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What a difference accountability makes

Across the humanitarian and development sectors, aid agency accountability to populations affected by crises has been significantly strengthened in recent years. However, robust evidence about the contribution that accountability mechanisms actually make to project quality has so far been scarce.

A new report by Christian Aid, the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) and Save the Children UK for the first time provides concrete evidence of the way accountability mechanisms improve the effectiveness, relevance and sustainability of humanitarian and development aid.

The report also offers a tried and tested methodology for agencies to adopt in order to increase the evidence base around accountability practices with a view to improving impact across the sector.

To celebrate HAP’s 10th anniversary, the 2013 edition of the report reviews progress made over the past decade and presents innovations the sector has adopted to make itself more accountable to people affected by disaster or conflict.

“Whilst much progress has demonstrably been made,” said Robert Sweatman, Head of Performance and Accountability at the British Red Cross, “the fact that, ‘after 10 years disaster-affected communities continue to raise the same questions and criticisms time and time again’ is a salutary challenge.”

For Héloïse Heyer, Quality and Effectiveness Advisor at Coordination SUD (Solidarité, Urgence, Développement), the report “is a timely reminder of the risks of sometimes dealing with the issue of accountability in too technocratic and de-politicised ways” as well as of the need “to question our own practices and look for ways to do better”.

The 2013 Humanitarian Accountability Report was launched in the context of the  in Geneva on 27 June.

  • Download the Improving impact report. 
  • Download the 2013 Humanitarian Accountability Report.