Dear All
Please find below details we have just received of another event taking place in London in March.
Many thanks
Laura
--
HPN Network Paper Launch Meeting - 'Accountability in Humanitarian Action'
Monday 19 March 2007 13.00-14.30 pm, Overseas Development Institute, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London
One of the most frequently heard criticisms of humanitarian action is that it is unaccountable and unregulated. In response, a wide range of initiatives has been launched to improve quality and accountability. The Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) invites you to a meeting to discuss the findings of HPN Network Paper 58, Concerning accountability in humanitarian action.
The paper by Austen Davis asks whether schemes designed to improve accountability really are the solution to the problems humanitarianism faces today. It proposes a more productive route for reform to ensure the conditions for building and maintaining authentic NGOs with a sense of mission, detailed internal accountabilities and open relations with the
general public and media.
Speaker: Austen Davis, former Director General of MSF Holland.
Moderator: Paul Harvey, Research Fellow, ODI.
Respondents to include:
* Nicholas Stockton, Executive Director, Humanitarian Accountability Project - International.
* John Mitchell, Head, Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP).
There will be time for informal discussion and networking after the meeting.
If you would like to attend, please send an email stating your name, organisation and contact details to: hpn@odi.org.uk
Monday, February 26, 2007
February
BRCS INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY BULLETIN
Bulletin on International Humanitarian News, Events and Publications
(2007:2, February)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
BRCS International Monthly Seminar Programme
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
March 29th 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
The Politicisation of Humanitarian Action - Medecins Sans Frontieres
April 26th 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
The Humanitarian Impact of Climate Change - Andrew Simms, New Economics Foundation (TBC)
May 31st 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment - a tool for the RC - Terry Cannon, University of Greenwich
Full seminar programme forthcoming!
Suggestions for topics and speakers for these or future seminars are very welcome - please contact Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
------------------------------------------------------
NEWS
-------
HAP 2007 Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management adopted 30.01.07
After six years of research and consultations, the Standard is intended to exemplify quality management as "just a practical means through which continual improvements can be made in the accountability and effectiveness of humanitarian work" (Denis Caillaux, the Chair of the Board). It consists of principles of accountability, a binding humanitarian accountability covenant drawing on RC/RC fundamental principles, and benchmarks for quality management. A voluntary certification scheme will soon be launched, recognising effective humanitarian quality management systems.
The Standard and more information available at http://www.hapinternational.org/en/
--
Director of ODI sets out a 2007 global development agenda dominated by politics - but where is climate change?
The challenges of poverty, aid, trade, politics and human security will make 2007 a tough year, says Simon Maxwell, ODI Director, as in the aids and development sector itself '… [a]ttention will begin to focus on glaring and growing inequality between rich and poor, in a conversation dominated by ideas of social justice rather than the eradication of absolute poverty.'
Read and comment at: http://blogs.odi.org.uk/blogs/main/archive/2006/12/22/1432.aspx
------------------------------------------------------
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
-----------------------------
Launch of the inTERRAgate online global hazard database, Grange City Hotel, London, on Thursday, March 22nd.
Developed by the Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre and SARAID, and with financial support from UCL Futures, inTERRAgate is primarily designed to raise awareness of natural hazards that may lead to future disasters, thereby improving the preparedness and responses of humanitarian agencies and other first responders. InTERRAgate includes a hazard profile for each country, together with information on past events and future threats, and opportunities to upload your own contributions to the database. At present the site has basic hazard data on just 10 countries that are particularly hazard prone, although ultimately every country will be represented. InTERRAgate will be test-launched a few weeks before the formal launch, and in the meantime you can view flyers and elements of the site at: http://www.s176613701.websitehome.co.uk. Please note that this address may not always function due to continuing work on the site in the run-up to the launch.
--
Conference, 'Better Water for a Better Life'.
Wednesday 7 March, 16.00 to 18.00, Grimond Room, Portcullis House, Bridge Street, London SW1A 2LW.
Speakers: Gareth Thomas MP (DFID Minister), Norah Odwesso (Diageo Africa). Chair: Malcolm Bruce MP (Chair, International Development Committee). Due to a limited number of conference places please RSVP to Josephine Osikena, e-mail, josephine.osikena@fpc.org.uk or tel:
0207 729 7566.
--
Panel: Women and Men Preventing HIV & AIDS - Issues, Inequalities and Solutions'
08 March 2007, 3-5pm
Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster, London
ActionAid, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the All Party Parliamentary Groups on AIDS, and Population, Development and Reproductive Health present a panel and market place. Speakers include Mary Wandia (ActionAid International), Grace Mukasa (VSO) and a special guest from the documentary on PEPFAR presented by IPPF. Chair: Lord Chris Smith. The event is free, but you must RSVP to Aviva Bresky at breskya@parliament.uk or on 0207 219 6916.
NB - Cathy Stephen (NSSP PA) will be attending this event and reporting back.
--
Panel discussion: Women's Rights in the Age of Insecurity
08 March 2007, 6-9pm
The Library, Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate, London
While global politics today is dominated by the War on Terror, the growth of fundamentalisms - economic, political, cultural and religious - is undermining progress towards women's rights. Governments worldwide have committed to ending discrimination and promoting women's rights. How can we hold them to account to enable women to claim their rights and escape from poverty? Speakers include Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for International Development and Noerine Kaleeba, HIV/AIDS Activist and Chair of ActionAid International.
Places are free, but you must RSVP to policyandcampaigns@actionaid.org, or by calling Labina Basit on 020 7561 7611.
--
DfID Launch of recent IDS Publications on Sexuality
Monday 19 March, 11.30 to 13.00 at DFID, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE.
Featuring brief presentations by: Sonia Correa (International Sexuality Policy Watch, Brazil), Pinar Ilkkaracan (Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies, Susie Jolly and Andrea Cornwall (IDS). Coffee will be available from 11.00, and a buffet lunch will follow.
RSVP to Elaine Mercer on E.Mercer@ids.ac.uk Please reply by 12 March if possible.
--
HIV/AIDS and other Infectious Diseases: lessons for a global future
Facilitated by Tony Barnett & Alan Whiteside
17-19 April 2007 at the London School of Economics
This is the latest in the global series of workshops on the social and economic implications of the HIV/AIDS epidemic facilitated by Professors Barnett & Whiteside. The main focus will be on HIV/AIDS, but the substance of the workshop will draw on a wider concern with infectious diseases. The HIV epidemic teaches us important lessons for thinking about long term social and economic effects of epidemic infectious diseases in general. The fee for this three day workshop is £1200 which included tea/coffee and lunches. Please enquire for further information. To apply for a place on this workshop, go to: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEAIDS/events/HIVAIDS%20Workshop%20Dec%202006.doc
or email us at Lseaids@lse.ac.uk
------------------------------------------------------
PUBLICATIONS
------------------
ODI Discussion Paper - Learning from cash responses to the tsunami: Final report by Lesley Adams.
This report by the Tsunami Cash Learning Project (http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/Cash_vouchers_tsunani.html) follows an earlier piece of Humanitarian Policy Group research by Paul Harvey on emergency cash transfers (http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/papers/cash_discussion_paper.pdf). It sets out to record the experiences of agencies implementing cash-based interventions, and their results, and to develop guidelines for future emergency cash interventions. The project covers tsunami interventions in Aceh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.
http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/papers/BGP_Tsunamilessons.pdf
--
Humanitarian Exchange Magazine 36
The articles in this issue of Humanitarian Exchange investigate key issues of concern for the IDPs of Northern Uganda, including protection and livelihoods, to inform strategy development in response to this changing context. This edition also includes a range of general policy and practice articles. It looks at different approaches and methodologies for assessing and planning for food security, health and psychosocial interventions, the role of information technology in coordinating and planning humanitarian action, new thinking about the return and reintegration of refugees and issues around effectiveness, accountability and inter-agency collaboration.
http://www.odihpn.org/documents/humanitarianexchange036.pdf
--
UN Security Guidelines for Women
UN DSS has developed guidelines related to UN female staff, as a result of a specific requests from women who wanted tips to deal with security issues as the relate to women. The guidelines consist of three parts; travel in a foreign country, sexual harassment and rape awareness. Much of the material applies to both men and women, and copies are available from SCHR.
--
Self-study tool on UN-Civil Military Coordination
Developed by OCHA 'to reinforce aspects of civil-military coordination from a humanitarian perspective', this self-study tool, called 'UN-CMCoord IMPACT', can be downloaded and burnt to CD-ROM from http://ocha.unog.ch/uncmcoord/.
--
Debating NGO Accountability by Dr. Jem Bendell
In the context of the current debates around NGO accountability, we need to ask what initiatives will improve the accountability of all institutions to the people whose lives they shape, and what initiatives could serve merely to undermine NGOs' useful and largely accepted role in holding business and government accountable for their actions. With this in mind, this new Development Dossier from NGLS puts democracy and human rights firmly at the centre of the debate about NGO accountability. The publication is available for free download from http://www.un-ngls.org.
--
IDS Policy Briefing December 2006 - Making Accountability Count
Accountability is now a buzzword in contemporary development debates. It is central to development policy, whether government accountability (as a central component of good governance), corporate accountability (promoted by a swathe of standards and codes), or civil society accountability (claimed by people and organisations from the bottom up). Yet with so many competing ideas, interpretations and practices, it is sometimes unclear how improved accountability is directly relevant to the lives of poor and marginalised people. In order to build accountable institutions that respond to claims by citizens, it is crucial to understand how accountability matters, for whom, and under what conditions it operates. This Policy Briefing looks at who benefits from improved accountability and focuses on how people claim accountability in practice.
http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/briefs/PB33.pdf
--
Impact Measurement and Accountability in Emergencies: The Good Enough Guide
Developed by the Emergency Capacity Building Project (ECB).
What difference are we making? How do we know? The Good Enough Guide helps busy field workers to address these questions. It offers a set of basic guidelines on how to be accountable to local people and measure programme impact in emergency situations. Its 'good enough' approach emphasises simple and practical solutions and encourages the user to choose tools that are safe, quick, and easy to implement.
http://publications.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam/display.asp?K=_2006111410173391
--
We're Too Much in 'To Do' Mode: Action Research into Supporting International NGOs to Learn, by Maaike Smit
International development organisations are continually urged to do things better by learning more from their experiences. For this, organisational learning is crucial. But developing organisational learning capacity does not just happen: it requires a conscious effort, which at its core involves jointly making sense of experiences. This Praxis Paper, written by Maaike Smit of PSO, explores how action research, in which the researcher and respondents in an organisation jointly make sense of their organisational learning, can be a worthwhile way to support organisational learning. The paper concludes with practical implications for those involved in organisational learning processes in international development organisations: learners, managers, consultants and researchers.
Paper available for download from http://www.intrac.org/pages/PraxisPaper16.html.
--
Food Security in Southern Africa: Changing the trend? Review of lessons learnt on recent responses to chronic and transitory hunger and vulnerability. - Nick Maunder and Steve Wiggins, November 2006.
Commissioned jointly by OGB, Care, WVI and RHVP to benchmark progress in understanding and appropriately responding to, transitory and chronic food security in Southern Africa since 2001. It assesses the changes in the understanding of the problem, how this has been incorporated into policy, and how programming has subsequently changed in relation to these latter two points. Overall, although now accepted that the majority suffer chronic hunger, the transitory needs associated with drought and other climatic triggers continue to demand the most immediate and urgent action with little change in dominance of use of large scale food aid due to donor reluctance, lack of capacity, and lack of evidence of impact of alternative livelihoods support. Despite this continued focus on relief, interest in social protection with aim to achieve greater impact on chronic hunger has increased. Also increased interest in disaster risk reduction, although in practise there is still a long way to go in terms of integration into national policies and development programming.
http://newsite.irinnews.org/pdf/Changing-the-trend-FINAL-report-jan-29-2007.pdf
--
BRIDGE Bibliography 18: Women and girls living with HIV/AIDS - overview and annotated bibliography
Emily Esplen, Prepared in collaboration with the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW)
Available for download from http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/reports/BB18_HIV.pdf
------------------------------------------------------
NEW PUBLICATIONS in the BRCS LIBRARY
Pick these up at the library (6th floor) or by contacting Bridget Andrews, Librarian (x7056)
------------------------------------------------
Positive lives : international responses to HIV & AIDS (Concern, 2006)
Positive Lives is an international project that photographs and documents the social and emotional impact of HIV/AIDS and works with local HIV organisations and international aid agencies to incorporate this resource into health and education programmes. This book contains images from around the world, with accompanying text, showing the lives of HIV positive people in different communities. Shelfmark: 4.11 POS
--
Humanitarian intervention : ethical, legal and political dilemmas / edited by J.L. Holzgrefe and Robert O. Keohane (Cambridge University Press, 2003)
Essays analysing humanitarian intervention in the context of state failure in many parts of the world, looking at fundamental issues of moral theory, processes of change in international law, and how conceptions of sovereignty are shifting as a result of changes in norms of human rights. Shelfmark: 11.5 HUM
--
Civilians in war / edited by Simon Chesterman (Lynne Rienner, 2001)
This book looks at international humanitarian law as it applies to the protection of non-combatants. It covers the context of evolving attitudes about civilians and belligerents; inducing compliance, including a case study of the ICRC work in Colombia; a discussion of how compliance can be enforced, and the issues around reevaluating the protection of civilians in the context of modern armed conflict. Shelfmark: 2.2 CIV
--
The place at the end of the world : essays from the edge / Janine di Giovanni (Bloomsbury, 2006)
A collection of pieces illustrating the lives of people in conflict areas by the foreign correspondent Janine di Giovanni, written between 1998 and 2005. Shelfmark: 3.23 DIG
--
States of denial : knowing about atrocities and suffering / Stanley Cohen (Polity press, 2001)
"Study of both the personal and political ways in which uncomfortable realities are avoided and evaded. It ranges from clinical studies of depression, to media images of suffering, to explanations of the 'passive bystander' and 'compassion fatigue'. The book show how organised atrocities - the Holocaust and other genocides, torture, and political massacres - are denied by perpetrators and by bystanders". Shelfmark: 13.4 COH
--
The new interventionism 1991-1994 : United Nations experience in Cambodia, former Yugoslavia and Somalia / edited by James Mayall (Cambridge University Press, 1996)
This book considers the reasons for the failure of the 'new world order' envisaged at the end of the Cold War by looking at the challenges faced by the international community in three major UN operations: the implementation of a previously negotiated political agreement in Cambodia, the need to devise a credible division of labour between the UN and the EU in former Yugoslavia, and the operation in Somalia to mount a humanitarian mission in a country without a government. In each case the authors look at common themes as well as contrasts and raise questions about the possibilities for and limits of international reform. Shelfmark: 11.5 NEW
--
Saving strangers : humanitarian intervention in international society / Nicholas J. Wheeler (Oxford University Press, 2002)
This book considers the extent to which humanitarian intervention has become a legitimate practice in international society. The author examines the legitimacy of intervention in seven cold-war and post-cold-war cases. The conclusion is that while unilateral humanitarian intervention continues to be viewed with great suspicion by international society, it can support a new solidarity among states based on reconciling the imperatives of order and justice. Shelfmark: 11.5 WHE
------------------------------------------------------
Contribute to this bulletin by e-mailing submissions and feedback to Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
Bulletin on International Humanitarian News, Events and Publications
(2007:2, February)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
BRCS International Monthly Seminar Programme
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
March 29th 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
The Politicisation of Humanitarian Action - Medecins Sans Frontieres
April 26th 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
The Humanitarian Impact of Climate Change - Andrew Simms, New Economics Foundation (TBC)
May 31st 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment - a tool for the RC - Terry Cannon, University of Greenwich
Full seminar programme forthcoming!
Suggestions for topics and speakers for these or future seminars are very welcome - please contact Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
------------------------------------------------------
NEWS
-------
HAP 2007 Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management adopted 30.01.07
After six years of research and consultations, the Standard is intended to exemplify quality management as "just a practical means through which continual improvements can be made in the accountability and effectiveness of humanitarian work" (Denis Caillaux, the Chair of the Board). It consists of principles of accountability, a binding humanitarian accountability covenant drawing on RC/RC fundamental principles, and benchmarks for quality management. A voluntary certification scheme will soon be launched, recognising effective humanitarian quality management systems.
The Standard and more information available at http://www.hapinternational.org/en/
--
Director of ODI sets out a 2007 global development agenda dominated by politics - but where is climate change?
The challenges of poverty, aid, trade, politics and human security will make 2007 a tough year, says Simon Maxwell, ODI Director, as in the aids and development sector itself '… [a]ttention will begin to focus on glaring and growing inequality between rich and poor, in a conversation dominated by ideas of social justice rather than the eradication of absolute poverty.'
Read and comment at: http://blogs.odi.org.uk/blogs/main/archive/2006/12/22/1432.aspx
------------------------------------------------------
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
-----------------------------
Launch of the inTERRAgate online global hazard database, Grange City Hotel, London, on Thursday, March 22nd.
Developed by the Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre and SARAID, and with financial support from UCL Futures, inTERRAgate is primarily designed to raise awareness of natural hazards that may lead to future disasters, thereby improving the preparedness and responses of humanitarian agencies and other first responders. InTERRAgate includes a hazard profile for each country, together with information on past events and future threats, and opportunities to upload your own contributions to the database. At present the site has basic hazard data on just 10 countries that are particularly hazard prone, although ultimately every country will be represented. InTERRAgate will be test-launched a few weeks before the formal launch, and in the meantime you can view flyers and elements of the site at: http://www.s176613701.websitehome.co.uk. Please note that this address may not always function due to continuing work on the site in the run-up to the launch.
--
Conference, 'Better Water for a Better Life'.
Wednesday 7 March, 16.00 to 18.00, Grimond Room, Portcullis House, Bridge Street, London SW1A 2LW.
Speakers: Gareth Thomas MP (DFID Minister), Norah Odwesso (Diageo Africa). Chair: Malcolm Bruce MP (Chair, International Development Committee). Due to a limited number of conference places please RSVP to Josephine Osikena, e-mail, josephine.osikena@fpc.org.uk or tel:
0207 729 7566.
--
Panel: Women and Men Preventing HIV & AIDS - Issues, Inequalities and Solutions'
08 March 2007, 3-5pm
Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Westminster, London
ActionAid, Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the All Party Parliamentary Groups on AIDS, and Population, Development and Reproductive Health present a panel and market place. Speakers include Mary Wandia (ActionAid International), Grace Mukasa (VSO) and a special guest from the documentary on PEPFAR presented by IPPF. Chair: Lord Chris Smith. The event is free, but you must RSVP to Aviva Bresky at breskya@parliament.uk or on 0207 219 6916.
NB - Cathy Stephen (NSSP PA) will be attending this event and reporting back.
--
Panel discussion: Women's Rights in the Age of Insecurity
08 March 2007, 6-9pm
The Library, Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate, London
While global politics today is dominated by the War on Terror, the growth of fundamentalisms - economic, political, cultural and religious - is undermining progress towards women's rights. Governments worldwide have committed to ending discrimination and promoting women's rights. How can we hold them to account to enable women to claim their rights and escape from poverty? Speakers include Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for International Development and Noerine Kaleeba, HIV/AIDS Activist and Chair of ActionAid International.
Places are free, but you must RSVP to policyandcampaigns@actionaid.org, or by calling Labina Basit on 020 7561 7611.
--
DfID Launch of recent IDS Publications on Sexuality
Monday 19 March, 11.30 to 13.00 at DFID, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE.
Featuring brief presentations by: Sonia Correa (International Sexuality Policy Watch, Brazil), Pinar Ilkkaracan (Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies, Susie Jolly and Andrea Cornwall (IDS). Coffee will be available from 11.00, and a buffet lunch will follow.
RSVP to Elaine Mercer on E.Mercer@ids.ac.uk Please reply by 12 March if possible.
--
HIV/AIDS and other Infectious Diseases: lessons for a global future
Facilitated by Tony Barnett & Alan Whiteside
17-19 April 2007 at the London School of Economics
This is the latest in the global series of workshops on the social and economic implications of the HIV/AIDS epidemic facilitated by Professors Barnett & Whiteside. The main focus will be on HIV/AIDS, but the substance of the workshop will draw on a wider concern with infectious diseases. The HIV epidemic teaches us important lessons for thinking about long term social and economic effects of epidemic infectious diseases in general. The fee for this three day workshop is £1200 which included tea/coffee and lunches. Please enquire for further information. To apply for a place on this workshop, go to: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/LSEAIDS/events/HIVAIDS%20Workshop%20Dec%202006.doc
or email us at Lseaids@lse.ac.uk
------------------------------------------------------
PUBLICATIONS
------------------
ODI Discussion Paper - Learning from cash responses to the tsunami: Final report by Lesley Adams.
This report by the Tsunami Cash Learning Project (http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/Cash_vouchers_tsunani.html) follows an earlier piece of Humanitarian Policy Group research by Paul Harvey on emergency cash transfers (http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/papers/cash_discussion_paper.pdf). It sets out to record the experiences of agencies implementing cash-based interventions, and their results, and to develop guidelines for future emergency cash interventions. The project covers tsunami interventions in Aceh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.
http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/papers/BGP_Tsunamilessons.pdf
--
Humanitarian Exchange Magazine 36
The articles in this issue of Humanitarian Exchange investigate key issues of concern for the IDPs of Northern Uganda, including protection and livelihoods, to inform strategy development in response to this changing context. This edition also includes a range of general policy and practice articles. It looks at different approaches and methodologies for assessing and planning for food security, health and psychosocial interventions, the role of information technology in coordinating and planning humanitarian action, new thinking about the return and reintegration of refugees and issues around effectiveness, accountability and inter-agency collaboration.
http://www.odihpn.org/documents/humanitarianexchange036.pdf
--
UN Security Guidelines for Women
UN DSS has developed guidelines related to UN female staff, as a result of a specific requests from women who wanted tips to deal with security issues as the relate to women. The guidelines consist of three parts; travel in a foreign country, sexual harassment and rape awareness. Much of the material applies to both men and women, and copies are available from SCHR.
--
Self-study tool on UN-Civil Military Coordination
Developed by OCHA 'to reinforce aspects of civil-military coordination from a humanitarian perspective', this self-study tool, called 'UN-CMCoord IMPACT', can be downloaded and burnt to CD-ROM from http://ocha.unog.ch/uncmcoord/.
--
Debating NGO Accountability by Dr. Jem Bendell
In the context of the current debates around NGO accountability, we need to ask what initiatives will improve the accountability of all institutions to the people whose lives they shape, and what initiatives could serve merely to undermine NGOs' useful and largely accepted role in holding business and government accountable for their actions. With this in mind, this new Development Dossier from NGLS puts democracy and human rights firmly at the centre of the debate about NGO accountability. The publication is available for free download from http://www.un-ngls.org.
--
IDS Policy Briefing December 2006 - Making Accountability Count
Accountability is now a buzzword in contemporary development debates. It is central to development policy, whether government accountability (as a central component of good governance), corporate accountability (promoted by a swathe of standards and codes), or civil society accountability (claimed by people and organisations from the bottom up). Yet with so many competing ideas, interpretations and practices, it is sometimes unclear how improved accountability is directly relevant to the lives of poor and marginalised people. In order to build accountable institutions that respond to claims by citizens, it is crucial to understand how accountability matters, for whom, and under what conditions it operates. This Policy Briefing looks at who benefits from improved accountability and focuses on how people claim accountability in practice.
http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/bookshop/briefs/PB33.pdf
--
Impact Measurement and Accountability in Emergencies: The Good Enough Guide
Developed by the Emergency Capacity Building Project (ECB).
What difference are we making? How do we know? The Good Enough Guide helps busy field workers to address these questions. It offers a set of basic guidelines on how to be accountable to local people and measure programme impact in emergency situations. Its 'good enough' approach emphasises simple and practical solutions and encourages the user to choose tools that are safe, quick, and easy to implement.
http://publications.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam/display.asp?K=_2006111410173391
--
We're Too Much in 'To Do' Mode: Action Research into Supporting International NGOs to Learn, by Maaike Smit
International development organisations are continually urged to do things better by learning more from their experiences. For this, organisational learning is crucial. But developing organisational learning capacity does not just happen: it requires a conscious effort, which at its core involves jointly making sense of experiences. This Praxis Paper, written by Maaike Smit of PSO, explores how action research, in which the researcher and respondents in an organisation jointly make sense of their organisational learning, can be a worthwhile way to support organisational learning. The paper concludes with practical implications for those involved in organisational learning processes in international development organisations: learners, managers, consultants and researchers.
Paper available for download from http://www.intrac.org/pages/PraxisPaper16.html.
--
Food Security in Southern Africa: Changing the trend? Review of lessons learnt on recent responses to chronic and transitory hunger and vulnerability. - Nick Maunder and Steve Wiggins, November 2006.
Commissioned jointly by OGB, Care, WVI and RHVP to benchmark progress in understanding and appropriately responding to, transitory and chronic food security in Southern Africa since 2001. It assesses the changes in the understanding of the problem, how this has been incorporated into policy, and how programming has subsequently changed in relation to these latter two points. Overall, although now accepted that the majority suffer chronic hunger, the transitory needs associated with drought and other climatic triggers continue to demand the most immediate and urgent action with little change in dominance of use of large scale food aid due to donor reluctance, lack of capacity, and lack of evidence of impact of alternative livelihoods support. Despite this continued focus on relief, interest in social protection with aim to achieve greater impact on chronic hunger has increased. Also increased interest in disaster risk reduction, although in practise there is still a long way to go in terms of integration into national policies and development programming.
http://newsite.irinnews.org/pdf/Changing-the-trend-FINAL-report-jan-29-2007.pdf
--
BRIDGE Bibliography 18: Women and girls living with HIV/AIDS - overview and annotated bibliography
Emily Esplen, Prepared in collaboration with the International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (ICW)
Available for download from http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/reports/BB18_HIV.pdf
------------------------------------------------------
NEW PUBLICATIONS in the BRCS LIBRARY
Pick these up at the library (6th floor) or by contacting Bridget Andrews, Librarian (x7056)
------------------------------------------------
Positive lives : international responses to HIV & AIDS (Concern, 2006)
Positive Lives is an international project that photographs and documents the social and emotional impact of HIV/AIDS and works with local HIV organisations and international aid agencies to incorporate this resource into health and education programmes. This book contains images from around the world, with accompanying text, showing the lives of HIV positive people in different communities. Shelfmark: 4.11 POS
--
Humanitarian intervention : ethical, legal and political dilemmas / edited by J.L. Holzgrefe and Robert O. Keohane (Cambridge University Press, 2003)
Essays analysing humanitarian intervention in the context of state failure in many parts of the world, looking at fundamental issues of moral theory, processes of change in international law, and how conceptions of sovereignty are shifting as a result of changes in norms of human rights. Shelfmark: 11.5 HUM
--
Civilians in war / edited by Simon Chesterman (Lynne Rienner, 2001)
This book looks at international humanitarian law as it applies to the protection of non-combatants. It covers the context of evolving attitudes about civilians and belligerents; inducing compliance, including a case study of the ICRC work in Colombia; a discussion of how compliance can be enforced, and the issues around reevaluating the protection of civilians in the context of modern armed conflict. Shelfmark: 2.2 CIV
--
The place at the end of the world : essays from the edge / Janine di Giovanni (Bloomsbury, 2006)
A collection of pieces illustrating the lives of people in conflict areas by the foreign correspondent Janine di Giovanni, written between 1998 and 2005. Shelfmark: 3.23 DIG
--
States of denial : knowing about atrocities and suffering / Stanley Cohen (Polity press, 2001)
"Study of both the personal and political ways in which uncomfortable realities are avoided and evaded. It ranges from clinical studies of depression, to media images of suffering, to explanations of the 'passive bystander' and 'compassion fatigue'. The book show how organised atrocities - the Holocaust and other genocides, torture, and political massacres - are denied by perpetrators and by bystanders". Shelfmark: 13.4 COH
--
The new interventionism 1991-1994 : United Nations experience in Cambodia, former Yugoslavia and Somalia / edited by James Mayall (Cambridge University Press, 1996)
This book considers the reasons for the failure of the 'new world order' envisaged at the end of the Cold War by looking at the challenges faced by the international community in three major UN operations: the implementation of a previously negotiated political agreement in Cambodia, the need to devise a credible division of labour between the UN and the EU in former Yugoslavia, and the operation in Somalia to mount a humanitarian mission in a country without a government. In each case the authors look at common themes as well as contrasts and raise questions about the possibilities for and limits of international reform. Shelfmark: 11.5 NEW
--
Saving strangers : humanitarian intervention in international society / Nicholas J. Wheeler (Oxford University Press, 2002)
This book considers the extent to which humanitarian intervention has become a legitimate practice in international society. The author examines the legitimacy of intervention in seven cold-war and post-cold-war cases. The conclusion is that while unilateral humanitarian intervention continues to be viewed with great suspicion by international society, it can support a new solidarity among states based on reconciling the imperatives of order and justice. Shelfmark: 11.5 WHE
------------------------------------------------------
Contribute to this bulletin by e-mailing submissions and feedback to Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
Friday, January 19, 2007
January
BRCS INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY BULLETIN
Bulletin on International Humanitarian News, Events and Publications
(2007:1, January)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
BRCS International Monthly Seminars begin 25.01.07!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Challenge 2007 - Mainstreaming and Scaling-up HIV and AIDS response
Alyson Lewis & Catherine Mears
January 25th 2007, 1-2pm - Basement Room
Please join us to discuss:
- How do we mainstream HIV?
- How can we scale up our HIV response?
- How are we are going to operationalise our 2007 Divisional plans?
- What are the implications for the Division?
Future seminar dates:
--------------------------
February 22nd 2007, 1-2pm St. Pauls
Accountability of humanitarian organisations and NGOs - Global Accountability Project, OneWorld Trust (TBC)
March 29th 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
The Politicisation of Humanitarian Action - Medecins Sans Frontieres
Full seminar programme forthcoming!
Suggestions for topics and speakers for these or future seminars are very welcome - please contact Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
------------------------------------------------------
NEWS
-------
Jan Egeland's successor named
Sir John Holmes, FCO diplomat and outgoing UK Ambassador to France, has been appointed as Jan Egeland's Successor as Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/1564/2007/00/3-182150-1.htm
--
New Year, New Data
The Human Security Brief 2006 was launched in late December, presenting conflict trend data and analysis of trends in ending wars and organized violence against civilians. New data indicate that the trend of declining international conflict continues during 2002-5 from 66 to 56 armed conflicts, and that Sub-Saharan Africa sees the biggest decrease. On the other hand, organized violence against civilians and terrorist incidents has increased.
The Brief is online at http://www.humansecuritybrief.info/
--
Good Humanitarian Donorship examined
This HPG's December 2006 paper Good Humanitarian Donorship: Overcoming obstacles to improve collective donor performance by Sue Graves and Victoria Wheeler, HPG, considers how much efforts to provide guidance and measure performance through the GHD initiative have succeeded in overcoming common obstacles to implementation. The researchers have prepared an enhanced performance measurement framework, which aims to help clarify responsibilities and roles, strengthen guidance for donor staff and help monitoring and evaluation. The paper also makes recommendations for donors and humanitarian agencies to strengthen and improve overall engagement with GHD. Among other proposals GHD should adopt a performance measurement framework and clear indicators.
http://www.goodhumanitariandonorship.org/, http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/GHD.html
--
The Right to Know: The Challenge of Public Accountability in Aceh and Sri Lanka
The Office of the Special Envoy published a report on the role of information and transparency to the affected populations in late December. 'The Right to Know' reviews some of the challenges and best practices in providing access to information to tsunami-affected populations. It also gives some very concrete recommendations, relevant to both the tsunami recovery and future recovery efforts. It is available at www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org.
--
HIV terminology
Recent guidance has been published on what terms should be used in our HIV work please see http://data.unaids.org/pub//InformationNote/2006/EditorsNotes_en.pdf.
Following this UNAIDS recently published an article entitled "Words are not neutral against HIV" describing why words such as 'HIV positive' and 'People living with HIV' are gradually replacing other terms, such as 'AIDS sufferers' and 'victims of the disease'. It discusses why we are witnessing such a transformation, and what this means. See http://www.unaids.org/en/MediaCentre/PressMaterials/FeatureStory/HIVprevention.asp
--
Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) Website Relaunched
HPN has re-launched its website to improve dialogue, access to publications and site functionality. The network provides an independent forum for policy-makers, practitioners and others working in or on the humanitarian sector to share and disseminate information, analysis and experience.
http://www.odihpn.org/index.asp
------------------------------------------------------
RECENT EVENTS
-------------
Dispatches from Disaster Zones
On 13th December 2006 BRCS hosted a high-profile debate at the Foreign Press Association in partnership with the Department for International Development, ITV News and The Times which explored how and why the media report humanitarian crises, what influences the volume and content of their reporting, and the relationships between the actors - all firmly rooted in how this vital part of the humanitarian jigsaw can ultimately influence the support that beneficiaries receive. The debate coincided with the launch of the 2006 World Disasters Report which focuses on neglected crises. The British Red Cross is convening a task force to continue the dialogue amongst journalists, NGOs, academics and humanitarian agencies about the reporting of emergencies. Contact Leigh Daynes for further information (LDaynes@redcross.org.uk, x 7046).
--
ALNAP Meeting in Rome in December
The ALNAP 19th Biennial meeting took place in Rome on 6-7 December 2006, hosted by FAO/WFP. Meeting addressed TEC recommendations relating to the regulation/accreditation of humanitarian actors. Some lively discussion, as this is a move perceived by some as inevitable and urgent, given the lack of improvement in the humanitarian sector since the 1996 Joint Evaluation of Emergency Assistance to Rwanda. Recognition of need for improvements, but regulation may not be the best way forward. There are real dangers with this sudden push: for example, most regulatory systems focus on processes (ISO standards, SGS audits, etc.) and do not automatically guarantee the quality of the programmes. The future role of ALNAP was also discussed. Two key points: first, there are various accountability initiatives (often challenged by donors who support several of these initiatives) which at times may overlap. ALNAP, SPHERE, HAP-I, URD, and People in Aid Coordination Sud, ECB have commissioned a study looking at the complementarities, competition and convergence of quality and accountability initiatives. Secondly, there are serious concerns about the fact that ALNAP remains a particularly Western-led initiative, despite efforts to reach out and (since recently) to have meetings in the South.
Minutes and related documents on the ALNAP website (www.alnap.org).
--
Strategy Meeting on Infant Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) - 1-2 November, Oxford.
Organised by the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN).
The IFE Core group (made up of the ENN, WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, IBFAN-GIFA, CARE USA, and Fondation Terre des hommes, and coordinated by ENN since 2004) have produced policy guidance, embodied in Operational Guidance on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies for programme and emergency relief staff, and developed two training modules. However, difficulties in putting guidance and training modules into operation have lead to poor co-ordination and policy awareness, and evidence of limited technical know-how in recent emergency responses. This strategy meeting, therefore, identified key constraints to supporting and protecting appropriaite infant feeding practises in emergencies, and developing strategic directions and practical steps to address them.
IFE Code and Guidance material, plus meeting minutes are available at http://www.ennonline.net.
--
Sahil Working Group meetings
The Working Group, which is attended by BRCS, is seeking a commitment from DFID to fund longer-term support in Sahil, and has presented a paper to DFID identifying and justifying hoped-for interventions. They are also planning research around chronic vulnerability and DRR. BRCS continue to attend and share information with the Irish Red Cross (with whom we are in the process of developing a partnership for longer-term support in Niger).
------------------------------------------------------
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
-----------------------------
On Friday 2nd February, ICVA will hold a one-day conference in Geneva on "How Compatible are UN Coherence and Humanitarian Partnership?"
With the publication of the report of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence, it seems that there will be increased efforts to work towards "one UN". Efforts focused on UN coherence will potentially have huge impacts on humanitarian action, as well as on non-UN humanitarian actors. System-wide coherence may mean that the UN will have to pursue a peace and development agenda under which humanitarian principles risk being sacrificed. The Conference will bring together NGOs, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, the UN, other inter-governmental organisations, and governments to reflect upon an issue that has major implications for humanitarian action: UN coherence.
--
Conference: Rights based development and humanitarian action in conflict situations
08 - 09 February 2007, DfID, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE
Organised by UK Inter-Agency group on Rights Based Approaches (IAG), and hosted by DfID. The purpose of this exploratory conference is to learn, challenge our thinking and improve the impact of our rights based programme and policy work in conflict situations through the creation of space for issue-raising, debate and analysis of emerging challenges, tensions and questions as well as areas of complementarily. There will be a publication capturing the challenges and tensions, and areas of complementarity between human rights and conflict prevention.
Although the deadline for registration has passed (12.01.07), you may still be able to participate - contact Magdalene Lagu on lagu@careinternational.org.
------------------------------------------------------
PUBLICATIONS
------------------
ALNAP Review of Humanitarian Action
The latest edition of ALNAP's RHA has just been published, together with a separate Key Messages booklet available in English, French and Spanish. Chapter 1 was written by Hugo Slim and offers a reflection on what the humanitarian system can realistically be expected to achieve; Chapter 2, the annual evaluation synthesis was written by Tony Vaux and focuses on the distortions and imbalances in the provision of humanitarian assistance; and Chapter 3, written by Peta Sandison, provides an analysis on the utilisation of evaluations in wHiCh BRCS participated as part of the Advisory Group for the study. The chapter provides some useful thoughts for our wn internal practice.
Download report from http://www.alnap.org/publications/rha.htm
--
The Global Accountability Report launched December 2006
This index is the first to measure and compare the accountability of transnational actors from intergovernmental, non-governmental, and corporate sectors. The good practice of thirty of the world's most influential organisations (including the IFRC) are assessed on four dimensions of accountability: do they ensure participation through equitable member control and engage communities in decision-making processes that affect them?; do they evaluate their work and integrate learning into future planning?; do they provide safe channels for affected communities to voice their grievances and concerns, and do they offer them a response?
Download a summary or the full report at http://www.oneworldtrust.org/.
--
The Future of Humanitarian Action
Humanitarian organisations are going global, but are they creating an inclusive, global community which makes the most of diversity or an exclusive, Northern-style club? Peter Walker of the Feinstein International Center explores this question in a recent paper, The Future of Humanitarian Action. He argues that overcoming organisational inertia, maximising learning and encouraging innovation will be as important to humanitarianism as it is today to the corporate sector. Walker challenges the post-WWII construct of an international humanitarian community and says it's time for greater diversity. Key is to grow by embracing a diversity, which goes much beyond that of today, yet retaining the fundamental principles. Walker claims a need to deepen the "cause campaigning" of the 80s and 90s and suggests a much more intensive, involved, informed and often quieter process of working to find levers of change wherever they may be, a methodology which partly challenges the RC principle of neutrality. Finally, he suggests that it is time for this greater diversity of actors to act with more coherence and more contribution to the common good. Download the seven-page paper from
http://nutrition.tufts.edu/pdf/research/famine/the_future_of_humanitarian_action_peter_walker.pdf
--
Field Exchange,December 2006
Exit strategies in OVC programming in Namibia - Experiences from Namibia, where the WFP and the Namibian Red Cross are working with the Government to develop a welfare grant system capable of supporting 156,000 chronically food-insecure OVC.
Improving food security in vulnerable households in Swaziland - Lessons learned from a small-scale communal agriculture pilot implemented by the Baphali Swaziland Red Cross and supported by the Finnish Red Cross and the IFRC.
Both available at: http://www.ennonline.net/fex/current/index.html
--
Disasters - Special Edition on Cash Transfers
Emerging evidence on the role of cash transfers in poverty reduction means that they are on the agenda in emergency and developmental contexts across the developing world. Development Policy Review and Disasters have published simultaneous theme issues on cash transfers, covering issues including cash for work programmes in post-tsunami Aceh, cash-based interventions in southern Somalia, and cash transfer to ex-combatants in disarmament, and demobilisation and reintegration processes.
September 2006 - Vol. 30 Issue 3 Page 273-379
SHORT-TERM LINK: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0361-3666&site=1
--
Humanitarian Exchange Magazine 34: Humanitarian action in urban contexts
This publication from HPN focuses on the fact that by 2007, more than half the world's population will be living in cities; as urbanisation gathers pace, this proportion will grow. For humanitarian actors, urbanisation will increasingly shape old and new vulnerability and risks, and will increasingly define disasters in the future.
http://www.odihpn.org/documents/humanitarianexchange035.pdf
--
ODI Study - Providing Aid in Insecure Environments: Trends in Policy and Operation
By: Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer and Katherine Haver
This study, based on field research in Afghanistan, Iraq, North Caucasus, and Somalia and Somaliland, examines how perceptions of increased risk to aid organisations have influenced operational security measures and have led to increasing reliance on local aid actors and national staff, allowing operations to continue, but also creating a number of challenges and ethical concerns. It recommends that international humanitarian actors engage in prior strategic planning and adopt guiding principles on how these approaches can best be undertaken.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-6UPGE5?OpenDocument
--
The 'protection crisis': A review of field-based strategies for humanitarian protection in Darfur
This paper analyses field-based strategies employed by humanitarian actors in Darfur to protect civilians affected by conflict. It is part of a study on 'protection in practice' which aims to examine current practice in humanitarian protection and explore efforts undertaken in different contexts to support the protection of civilians. Focusing on roles, outcomes and the internal and external limitations of humanitarian actors, the purpose of the research is to draw lessons and elicit best practice. This Discussion Paper on Darfur will inform a comprehensive HPG report due for publication in mid-2007.
http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/protection_practice.html
------------------------------------------------------
Contribute to this bulletin by e-mailing submissions and feedback to Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
Bulletin on International Humanitarian News, Events and Publications
(2007:1, January)
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
BRCS International Monthly Seminars begin 25.01.07!
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Challenge 2007 - Mainstreaming and Scaling-up HIV and AIDS response
Alyson Lewis & Catherine Mears
January 25th 2007, 1-2pm - Basement Room
Please join us to discuss:
- How do we mainstream HIV?
- How can we scale up our HIV response?
- How are we are going to operationalise our 2007 Divisional plans?
- What are the implications for the Division?
Future seminar dates:
--------------------------
February 22nd 2007, 1-2pm St. Pauls
Accountability of humanitarian organisations and NGOs - Global Accountability Project, OneWorld Trust (TBC)
March 29th 2007, 1-2pm Basement Room
The Politicisation of Humanitarian Action - Medecins Sans Frontieres
Full seminar programme forthcoming!
Suggestions for topics and speakers for these or future seminars are very welcome - please contact Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
------------------------------------------------------
NEWS
-------
Jan Egeland's successor named
Sir John Holmes, FCO diplomat and outgoing UK Ambassador to France, has been appointed as Jan Egeland's Successor as Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/1564/2007/00/3-182150-1.htm
--
New Year, New Data
The Human Security Brief 2006 was launched in late December, presenting conflict trend data and analysis of trends in ending wars and organized violence against civilians. New data indicate that the trend of declining international conflict continues during 2002-5 from 66 to 56 armed conflicts, and that Sub-Saharan Africa sees the biggest decrease. On the other hand, organized violence against civilians and terrorist incidents has increased.
The Brief is online at http://www.humansecuritybrief.info/
--
Good Humanitarian Donorship examined
This HPG's December 2006 paper Good Humanitarian Donorship: Overcoming obstacles to improve collective donor performance by Sue Graves and Victoria Wheeler, HPG, considers how much efforts to provide guidance and measure performance through the GHD initiative have succeeded in overcoming common obstacles to implementation. The researchers have prepared an enhanced performance measurement framework, which aims to help clarify responsibilities and roles, strengthen guidance for donor staff and help monitoring and evaluation. The paper also makes recommendations for donors and humanitarian agencies to strengthen and improve overall engagement with GHD. Among other proposals GHD should adopt a performance measurement framework and clear indicators.
http://www.goodhumanitariandonorship.org/, http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/GHD.html
--
The Right to Know: The Challenge of Public Accountability in Aceh and Sri Lanka
The Office of the Special Envoy published a report on the role of information and transparency to the affected populations in late December. 'The Right to Know' reviews some of the challenges and best practices in providing access to information to tsunami-affected populations. It also gives some very concrete recommendations, relevant to both the tsunami recovery and future recovery efforts. It is available at www.tsunamispecialenvoy.org.
--
HIV terminology
Recent guidance has been published on what terms should be used in our HIV work please see http://data.unaids.org/pub//InformationNote/2006/EditorsNotes_en.pdf.
Following this UNAIDS recently published an article entitled "Words are not neutral against HIV" describing why words such as 'HIV positive' and 'People living with HIV' are gradually replacing other terms, such as 'AIDS sufferers' and 'victims of the disease'. It discusses why we are witnessing such a transformation, and what this means. See http://www.unaids.org/en/MediaCentre/PressMaterials/FeatureStory/HIVprevention.asp
--
Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) Website Relaunched
HPN has re-launched its website to improve dialogue, access to publications and site functionality. The network provides an independent forum for policy-makers, practitioners and others working in or on the humanitarian sector to share and disseminate information, analysis and experience.
http://www.odihpn.org/index.asp
------------------------------------------------------
RECENT EVENTS
-------------
Dispatches from Disaster Zones
On 13th December 2006 BRCS hosted a high-profile debate at the Foreign Press Association in partnership with the Department for International Development, ITV News and The Times which explored how and why the media report humanitarian crises, what influences the volume and content of their reporting, and the relationships between the actors - all firmly rooted in how this vital part of the humanitarian jigsaw can ultimately influence the support that beneficiaries receive. The debate coincided with the launch of the 2006 World Disasters Report which focuses on neglected crises. The British Red Cross is convening a task force to continue the dialogue amongst journalists, NGOs, academics and humanitarian agencies about the reporting of emergencies. Contact Leigh Daynes for further information (LDaynes@redcross.org.uk, x 7046).
--
ALNAP Meeting in Rome in December
The ALNAP 19th Biennial meeting took place in Rome on 6-7 December 2006, hosted by FAO/WFP. Meeting addressed TEC recommendations relating to the regulation/accreditation of humanitarian actors. Some lively discussion, as this is a move perceived by some as inevitable and urgent, given the lack of improvement in the humanitarian sector since the 1996 Joint Evaluation of Emergency Assistance to Rwanda. Recognition of need for improvements, but regulation may not be the best way forward. There are real dangers with this sudden push: for example, most regulatory systems focus on processes (ISO standards, SGS audits, etc.) and do not automatically guarantee the quality of the programmes. The future role of ALNAP was also discussed. Two key points: first, there are various accountability initiatives (often challenged by donors who support several of these initiatives) which at times may overlap. ALNAP, SPHERE, HAP-I, URD, and People in Aid Coordination Sud, ECB have commissioned a study looking at the complementarities, competition and convergence of quality and accountability initiatives. Secondly, there are serious concerns about the fact that ALNAP remains a particularly Western-led initiative, despite efforts to reach out and (since recently) to have meetings in the South.
Minutes and related documents on the ALNAP website (www.alnap.org).
--
Strategy Meeting on Infant Feeding in Emergencies (IFE) - 1-2 November, Oxford.
Organised by the Emergency Nutrition Network (ENN).
The IFE Core group (made up of the ENN, WHO, UNHCR, UNICEF, IBFAN-GIFA, CARE USA, and Fondation Terre des hommes, and coordinated by ENN since 2004) have produced policy guidance, embodied in Operational Guidance on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies for programme and emergency relief staff, and developed two training modules. However, difficulties in putting guidance and training modules into operation have lead to poor co-ordination and policy awareness, and evidence of limited technical know-how in recent emergency responses. This strategy meeting, therefore, identified key constraints to supporting and protecting appropriaite infant feeding practises in emergencies, and developing strategic directions and practical steps to address them.
IFE Code and Guidance material, plus meeting minutes are available at http://www.ennonline.net.
--
Sahil Working Group meetings
The Working Group, which is attended by BRCS, is seeking a commitment from DFID to fund longer-term support in Sahil, and has presented a paper to DFID identifying and justifying hoped-for interventions. They are also planning research around chronic vulnerability and DRR. BRCS continue to attend and share information with the Irish Red Cross (with whom we are in the process of developing a partnership for longer-term support in Niger).
------------------------------------------------------
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
-----------------------------
On Friday 2nd February, ICVA will hold a one-day conference in Geneva on "How Compatible are UN Coherence and Humanitarian Partnership?"
With the publication of the report of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on UN System-wide Coherence, it seems that there will be increased efforts to work towards "one UN". Efforts focused on UN coherence will potentially have huge impacts on humanitarian action, as well as on non-UN humanitarian actors. System-wide coherence may mean that the UN will have to pursue a peace and development agenda under which humanitarian principles risk being sacrificed. The Conference will bring together NGOs, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, the UN, other inter-governmental organisations, and governments to reflect upon an issue that has major implications for humanitarian action: UN coherence.
--
Conference: Rights based development and humanitarian action in conflict situations
08 - 09 February 2007, DfID, 1 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HE
Organised by UK Inter-Agency group on Rights Based Approaches (IAG), and hosted by DfID. The purpose of this exploratory conference is to learn, challenge our thinking and improve the impact of our rights based programme and policy work in conflict situations through the creation of space for issue-raising, debate and analysis of emerging challenges, tensions and questions as well as areas of complementarily. There will be a publication capturing the challenges and tensions, and areas of complementarity between human rights and conflict prevention.
Although the deadline for registration has passed (12.01.07), you may still be able to participate - contact Magdalene Lagu on lagu@careinternational.org.
------------------------------------------------------
PUBLICATIONS
------------------
ALNAP Review of Humanitarian Action
The latest edition of ALNAP's RHA has just been published, together with a separate Key Messages booklet available in English, French and Spanish. Chapter 1 was written by Hugo Slim and offers a reflection on what the humanitarian system can realistically be expected to achieve; Chapter 2, the annual evaluation synthesis was written by Tony Vaux and focuses on the distortions and imbalances in the provision of humanitarian assistance; and Chapter 3, written by Peta Sandison, provides an analysis on the utilisation of evaluations in wHiCh BRCS participated as part of the Advisory Group for the study. The chapter provides some useful thoughts for our wn internal practice.
Download report from http://www.alnap.org/publications/rha.htm
--
The Global Accountability Report launched December 2006
This index is the first to measure and compare the accountability of transnational actors from intergovernmental, non-governmental, and corporate sectors. The good practice of thirty of the world's most influential organisations (including the IFRC) are assessed on four dimensions of accountability: do they ensure participation through equitable member control and engage communities in decision-making processes that affect them?; do they evaluate their work and integrate learning into future planning?; do they provide safe channels for affected communities to voice their grievances and concerns, and do they offer them a response?
Download a summary or the full report at http://www.oneworldtrust.org/.
--
The Future of Humanitarian Action
Humanitarian organisations are going global, but are they creating an inclusive, global community which makes the most of diversity or an exclusive, Northern-style club? Peter Walker of the Feinstein International Center explores this question in a recent paper, The Future of Humanitarian Action. He argues that overcoming organisational inertia, maximising learning and encouraging innovation will be as important to humanitarianism as it is today to the corporate sector. Walker challenges the post-WWII construct of an international humanitarian community and says it's time for greater diversity. Key is to grow by embracing a diversity, which goes much beyond that of today, yet retaining the fundamental principles. Walker claims a need to deepen the "cause campaigning" of the 80s and 90s and suggests a much more intensive, involved, informed and often quieter process of working to find levers of change wherever they may be, a methodology which partly challenges the RC principle of neutrality. Finally, he suggests that it is time for this greater diversity of actors to act with more coherence and more contribution to the common good. Download the seven-page paper from
http://nutrition.tufts.edu/pdf/research/famine/the_future_of_humanitarian_action_peter_walker.pdf
--
Field Exchange,December 2006
Exit strategies in OVC programming in Namibia - Experiences from Namibia, where the WFP and the Namibian Red Cross are working with the Government to develop a welfare grant system capable of supporting 156,000 chronically food-insecure OVC.
Improving food security in vulnerable households in Swaziland - Lessons learned from a small-scale communal agriculture pilot implemented by the Baphali Swaziland Red Cross and supported by the Finnish Red Cross and the IFRC.
Both available at: http://www.ennonline.net/fex/current/index.html
--
Disasters - Special Edition on Cash Transfers
Emerging evidence on the role of cash transfers in poverty reduction means that they are on the agenda in emergency and developmental contexts across the developing world. Development Policy Review and Disasters have published simultaneous theme issues on cash transfers, covering issues including cash for work programmes in post-tsunami Aceh, cash-based interventions in southern Somalia, and cash transfer to ex-combatants in disarmament, and demobilisation and reintegration processes.
September 2006 - Vol. 30 Issue 3 Page 273-379
SHORT-TERM LINK: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0361-3666&site=1
--
Humanitarian Exchange Magazine 34: Humanitarian action in urban contexts
This publication from HPN focuses on the fact that by 2007, more than half the world's population will be living in cities; as urbanisation gathers pace, this proportion will grow. For humanitarian actors, urbanisation will increasingly shape old and new vulnerability and risks, and will increasingly define disasters in the future.
http://www.odihpn.org/documents/humanitarianexchange035.pdf
--
ODI Study - Providing Aid in Insecure Environments: Trends in Policy and Operation
By: Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer and Katherine Haver
This study, based on field research in Afghanistan, Iraq, North Caucasus, and Somalia and Somaliland, examines how perceptions of increased risk to aid organisations have influenced operational security measures and have led to increasing reliance on local aid actors and national staff, allowing operations to continue, but also creating a number of challenges and ethical concerns. It recommends that international humanitarian actors engage in prior strategic planning and adopt guiding principles on how these approaches can best be undertaken.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/OCHA-6UPGE5?OpenDocument
--
The 'protection crisis': A review of field-based strategies for humanitarian protection in Darfur
This paper analyses field-based strategies employed by humanitarian actors in Darfur to protect civilians affected by conflict. It is part of a study on 'protection in practice' which aims to examine current practice in humanitarian protection and explore efforts undertaken in different contexts to support the protection of civilians. Focusing on roles, outcomes and the internal and external limitations of humanitarian actors, the purpose of the research is to draw lessons and elicit best practice. This Discussion Paper on Darfur will inform a comprehensive HPG report due for publication in mid-2007.
http://www.odi.org.uk/hpg/protection_practice.html
------------------------------------------------------
Contribute to this bulletin by e-mailing submissions and feedback to Laura Walker, HPP PA (x7533).
Monday, January 1, 2007
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the point of the Bulletin blog?
The blog is intended to be a resource for International Division staff and others, bringing together newsletters, announcements and new publications on international aid and related topics from as many sources as possible.
What on earth is a blog?
Wikipedia says that a blog is ‘a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.' Problogger has a fairly user-friendly and non-scary introduction to blogs if you would like more information.
What is a blog 'post'?
The left-hand column contains 'posts', individual news items, most recent first. Each 'post' has a title, a main block of text, a list of 'labels' (keywords) attached to it, and a 'comments' function.
Forthcoming events?
...are listed in the top right-hand column, in date order - these are both internal and internal, and include seminars, talks and film showings. Click on the event you are interested in for more information.
How do I comment on a blog entry?
If you click on the title of a post, you will go to a separate page dedicated to it. The comments section appears below the main post. By clicking on 'post a comment' (or by clicking on the number of comments on the main page of the blog), you will go to a page where you can enter your comment. Type it in the box at the top right-hand side. By selecting 'other' under 'choose your identity', you can type your name and (if you wish) your email address. Alternatively, you can leave your comment anonymous.
Why isn't it branded?
The Bulletin blog is currently in its pilot phase. After a successful first eight months in email form (reproduced as the first posts on this blog), it was felt that a more interactive, user-friendly format was needed. If the blog is a success, it may be possible in future to produce a branded version, perhaps integrated with RedRoom. The future of the bulletin blog is in your hands!
Who produces this blog?
The Bulletin is produced by the Humanitarian Policy & Partnerships (HPP) department of the International Division. Contact them by clicking here.
Anything else I need to know?
The site includes all sorts of clever things which (hopefully) enhance your experience as a reader:
The blog is intended to be a resource for International Division staff and others, bringing together newsletters, announcements and new publications on international aid and related topics from as many sources as possible.
What on earth is a blog?
Wikipedia says that a blog is ‘a website where entries are written in chronological order and commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.' Problogger has a fairly user-friendly and non-scary introduction to blogs if you would like more information.
What is a blog 'post'?
The left-hand column contains 'posts', individual news items, most recent first. Each 'post' has a title, a main block of text, a list of 'labels' (keywords) attached to it, and a 'comments' function.
Forthcoming events?
...are listed in the top right-hand column, in date order - these are both internal and internal, and include seminars, talks and film showings. Click on the event you are interested in for more information.
How do I comment on a blog entry?
If you click on the title of a post, you will go to a separate page dedicated to it. The comments section appears below the main post. By clicking on 'post a comment' (or by clicking on the number of comments on the main page of the blog), you will go to a page where you can enter your comment. Type it in the box at the top right-hand side. By selecting 'other' under 'choose your identity', you can type your name and (if you wish) your email address. Alternatively, you can leave your comment anonymous.
Why isn't it branded?
The Bulletin blog is currently in its pilot phase. After a successful first eight months in email form (reproduced as the first posts on this blog), it was felt that a more interactive, user-friendly format was needed. If the blog is a success, it may be possible in future to produce a branded version, perhaps integrated with RedRoom. The future of the bulletin blog is in your hands!
Who produces this blog?
The Bulletin is produced by the Humanitarian Policy & Partnerships (HPP) department of the International Division. Contact them by clicking here.
Anything else I need to know?
The site includes all sorts of clever things which (hopefully) enhance your experience as a reader:
- live updating newsfeeds from the Reliefweb and Alertnet websites;
- links to enable you to contact us, to subscribe to an email update and install an RSS feed on your Google toolbar or in your web browser
- links to other websites - please email us if you have any suggestions.
- a list of 'labels', keywords which enable you to see all the posts on a specific topic. Let us know if there is a label you don't see here and which you would like.
- the website Archive - old posts, sorted by date;
- sometimes there is also a 'poll', which we can change as often as we wish - let the editorial team know if you have an idea.
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