Chapter Four - HAP International

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The 2008 Humanitarian Accountability Report 16. Oxfam GB This account of the Oxfam <strong>International</strong> Relief Project in Bao Yen seeks to highlight Oxfam’s work on its four dimensions (“transparency, participation, learning and evaluation, and feedback mechanisms”) and that increased accountability “will be achieved and demonstrated through respectful and responsible attitudes, appropriate systems and strong leadership”. Leadership is key “That’s just my idea, you can change it.” (Humanitarian Project Coordinator’s comment to national staff when discussing possible next steps for the project.) The current Humanitarian Project Coordinator (HPC) in Vietnam has worked to reinforce the accountability of OI’s humanitarian responses in the country since his arrival in 2002. Basic ideas on accountable ways of working have been included in internal trainings, and expectations as to the ways in which they should work are explained to staff during induction and at the start of any emergency response. Lessons have been learned by the HPC and OI staff over the years and relevant changes made in subsequent responses as a result. The HPC is responsible for projects in 5 different areas of Vietnam and spends up to 60% of his time in the field. In meetings with Vietnamese counterparts, from national level government bodies to villagers receiving OI assistance, he demonstrates how to be accountable: providing very detailed and clear information as briefings and in response to questions; actively inviting questions and feedback; asking for opinions and input into shaping the next steps that OI will take; encouraging community members and government staff to take on different responsibilities regarding the implementation of OI’s project; etc. How the HPC is supported in his work by OI leadership was not explored during this visit but maybe internally the issue could be discussed: • is the time the HPC spends in the field understood and valued, or is there pressure for him to spend more time in Hanoi? • is OI committed to working accountably even if this means emergency responses take longer to start? Plans with regard to: undertaking a baseline analysis, a certification audit, or mid term certification review Oxfam GB has conducted an accountability survey and a self-assessment for the SCHR peer review process, and has been using its Programme Accountability Matrix to assess current levels of accountability both within the agency as a whole and within country programmes in particular. We plan to build on these initiatives over the course of the next year in order to have a basis upon which to plan the next three years of accountability work. Summary / Other comments OGB has established the organisational commitment and intent, and the tools to improve our programme/downwards accountability. 2009 will be a year that OGB concentrates on mapping, in detail, the size of the task ahead and planning for a concerted push at all levels of the organisation in 2010. 107 132
THE 2008 HUMANITARIAN ACCOUNTABILITY REPORT 17. Save the Children UK Introductory comments: In 2008 Save the Children has worked towards: (a) strengthening understanding of accountability to beneficiaries in various levels of the agency; (b) building national level capacity in accountability to beneficiaries in several of 2008 programmes as permitted by the external and internal context; (c) integrating the concept of accountability to beneficiaries beyond humanitarian projects, to initiate a wider discussions across different departments of SCUK, as well as the Alliance through different agency-specific and interagency reviews, meetings; (d) standardizing M&E especially for emergencies to enable meta analysis through evaluations and regular monitoring of outputs at a global level through regular monitoring and reporting of progress towards outputs. This year has been remarkable for us, especially in relation to the Nargis response, where in a span of 10 months we achieved tangible results in building capacities, systems and experiences to ensure accountability to beneficiaries. We have tested and established different feedback mechanisms, and learned from our experiences by changing the programme focus to meet the needs of those affected by Nargis. We have made efforts to institutionalise learning from this experience, and have openly shared it with peer agencies. In 2008, we participated in different reviews that have looked at practices and experiences in accountability to beneficiaries, such as the SCHR Peer Review with CARE and ICRC in Haiti and Ivory Cost, as well as at the headquarters of peer agencies. As a DEC member agency, we went through a DEC Accountability Assessment. Based on findings from these reviews, we are strengthening accountability to beneficiaries in our preparedness and capacity building work. We have engaged the organisation, as well as other Save the Children Alliance Members in discussions on programme quality and accountability. We build upon our best practice and we recognise that there is more work to be done. We are entering the new year of 2009, prioritising on capacity building and streamlining accountability to our stakeholders in the way we work. Key goal for 2008 Achievements / challenges / lessons learned 2009 objectives 1. Institutional Commitment (Principles 1, 2 & 7) Understand accountability within the existing structures, systems and procedures: • Produce a first draft of a public Humanitarian Accountability Framework (HAF) with input from Head Office Emergencies Section, policy teams and country offices. • Select a region for further review and capacity building. • build in-house capacity within Emergencies Section Advisers and selected region country programme/s and with partners for improving accountability and operationalise HAF Achievements: • A policy discussion has been initiated, guided by a draft position paper outlining accountability to children. • We have used and tested the DEC accountability Framework in programme contexts together with the <strong>HAP</strong> standard to establish best practice. Our learning from Myanmar, Zimbabwe and other projects is being documented, and a formal review will analyse the learning component in 2009 April. • We have had multiple discussions on programme quality and accountability and have prioritized it as an area we are committed to improve in our strategy review. • Extend discussions on humanitarian accountability across different Alliance members, especially through M&E harmonisation processes. • Produce a “good enough” draft of humanitarian accountability commitments in project management cycle; look for one opportunity to test it. • Prepare a plan of action in relation with further operationalisation of the Humanitarian Accountability Commitments. 108 133
Page 1 and 2: THE 2008 HUMANITARIAN ACCOUNTABILIT
Page 43: THE 2008 HUMANITARIAN ACCOUNTABILIT

Chapter Four - HAP International

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?