Elizabeth Ferris
is presently in charge of the relief and development work of the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland and currently serves as chair of the International Council of Voluntary Agencies. A former university professor in the United States, she served as Research Director of the Life and Peace Institute in Uppsala, Sweden and as Director of the Church World Service Immigration and Refugee Program in New York.
Abstract
This article examines the role of faith-based organizations, particularly Christian organizations, in humanitarian assistance within the broader context of the NGO world. Following an overview of the historical development of these organizations, the article examines the current context in which faith-based and secular humanitarian organizations operate. The different roles played by these organizations are explored as are some of the difficulties they encounter. The article suggests that much more work is needed in the area of capacity-building of local humanitarian organizations and in the coordination of NGO programmatic work.
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