Managing External Relations - Disaster Management Center ...

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Chapter
Introduction to External Relations
By studying this chapter you will learn about:
■ The primary emergency management
reasons for strengthening
relationships with governments,
protection and advocacy
organisations, assistance agencies,
the media, and donors
■ Methods to build and maintain
networks before and during
emergencies
Introduction and Reminder
The purpose of the UNHCR is the protection of refugees. This underlying and
fundamental mandated function is directly supported by competency in the
management of UNHCR’s external relations. Emergency managers can directly
and indirectly affect the situation of refugees through:
♦ Heightening the importance of refugee protection
issues through appropriate media coverage
♦ Gathering public support for the plight of the people that
UNHCR serves
♦ Clearly communicating UNHCR’s message in a positive manner
♦ Explaining UNHCR’s protection and assistance roles
Without the support of governments, human rights advocacy organisations,
assistance agencies, the media and donors, UNHCR would be unable to carry
out its humanitarian mission as described below in its Mission Statement. The
increasing demands on limited emergency resources place greater importance
on the external relationships established by UNHCR staff with other actors in
the field as well as with donors and the media.
UNHCR’s MISSION STATEMENT
■ Why trust is a crucial foundation
for building such relationships
■ Ways to provide needed
information to those in your
network, including oral briefings,
briefing packages, and formal
written communications
UNHCR is mandated by the United Nations to lead and co-ordinate
international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and
the resolution of refugee problems.
UNHCR’s primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being
of refugees. UNHCR strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the
right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, and to
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