of competence. This group of humanitarian actors is primarily tasked with coordinating and conducting their own humanitarian actions. The group includes:

  • The United Nations Office for the Cooperation of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) whose purpose is to coordinate humanitarian aid provided by various humanitarian actors;
  • The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR);
  • The World Food Programme (WFP);
  • The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF);
  • The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP);
  • The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO);
  • The World Health Organisation (WHO);
  • The International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

II.  European Union

The EU is one of the biggest donors of humanitarian aid - it provides most of global funding for emergency relief to victims of natural and man-made disasters. Part of that funding comes directly from member states, however, a large share comes from the EU budget. EUR 7.1 billion was allocated for humanitarian aid in the EU budget for 2014-2020.   

The European Commission (ECHO);

The Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) is responsible for the EU humanitarian aid policy. Its mission is to preserve lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises. ECHO provides assistance through more than 200 partners, that is non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UN agencies, and international organisations such as the International Movement of the Red Cross / the Red Crescent. ECHO finances partner institutions’ activities, exercises sound financial management, and ensures that its partner institutions’ goods and services reach the affected populations effectively and rapidly in order to respond to their real needs. ECHO’s local staff working in more than 40 field offices help to carry out these tasks.

Apart from financing humanitarian aid, ECHO is also in charge of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Established in 2001, the mechanism promotes cooperation between national authorities responsible for civil protection in Europe. At present, all EU member states take part in the project, along with Iceland, Norway, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. Within the framework of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, the countries can provide coordinated assistance to victims of natural and man-made disasters in Europe and worldwide.

III. Governmental organisations carry out humanitarian actions of individual states, cooperating closely with national ministries of foreign affairs. Members of this group belong to major donors of humanitarian aid. National agencies of development cooperation include:

  • Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB);
  • Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA);
  • United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

IV. The International Committee of the Red Cross

The ICRC is a unique humanitarian organisation. Its work is based on international agreements - the Geneva Conventions - which means it is not a non-governmental organisation or an organisation that represents the will of any state. The ICRC operates independently to provide assistance to victims of armed conflicts and to protect civilian populations. The organisation pursues its goals through its structures that operate in individual countries and constitute the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The structures include the Polish Red Cross.

 V. The non-governmental sector is represented by international, regional, and local entities that carry out specific activities in a particular area. They usually implement projects funded by various sources and act in close cooperation with governmental organisations and UN agencies.   They include:

  • Doctors Without Borders;
  • Peace Corps;
  • Oxfam;
  • Polish Humanitarian Action;
  • Polish Centre for International Aid
  • Caritas Poland
  • Polish Medical Mission.
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