Two steps forward one step back?
An independent review of progress achieved in 2008 by the Geneva-based Human Accountability Partnership (HAP)...
towards a system that championed the rights and dignity of disaster survivors (see also Nicholas Stockton's and Andrew Hind's viewpoint in Caritas, Issue 14, January 2009) has found evidence of progress.
John Borton, the consultant who conducted the analysis in HAP’s 2008 Humanitarian Report confirmed that: ‘By championing accountability, by providing a comprehensive and rigorous method for improving accountability and by supporting accountability efforts in ongoing operations, and by demonstrating the applicability and value of the standard and the certification scheme to a wide range of international and national agencies, HAP is playing a central role in carrying the accountability agenda forward’.
However, Borton has pointed out that the review has highlighted the scale of the humanitarian challenge. ‘The tenacity of sexual abuse and exploitation in the humanitarian aid system, due in large part to the massive underreporting by those affected is clear’. He also remarks on the ‘deep seated reluctance by organisations, professions and individuals to view beneficiaries as being at the core of accountability, and the emergence of different accountability frameworks and approachcs with the potential for creating confusion and competition’ as being areas and issues for concern.
The second chapter of the report comprised the fourth annual survey of perceptions of humanitarian accountability which yielded 650 responses. Participants ranged from donors to senior managers based at head office to field site staff. The findings indicated a growing optimism about improved accountability practices towards disaster survivors as well as recognition there was a long way to go.
Executive Director Nicholas Stockton told Caritas:
‘Top-down project management of the "we know what is best for you" variety is still the dominant management paradigm within the aid industry, in spite of all the talk about participation. But new web-based technology and growing awareness of the serious risks of corruption and inefficiency associated with these old fashioned approaches are driving many agencies to strengthen their programme quality assurance systems. Fast growing demand for certification against HAP's Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management provides evidence that the industry is at last changing for the better. The majority of the DEC's members (the UK's leading relief agencies) are now enrolled in the HAP certification scheme.’
www.hapinternational.org/pool/files/2008-humanitarian-accountability-report.pdf
Author: Clarissa Dann
Clarissa Dann was the editor of Caritas as well as an HR and management online service,he People Bulletin until July 2011.
She is now the editor of the specialist trade finance magazine, Trade and Forfaiting Review which can be viewed at www.tfreview.com but does write on charity finance and investment from time to time.
Clarissa has a background in legal and professional publishing, as well as business journalism and holds an MBA from
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