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.