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Principles of Accountability

The seven HAP Principles of Accountability, developed in 2003, are:

1. Commitment to humanitarian standards and rights

Members state their commitment to respect and foster humanitarian standards and
the rights of beneficiaries

2. Setting standards and building capacity

Members set a framework of accountability to their stakeholders.1

Members set and periodically review their standards and performance indicators, and
revise them if necessary.

Members provide appropriate training in the use and implementation of standards.

3. Communication

Members inform, and consult with, stakeholders, particularly beneficiaries and staff,
about the standards adopted, programmes to be undertaken and mechanisms
available for addressing concerns.

4. Participation in program

Members involve beneficiaries in the planning, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation of programmes and report to them on progress, subject only to serious
operational constraints.

5. Monitoring and reporting on compliance

Members involve beneficiaries and staff when they monitor and revise standards.

Members regularly monitor and evaluate compliance with standards, using robust
processes.

Members report at least annually to stakeholders, including beneficiaries, on compliance with standards. Reporting may take a variety of forms.

6. Addressing complaints

Members enable beneficiaries and staff to report complaints and seek redress safely.

7. Implementing partners

Members are committed to the implementation of these principles if and when
working through implementation partners.

 

The HAP Principles of Accountability can be downloaded in English, French, Spanish, Bahasa, Sinhala, Tamil, Bangla, Urdu, Pashto, Khmer and Myanmar (Burmese). Kindly note that the English version is the master from which all translations derive. If you have any comments about a translation you can contact us at: secretariat@hapinternational.org or the translation's author whenever possible.



 1 Framework of accountability includes standards, quality standards, principles, policies, guidelines, training and other capacity-building work, etc. The framework must include measurable performance indicators. Standards may be internal to the organisation or they may be collective, e.g. Sphere or People in Aid.

A HAP benchmark workshop held with Merlin national staff in Laputta, Myanmar in March 2009

"Why should we become a member of HAP? What do we get out of it? It is important to exercise leadership within the humanitarian sector. We must convince each other and the outside world that we do not shy away from monitoring and reporting. This new organization will provide the right forum for achieving accountability standards together."

Raymond Johansen, former Secretary General, Norwegian Refugee Council (Flyktningerådet)

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