"After a brief historical critique of how the larger international NGOs in general, and the International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement in particular, have evolved from short-term disaster relief organizations to complex international development networks, Ian McAllister explores many of the key issues facing the International Red Cross Movement. These include research and building bridges to field operations - training, policy design and management - links between relief and development - financing and international agreements - the application of ideas from the Earth Summit at Rio to the day-to-day, community-level work of the International Red Cross Movement. The book's second part has an operational focus - exploring the challenges of, and approaches to, international cooperation in relief and development. The third part is about projects - drawing together ideas and 'lessons' for project planning, evaluation and management in the context of non-governmental organizations. Much of the work has been written 'in the field' and the book brings together theory, policy and practice - with a constant scanning for future policy options bridging from current operational practices." "This original and important study is of interest to all those working in non-governmental organizations, ministries and other agencies in the fields of disaster relief and sustainable development, as well as to staff and volunteers within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement." "Ian McAllister is Professor of Economics and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University, Canada."--Jacket.