| Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International | |
|---|---|
| Motto | “making humanitarian action accountable to beneficiaries” |
| Formation | 2003 |
| Legal status | Non-profit organization |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Website | www.hapinternational.org |
Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International (HAP International) is the humanitarian sector's first international self-regulatory body, working towards the promotion of "Humanitarian Accountability". Its work is based on the findings of the Humanitarian Accountability Project, the 2001 inter-agency action research initiative, as well as the Joint Evaluation of the International Response to the Genocide in Rwanda.[1][2] HAP International is involved in identifying, testing and recommending alternative accountability approaches and mechanisms, and “is dedicated to making humanitarian action accountable to its intended beneficiaries: those people whose lives are at risk due to armed conflict or other calamitous events.” [3]
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HAP International, along with other Quality and Accountability Initiatives,[4] has been key in defining the concept of "Humanitarian Accountability", which has been much debated by the international humanitarian community. There is a focus on two principles and mechanisms: those by which individuals, organizations and States account for their actions and are held responsible for them, and those by which they may safely and legitimately report concerns, complaints and get redress where appropriate.[5][6] The simple definition of accountability in a general sense is the responsible use of power, while “accountability in humanitarian situations means that the power to help in situations of conflict and disaster is exercised responsibly.[7] When implemented, it means that survivors of war or disaster are able to influence decisions about the help they receive and can complain if they feel the “helping power” was not exercised well.” [8][9]
On the 7th of October 2008 during a UNHCR Executive Committee meeting, British International Development Minister, Gareth Thomas, highlighted the achievements being made across the sector and commended all humanitarian agencies for the vital role they play in saving lives and assisting the world’s most vulnerable.
Mr. Thomas added, however, I also want to challenge anyone who thinks the task of reform is complete. It isn’t. Yes - we have come a long way. But we have much further to go. He went on to say that there were, in his view, five “key elements essential for improving the international humanitarian response – and finishing the job we started in 2004”, including greater accountability. It is here that Mr Thomas argues that:
Agencies urgently need to put in place standardised monitoring arrangements. And where accountability mechanisms already exist - such as the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International – we must use them more systematically. (emphasis added)[10]
The 2008 Humanitarian Accountability Report,[11] published by HAP International, this year's Humanitarian Accountability Report reviews the progress made towards strengthening accountability norms and practices in the humanitarian sector, including an overview of Humanitarian Accountability in 2008 by John Borton. The report also provides detail findings of our annual perceptions of humanitarian accountability survey, our self-assessment of progress made against the 2008 work plan, and accountability reports by HAP members. Humanitarian Accountability Reports for 2007, 2006, and 2005 are also available on the HAP International website.
Accountability in humanitarian situations means that the power to help in situations of conflict and disaster is exercised responsibly. When implemented, it means that survivors of war or disaster are able to influence decisions about the help they receive and can complain if they feel the “helping power” was not exercised well.
The special features of humanitarian work makes accountability particularly important:
Acute needs People who have survived conflict or a natural disaster often have acute needs. Frequently, they have been displaced from their homes and lack their usual economic, social or psychological support systems.
Lack of choice, lack of competition Normally, recipients of humanitarian aid cannot 'choose' between relief providers. So they cannot signal they are unhappy with a service by going to another provider, like consumers in competitive retail markets.
Lack of voice Disaster survivors usually lack access to formal procedures for participating in decisions about assistance. Traditional governance structures are likely to be extremely strained by the disaster or conflict, if they have survived at all, and (until recently) relief agencies did not include participation and complaints systems in their programs.
Donor-survivor disconnect Moreover, the people whose choices do influence relief agencies – donor governments and their citizens – are not consumers of humanitarian aid. Therefore, they may not be in as good as position as survivors to judge whether the aid was helpful.
Life and death decisions Finally, in humanitarian situations, the consequences of decisions can be particularly severe. For example, a person’s decision to queue in a food distribution (rather than forage or seek help through private networks) may be a gamble with life or death, if the agency has underestimated the amount of food needed to go around.
Working with its partners, disaster survivors and others, HAP-International produced the HAP 2007 Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management. This certification scheme aims to provide assurance that certified agencies are managing the quality of their humanitarian actions in accordance with the HAP standard.[12] In practical terms, a HAP certification (which is valid for three years) means providing external auditors with access to the organization’s mission statement, accounts and control systems, providing for greater transparency in operations and overall accountability.[9][13]
As described by HAP-International, the HAP 2007 Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management is a quality assurance tool for humanitarian organizations. By comparing an organization's processes, policies and products to the Standard's six benchmarks, it is possible to measure how well the organization assures quality and accountability in its humanitarian work. Agencies that comply with the Standard:
An agency certified against the HAP Standard means that it has been examined and tested through a formal third party independent system against the benchmarks and requirements contained within the HAP Standard and found to be in compliance.[15]
The audit verification process includes:
HAP certification allows agencies to demonstrate their achievements in accountability and quality management in a process developed and recognised by humanitarian peers. It is a commitment - voluntarily made - of the centrality of beneficiaries to an agency's humanitarian work.[16][17]
HAP-International takes a number of measures to raise public awareness of the importance of "Humanitarian Accountability". In addition to HAP-International's website, a discussion forum is maintained on Facebook, addressing topical issues in relation to humanitarian accountability.
The humanitarian community has initiated a number of inter-agency initiatives to improve accountability, quality and performance in humanitarian responses. The four most widely known initiatives are ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and performance in Humanitarian Action), People in Aid, Sphere Project and HAP International. In 2003 these four organisations came together in order to share common issues and harmonise activities where possible. Since 2006 they have been joined by Coordination SUD (Solidarité, Urgance, Développement), Groupe URD (Urgance Réhabilitation Développement) and the ECB Project (Emergency Capacity Building Project).
Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian staff is the most eggregious result when organizations fail to be accountable to beneficiaries of humanitarian aid. In an emergency where victims have lost everything, women and girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse.
The Building Safer Organisations project, which aims to develop the capacity of NGOs "to receive and investigate allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse brought by persons of concern—including refugees, displaced persons and local host populations"[18] merged with HAP in 2007.
In June 2008 HAP published a report examining the issues related to lodging complaints by beneficiaries of humanitarian aid.[19]
HAP has 43 full members and 13 associate members from over 20 countries.[20]
In 2008 the work of HAP is supported by core funding and grants from AusAID (Australia), Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (USA), The Danish International Development Agency (Denmark), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ireland), The Ford Foundation (USA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (The Netherlands), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway), Humanitarian Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway), OAK Foundation (Switzerland), The Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USA), The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sweden), DFID: Department for International Development (UK), OXFAM Great Britain. Field support funding for the period of 2007- 2008 has come from: CAFOD, CARE Bangladesh, CARE International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide Bangladesh, CWS, DanChurchAid, Muslim Aid UK, Oxfam GB Bangladesh Program, Save the Children UK in Bangladesh, Tearfund UK, World Vision Bangladesh and World Vision International.