EXTERNAL ACTORS
Authorities offer resources for the National
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
CIVIL PROTECTION AGENCIES
MILITARY
OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS
Risk of losing independence.
Society that it has not had access to before.
National Society is requested to intervene
internationally by their government who
wishes to use civil protection assets or National
Society resources for international deployment
e.g. for a regional integrated response.
National Societys experts may be deployed to
another country in a consular support capacity
to help their government in dealing with a crisis
situation.
Gain higher acceptance and support for Red
Cross Red Crescent humanitarian action from
governments, while maintaining a balance
between the National Societys auxiliary
function, its neutrality and independence.
Where there are major humanitarian needs in
disasters, armies, navies and air forces can
deliver life-saving aid as quickly as possible,
repair critical infrastructure (such as bridges)
and offer logistical support. There may be
situations when military transport or other
logistics need to be considered.
Domestically, civil-military coordination will be
looked at from a wider response framework.
In some countries the military may hold the
legal responsibility to coordinate complex
emergencies. In such cases there may be closer
coordination between the National Society (of
that country) and the military.
Some National Societies prefer to keep their
distance from the military in order to maintain
safe access to communities.
SPECIFIC RISKS
Risk of confusing the mandate.
Compromising the Principle of Unity. It is a violation of the Fundamental
Principle of Unity for a partner National Society to enter into another
country with their emblems, and work alongside with the civil protection
agency of their country without informing the National Society of that
country in advance.
National Societies have their mandate and roles in their national context.
Their domestic relations with civil protection are different from their
international roles. Internationally they act according to the agreed rules
and regulations of the Movement.
The authorities may request National Societies to respond in an
unacceptable manner, or in an area of expertise beyond their mandate.
National Societies shall ensure that they loan or deploy their assets or
resources to civil protection operations only if such deployment would
not weaken the Movements capacity to respond.
National Societies working internationally (in the same theatre of
operations as their national military forces) risk being perceived to be
part of the military operations.
Working closely with the military may be a cause for misperceptions
about the motives and intentions of the humanitarian work.
Civil-military relations that are badly managed by one Movement
component, may reflect badly on the other Movements components.
Necessary coordination with the military is usually undertaken through
the national disaster management or civil-defence authorities.
National Societies have their mandate and roles in the national context.
They must act according to the agreed rules and regulations of the
Movement, whether operating domestically or internationally.
Military assets, e.g. for transport of relief items, can only be used in
disaster response by the National Societies and the International
Federation as a last resort, meaning that there are no comparable
civilian alternatives, and the use of military assets is necessary to meet a
critical humanitarian need.
Armed military transport should never be used as a rule. The use of
military assets by a component of the Movement should be a last resort:
it can be justified only by the serious and urgent need for life-saving

National Societies collaborate with national
and international agencies in country and strive
to create partnerships with other actors to
increase the Movements operational reach,
scale and effectiveness and support the
HUMANITARIAN AGENCIES National Society in its efforts to coordinate and
and NGOs strengthen the collective humanitarian
response.
The Red Cross Red Crescent Movement should
work in coordination with the UN, but not be
coordinated by the UN.
Corporate partnerships can be very productive
in providing the necessary resources for the
response. Contact made with the corporate
sector is an opportunity to build long-term
partnerships.
The corporate sector provides opportunities
PRIVATE SECTORS around funding, visibility, and services, such as
bank links for cash transfer, mobile phone
coverage, logistics and technical skills.
Partnerships provide an opportunity to
influence corporate behaviour with respect to
social issues through dialogue and build
awareness of the Movements role in these
countries.
humanitarian action and when there is no alternative means of taking
that action, as set forth by the Council of Delegates (CoD resolution 9,
1995 and CoD resolution 7, 2005).
Any use of military assets should be prompted by needs rather than by
availability. It must be understood that while the armed protection may
help get one aid convoy through, it may eventually jeopardise the
operation as a whole.
It is a violation of the Fundamental Principle of Unity for a partner
National Society to enter into another country with their emblems, and
start working with their non-Movement partners according to various
agreements that the National Society in the country may not even be
aware of.
Joint operations with the UN should be discouraged, as it compromises
the Fundamental Principles of Independence and Neutrality, as the UN
works in support of Governments.
There have been concerns raised about the UN and other partners using
Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers to do the actual work and the
partners taking the credit for the joint operations. Also, partners are
often not supporting their strengthening of volunteer capacities.
Ad-hoc donations are received and commercial arrangements are made
with suppliers and service providers.
Donations should not be accepted from sources (e.g. companies or
trades related to alcohol, tobacco, arms) which may undermine the
image or reputation of any component of the Movement.
Partnerships can be a cause of concern when Red Cross Red Crescent
emblems are being used whether in a local-level cooperation or in a
large-scale global relationship.
Partnerships should be entered into only with the private sector actors
that have respect for the Movements humanitarian values, have a
positive image, and a track record of good ethical behaviour.