ABSTRACT
This chapter explores communication issues and associated challenges revealed during international humanitarian relief efforts and identifies potential areas of interest for further exploration. The players include the United Nations, donor governments, multi- and bilateral agencies, governments of countries affected by the crisis, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), philanthropic foundations, corporations, the giving public, and those who have suffered during the crisis. The chapter focuses on issues and challenges that exist within NGOs and among NGOs, as well as between NGOs and the other types of organizations involved in humanitarian relief, including the people being served. The following discussion divides NGO communication issues and associated challenges into two categories: intraorganizational communication and interorganizational communication. The restricted and short-term nature of donor funding makes it very difficult for organizations to invest more strategically in long-term planning and discourages organizations from adequately investing in strategic ICS infrastructure.
