ST.1.1 Accountability and Participation.pptx

The presentation is about staff training regarding accountability and participation.

1. Definitions, standards, and methods Staff Training: Accountability and Participation

2. Session objectives What does it mean to be accountable to affected communities? Why do we need to be accountable? What practical steps we can take to improve accountability through community coordination projects? What is the link between accountability and participation? What are the levels of participation? How can we improve participation through community coordination projects?

3. What does it mean to be accountable to affected communities? Accountability means making sure that the people affected by a crisis are involved in planning, implementing, and judging the response to it. ( The Good Enough Guide ). Accountability is the means by which power is used responsibly . ( HAP).

4. 1. Communicating who we are and what we’re doing What does this mean? 2. Participation In programme decisions and implementation 3. Evidence as the basis for decisions 4. Hearing and responding to feedback

5. 1. Communicating who we are and what we are doing “If I knew what items were in the distribution package I could decide if it is better for me to go to the distribution point or spend the time repairing my house.” (Man affected by Cyclone Sidr ) Aim : provide timely and accessible information to beneficiaries that will enable them to make informed decisions about if, how and when to engage with programs.

6. 2. Participation in program decisions and implementation “If you only have a few resources, then tell the people, and ask them to select who should benefit from the program” (Woman, affected by northern Kenya drought) Aim : to enable beneficiaries to play an active role in the decision-making processes and activities that affect them.

7. 3. Evidence-based programming "Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in. It is what the customer gets out of it.“ (management writer) Aim : to ensure our programs are based on evidence from affected communities, learning, and sector good practice.

8. 4. Hearing and responding to feedback “They show up only rarely and only talk to certain old men of the village. As of now they have only provided roofs for five houses, while other houses are falling apart.” (person talking about a response in Angola) Aim : to set up mechanisms through which beneficiaries can provide feedback in relation to our programs and actions, and through which this feedback is reviewed, responded to, and acted upon. Learn

9. Why is it important to be accountable?

10. Benefits of accountability Increased ownership by affected communities: More sustainable response Dignity and reduction in ‘dependency syndrome’ Progress towards durable solutions Better quality service provision Saving money Improved security and acceptance Increased trust by the community in the NGOs Identification of fraud and corruption

11. How accountable are we? In a complex context like [enter name of location], it is hard to achieve ‘gold standard’, but we want to ensure we are not at the bottom of the scale. Gold standard! Amazing! “Truck and chuck ” Over time we want to gradually strengthen our accountability within our organisation , as well as the wider humanitarian community through mechanisms established in our programmes .

12. Focus on: PARTICIPATION 2. Participation in programme decisions and implementation

13. Activity: What is participation? Work in pairs to make a drawing of diagramme to illustrate ‘participation’

14. Participation Defined “ A planned process whereby individuals and groups from the community identify and express their own needs and take collective action to meet those needs” Adapted from Camp Management Toolkit 2008

15. Levels of Participation 1. Information 2. Consultation 3. Partnership 4. Empowerment

16. Participation leads to dignity and reduced vulnerability Participation can vary from only being informed, to leading a whole activity The more you participate, the more influence you have on the outcome The more influence you have: …the more dignity and independence you have, and... … the more appropriate the outcome is to your needs Thereby reducing your vulnerability which in turn reduces protection concerns

17. Participation in practice: case study from Lebanon Informal settlement destroyed by a fire Service providers prohibited from entering the site by landlord Lebanese neighbours unhappy with residents due to poor hygiene behaviour and conditions

18. Case study: what happened Materials and training provided to residents outside of the site Residents rebuilt infrastructure themselves

19. Reflection & Wrap Up

20. Session objectives What does it mean to be accountable to affected communities? Why do we need to be accountable? What practical steps can we take to improve accountability through community coordination projects? What is the link between accountability and participation? What are the levels of participation? How can we improve participation through community coordination projects?