Get support

The founders of HAP envisioned a humanitarian system that champions the rights and dignity of disaster survivors. The partnership was formed in 2003 to “make humanitarian action accountable to intended benefi ciaries through self-regulation and compliance verifi cation.”

HAP published its fi rst Humanitarian Accountability Report in May 2006, intended as a ‘progress report’ on accountability and quality management across the humanitarian sector in 2005. The study found that the sector widely acknowledged a humanitarian accountability defi cit; that many relief agencies and donors worked through initiatives to improve quality and accountability; and that some agencies developed accountable practices. It also noted that overall accountability to benefi ciaries was perceived as weak, and that evidence of progress was patchy.

The humanitarian community, during 2006, continued to respond to disasters and conflicts, assisting millions of people worldwide. The community also began implementing the UN-led humanitarian reform programme, contemplated fi ndings from in-depth multi-stakeholder studies of the December 2005 Asian tsunami response, and worked collaboratively to address long-standing weaknesses and challenges.

What progress was detectable in the accountability and quality of humanitarian action during 2006? What evidence was there of better accountability in practice, or otherwise? What progress could be expected in 2007?