Turkish and Qatari NGOs humanitarian diplomacy via negotiation in Somalia

What is it about?

This article explores how Turkish and Qatari humanitarian NGOs navigate access, legitimacy, and influence in Somalia. Using interviews and Ketola’s NGO typology, it shows how Turkish NGOs act as navigators and brokers, while Qatari NGOs operate as broker-translators within a centralized system. The study advances humanitarian diplomacy debates by highlighting non-Western approaches in complex conflict settings.

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Why is it important?

I show how Turkish and Qatari humanitarian NGOs navigate access, legitimacy, and influence in one of the world’s most complex aid environments. By moving beyond Western-centric models, I highlight how non-Western actors operationalize humanitarian principles through distinct organizational roles and negotiation strategies. Overall, my findings deepen our understanding of humanitarian diplomacy as it is practiced on the ground, not just as a normative ideal.