Rethinking Global Collaboration to Drive Accountability to Affected People
CHS Alliance and ICVA (International Council of Voluntary Agencies) are committed to uniting our global networks to spark the system shift needed to create a more accountable and equitable system for people in crisis.
As part of this, we have been consulting with our members and partners to hear perspectives on how to enhance local-to-global accountability in the humanitarian sector. A survey, “Repositioning the Revolution,” sought to gather diverse views on fostering a more accountable system.
Key Survey Findings:
- Engagement in Humanitarian Discussions
- Over half of the respondents (53.09%) frequently engage with other organisations to discuss the centrality of people in humanitarian assistance, highlighting a strong interest in collaborative efforts.
- Motivations for Collaboration
- Participants identified key motivations for connecting with others, including influencing policy or practice (71.60%), learning about other organisations’ work (79.01%), and sharing experiences (65.43%).
- Barriers to Engagement
- The barriers to collaborative efforts were a lack of time (46.91%) and the perception that discussions were too theoretical (45.33%).
- Encouraging Collaboration
- Respondents indicated that opportunities to link into global conversations (46.91%) and connect with others in closer geographical regions (44.44%) would encourage greater engagement.
- Effective Information Sharing
- A majority of participants (87.65%) believe that sharing information on Accountability to Affected People (AAP) works best when it brings together a diverse range of organisations, ensuring that local and national actors, donors, UN, INGOs, Think Tanks and others all have a say.
- Creating Change for Greater Accountability
- The most impactful actions for enhancing accountability include ensuring the voices of affected people are heard at coordination meetings (81.48%) and stronger leadership and focus on AAP within humanitarian coordination (72.84%).
The survey results indicate a strong desire for more effective collaboration in the humanitarian sector, particularly in enhancing accountability and representation. However, more thinking needs to be given to how best to do this and where are the opportunities to broaden connections.
To go deeper into what should happen next, ICVA and CHS Alliance convened a workshop of local, national, and international humanitarian actors to consider what needs to change in terms of local and global collaboration to achieve a more accountable and equitable system for people in crisis.
The gathered experts took stock of progress to date (including successes, failures from which to learn, gaps, and barriers to success) and identified ideas to be taken forward.
Participants defined a long-term vision to refocus efforts to truly shift power to people affected by crisis so their rights and dignity are respected and to ensure greater accountability of humanitarian responders. They identified next steps to achieve that vision, including engaging others. The outcomes of the workshop can be read here.
The CHS Alliance’s AAP Community of Practice will continue to consider how to maintain the momentum on these findings, while ensuring these views get the attention of the incoming UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and the IASC Principals.
If you’re a CHS Alliance member, join the AAP CoP.