ABSTRACT

In disaster situations, particularly large disasters, many agencies respond. The agencies often have different philosophies and practical approaches. Relief projects have typically been structured so that accountability is to the donor agency. Criteria for evaluation have usually been restricted to logistical concerns and for "end use" of goods, not for their developmental impacts. Organizational survival has dictated that non-governmental organizations respond to these demands and criteria. The most common question posed by the donor public is "Is the aid getting through to the people who need it?" Monitoring systems "target" aid to families in most need, often using criteria set by the donor agency. There is an education job to be done with the public, news media and donor agencies to gain support for using developmental criteria to evaluate relief work, and for using funds donated for emergency relief to support development elements of emergency programming.