Relief Groups Join Forces to Review Tsunami Efforts

Former President Bill Clinton announced last week that nine U.S. international aid groups will work together on a six-month review of ways to make global relief efforts more effective, drawing on lessons learned from the massive response to the South Asian tsunamis.

Mr. Clinton, who is the United Nations special envoy for tsunami recovery, said the groups will examine ways to ensure that charities provide the services that are most needed, coordinate well with each other, maintain high professional standards, strengthen the effectiveness of local organizations, and integrate human-rights principles into recovery work.

“It’s one thing to be honest about the way you spend your money, quite another to be effective, and quite another to be perceived to be effective by people you are trying to help,” said Mr. Clinton, who made the announcement at a conference here sponsored by InterAction, a coalition of 165 humanitarian and development aid groups.

The organizations that will oversee the review are the American Red Cross, CARE USA, International Medical Corps, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Plan USA, Refugees International, Save the Children, and World Vision.

Mr. Clinton invited other InterAction members to join the effort and said he would also ask European charities to get involved.

He said the review is needed to “keep faith with the affected communities” while finishing work that is still needed to rebuild countries devastated by the tsunamis. As special envoy, the former president has been promoting the idea of “building back better” — reconstruction that will help vulnerable areas better withstand future disasters.

Separately, InterAction announced that its chief executive, Mohammad Akhter, has resigned after about a year on the job.

“Dr. Akhter cited differences between his operating style and that of the board as the reason for his resignation,” said a statement issued by the group.

Before joining InterAction, Mr. Akhter was senior associate dean for public and international health in the College of Medicine at Howard University, in Washington. He declined to comment on his resignation.