12A-Buyer Behavior

Interview 1:

(UNHCR Needs Assessment)

I sent UNHCR Needs Assessment sector when we first started setting up interviews and they responded last weekend so I got the chance to interview them this week over the phone. Essentially they confirmed that there is a need for outside organizations to come and provide aid. I asked where the most need is any she said it really depends and that every couple weeks to every couple months, NGO organization members can be reassigned to different places and camps. She also stressed that there is a need for physical and occupational therapy in urban settings as well as in refugee camps. She also said that there are already occupational and physical therapists working with UNHCR. They told me that they work with sister organizations and rely on volunteers to fill the needs of the refugees.

Interview 2:

(WHO Geneva Headquarters)

I called the WHO’s Headquarters and got switched to the office of the Syrian Arab Crisis. I asked about where the most need is for refugees and they said that Turkey is one of the areas most in need but that there is a process that organizations would have to go through to get clearance to work in refugees camps in Turkey. She also talked about how Jordan is a country in need of public health workers.

Interview 3:

(WFOT, UK)

I called the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and asked where they need other NGO’s to work abroad the most. They explained to me that their main focus is teaching occupational therapy abroad which I was already aware of. I further asked how smaller nonprofits could start the process of working with refugees. She then transferred me to someone else who organizes groups of occupational therapists and he said that there is a certain level of experience required however that the WFOT does from time to time work with refugees. I asked where their area of need was most and he said that there is a bit of freedom that members of WFOT have when choosing what they can do. They also informed me that WFOT does work with WCPT (World Federation of Physical Therapists). I asked about what they are looking for with non-profits that they work with and they said that as long as that nonprofit is ethical and is willing to work with the WFOT then they can apply to work with WFOT.


From what I have gathered from these interviews, albeit all over the phone, the overarching UN affiliated organizations (the segment I chose), is aware that there is a need for smaller NGO’s to work with them behind the scenes in emergency situations and in crisis such as with refugees. Basically, the WHO, and the UN have to work with smaller NGO’s and they are looking for organizations that are willing to make a difference abroad in an ethical manner. I have found that there is a vast network of NGO’s that work with these organizations that specialize in different areas around the world.