Principled Pragmatism: NGO Engagement with Armed Actors

In recent years, there has been a growing perception among aid workers that military actors are encroaching more and more on their operations. Changing trends around funding, disaster management, availability of logistical support, the structure of peace support and policing operations, direct ‘humanitarian’ project implementation by the military, and increasing insecurity around food shortages have been some of the main challenges identified.

This report provides a summary array of outputs from the research, drawing particular attention to the main challenge identified throughout the field trial: namely, how World Vision, and by association other agencies, can balance humanitarian principles with pragmatism when engaging with military and security actors.