How Can I Help?
Advantages of Monetary Donations
Monetary donations are the most effective form of assistance because they allow humanitarian organizations to purchase (often within the affected region itself) the exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the crisis. Monetary donations therefore have several logistical advantages over commodity contributions:
- Monetary donations are more cost-effective than commodity contributions, because the cost of international shipping usually exceeds the cost of procuring the commodities within the region.
- Monetary donations, unlike commodity contributions, do not involve international transportation and handling, which can be very complex and time consuming.
- Humanitarian organizations can use monetary donations to specifically procure items on a priority-needs basis in the exact quantity and quality required - while commodity contributions often involve use of scarce resources (transportation, staff time, warehouse space, etc) for non-crucial or inappropriate commodities.
- Commodities procured by humanitarian organizations using monetary donations can be sorted, labeled (in the appropriate language), and packaged in exactly the manner required for storage and distribution and will reach the affected region much quicker than commodity contributions would.
In addition to these logistical advantages, monetary donations
to humanitarian organizations also help to ensure that relief
efforts contribute to the long-term sustainability
and self-reliance of the affected region. This is
because commodities that have been procured by humanitarian
organizations using monetary donations:
- are more likely to be culturally and environmentally appropriate,
and consistent with traditional practices and consumption
patterns;
- support the economy of the affected region when procured
locally, thereby contributing to the eventual goal of self-reliance
and economic growth.
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