ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part examines the first decisions that non-governmental organizations (NGO) make about disaster response—namely, the decision of whether or not to provide assistance and, if so, whether to develop a full relief program or to join together with local NGOs as partners to provide relief. It looks at the strong influence, on all programming, both of the political context and of the policy context in which agencies provide assistance. The part suggests that applying the term "participants" to describe those people to whom aid is provided because they are the real actors in any development effort. The commitment to development is clear and unshakable among nongovernmental organizations. However, when circumstances require them to respond with immediate humanitarian relief, development goals are often lost or at least deferred while emergency efforts prevail.
