development of an accountability framework for care international

May 2012May 2012

Development of an Development of an Accountability Framework Accountability Framework

for CARE Internationalfor CARE International

Why was an Accountability Why was an Accountability Framework needed?Framework needed?

Research (e.g. a ECB study in 2007) Research (e.g. a ECB study in 2007) found agencies had too many standards, found agencies had too many standards, principles and guidelines…confusing , principles and guidelines…confusing , rather than helping field staff.rather than helping field staff.

Agency performance management Agency performance management systems and donor incentives often don’t systems and donor incentives often don’t reward application of relevant standards.reward application of relevant standards.

Agencies are not sufficiently accountable Agencies are not sufficiently accountable to communities, partners or even to their to communities, partners or even to their own internal stakeholders.own internal stakeholders.

Increasing criticism of NGOsIncreasing criticism of NGOs

Governments questioning the lack of Governments questioning the lack of transparency, cost-effectiveness and transparency, cost-effectiveness and marginal impact by NGOs.marginal impact by NGOs.

A Google search for “NGO Watchdog” A Google search for “NGO Watchdog” returns almost 1½ million hits. Most of returns almost 1½ million hits. Most of these links are to articles and blogs these links are to articles and blogs questioning the value-added of NGOs.questioning the value-added of NGOs.

Accountability “Cloud”Accountability “Cloud”What are we actually accountable for?What are we actually accountable for?

Local Partner Codes

Anti-Terrorist Act

National Laws

Internal PrinciplesDonor Compliance

Cluster Standards

UN agency guidelines

Host Govt. Standards

Local Culture

Procurement Regulations

Sphere Standards

Agency Operations Manual

Accountability Frameworks

Code of Conduct

Internal Project Standards

HAP StandardsAssistance Delivery

Stakeholder Accountability “Cloud”Stakeholder Accountability “Cloud”Who is actually accountable for what?Who is actually accountable for what?

Local Partners

Lead Member HQ

National Government

UN Resident Coordinator

Federation

Cluster CoordinatorHumanitarian

Coordinator

Govt. Tech Depts.

UN Agency

Communities

Contractors

Peer NGOs

Donors

Country Office

Regional Office

Senior Management

Stakeholder Power Relations Stakeholder Power Relations

Donor RepsTrad.

Leaders

Communities

Beneficiaries

National NGOs

Senior Mgmt Nat. Tech Depts.

Armed Groups

UN Agencies

Peer Agencies

Cluster Coordinator

Agency

Donor Govts. Women

Less power

More power

Vulnerable Groups

Local Partners

Host Govt.

Men

Boys

Girls

No!!!No!!! CARE managers only ask for CARE managers only ask for something simple that pulls together something simple that pulls together existing accountability commitments.existing accountability commitments.

Staff want a tool that can help Staff want a tool that can help managers and their teams to be managers and their teams to be able to address imbalances when able to address imbalances when meeting these commitments.meeting these commitments.

Isn’t the Accountability Framework Isn’t the Accountability Framework just another new initiative?just another new initiative?

Dropping the “H” from the HAFDropping the “H” from the HAF

CARE’s governance agreed that:CARE’s governance agreed that:

The POC, supported by a Task Force, The POC, supported by a Task Force, leads the development of a CI AFleads the development of a CI AF

The AF will cover all aspects of CARE’s The AF will cover all aspects of CARE’s programming and operationsprogramming and operations

Communities will be a central focusCommunities will be a central focus

As many CARE staff were already using As many CARE staff were already using the HAF, this would be the starting pointthe HAF, this would be the starting point

Development of CARE’s Development of CARE’s Accountability Framework Accountability Framework

2011 2012 2013

Start with…a Map!Start with…a Map!Step one: know where you’re heading…Step one: know where you’re heading…

What internal and external standards, principles, What internal and external standards, principles, etc. is CARE signed up to?etc. is CARE signed up to?

Who within CARE has a key role in promoting Who within CARE has a key role in promoting accountability and how do they define it?accountability and how do they define it?

What ongoing processes can this complement?What ongoing processes can this complement? What are the relevant lessons from peers?What are the relevant lessons from peers? What should a CARE Accountability Framework What should a CARE Accountability Framework

look like?look like?

What were the main findings What were the main findings from this mapping study?from this mapping study?

CARE staff wish to incorporate accountability more fully into CARE staff wish to incorporate accountability more fully into their work;their work;

CARE is not sufficiently accountable to communities, our CARE is not sufficiently accountable to communities, our partners, our advocacy targets or the environment; partners, our advocacy targets or the environment;

A big challenge is to reconcile donor compliance while A big challenge is to reconcile donor compliance while increasing our accountability to communities; increasing our accountability to communities;

Need more accountability between CARE members; Need more accountability between CARE members;

CARE staff want a robust compliance mechanism for an CARE staff want a robust compliance mechanism for an Accountability Framework so that it is actually applied;Accountability Framework so that it is actually applied;

There are many examples of existing good practice which There are many examples of existing good practice which CARE can build upon.CARE can build upon.

How could an Accountability How could an Accountability Framework be put into practice?Framework be put into practice?

Accountability processesAccountability processes Communicate in an open and honest way Communicate in an open and honest way Give stakeholders a voice in our decision makingGive stakeholders a voice in our decision making Actively seek feedback and complaint from others Actively seek feedback and complaint from others Demonstrate impact, quality and effectivenessDemonstrate impact, quality and effectiveness Learn with and from others Learn with and from others

Accountability enablers Accountability enablers Demonstrate attitudes and behaviors that reflect our Demonstrate attitudes and behaviors that reflect our principles and valuesprinciples and values Develop appropriate systems to support accountabilityDevelop appropriate systems to support accountability Encourage leadership at all levelsEncourage leadership at all levels

Piloting/Testing StepsPiloting/Testing Steps

Of all our stakeholders, which are the Of all our stakeholders, which are the keykey ones? ones?

What is our relationship to our beneficiaries?What is our relationship to our beneficiaries?

What are our commitments to key stakeholders?What are our commitments to key stakeholders? Commitments and practice – what are critical gaps?Commitments and practice – what are critical gaps?

Which policies/processes can address gaps?Which policies/processes can address gaps? How can we tell whether we are meeting our How can we tell whether we are meeting our

commitments? What are our indicators?commitments? What are our indicators? How can the AF be improved?How can the AF be improved?

Current Status of the AF…Current Status of the AF… AF communicated and discussed within CAREAF communicated and discussed within CARE Agreeing on a high-level statement, alongside Agreeing on a high-level statement, alongside

CARE’s Vision & MissionCARE’s Vision & Mission AF and draft guidelines being tested in different AF and draft guidelines being tested in different

CARE organisational unitsCARE organisational units AF is being adopted as a change management AF is being adopted as a change management

process across the organisation for CARE’s process across the organisation for CARE’s 2020 Strategy2020 Strategy

Considering setting up an external reference Considering setting up an external reference group to support CAREgroup to support CARE

Pilot version of AF to be approved during 2012Pilot version of AF to be approved during 2012

Likely AF StructureLikely AF Structure

The AF will be two pages; a one page The AF will be two pages; a one page graphic plus some narrativegraphic plus some narrative

A series of guidelines for different CARE A series of guidelines for different CARE functional units (e.g. program, finance, functional units (e.g. program, finance, etc.) will be attached as annexes etc.) will be attached as annexes

The Humanitarian Accountability The Humanitarian Accountability Framework will thus be replaced by an Framework will thus be replaced by an annex once the pilot AF is in place.annex once the pilot AF is in place.

Some Key Challenges…Some Key Challenges… How can we rationalize and prioritize all our How can we rationalize and prioritize all our

commitments to produce a useful AF? What will commitments to produce a useful AF? What will we have to leave out? How will we need to we have to leave out? How will we need to change ourselves?change ourselves?

How can we consider the potential impact on How can we consider the potential impact on communities during our decision-making communities during our decision-making processes? processes?

How can we ensure that CARE has the How can we ensure that CARE has the necessary motivation, capacity & resources to necessary motivation, capacity & resources to put the AF into practice?put the AF into practice?

How can we still fulfill our accountability How can we still fulfill our accountability commitments when working via partners? commitments when working via partners?