Making space for the voice of communities, from design to evaluation of aid programmes

Panel chair: Marian Casey-Maslen, HAP International

1. Engagement of Commmunities: Historical Perspective and Remaining Questions
   
   Presenter: Jessica Alexander, Humanitarian consultant
   
   Jessica Alexander, co-author of HAP’s 2013 Humanitarian Accountability Report summarised in this presentation highlights of practice around accountability to affected populations in the sector. She briefly discussed the systemic obstacles that can explain the current shortcomings, before pointing towards specific examples of existing or potential practice that could reinforce a more constant and meaningful engagement of communities, from needs assessments to evaluation.
    

2. Improving Impact: Do Accountability Mechanisms Deliver Results? A joint research project by Christian Aid, Save the Children, Humanitarian Accountability Partnership

   Presenter: Katherine Nightingale, Christian Aid
    

3. Engagement of crisis affected communities: listening to members of Ethiopian communities

   Presenter: Birhanu Geleto, Rift Valley Children and Women Development Organization

   HAP International deployed a team to Ethiopia between February and April 2013, supporting its members and other stakeholders in their quest to improve the quality and accountability of their programmes. During the deployment, a visit to Borena was organised with members of the Interagency Accountability Working Group (IAAWG) in Ethiopia active in the area. The aim was to conduct consultations with local communities on their perception of and views on programmes implemented by local and international organisations in their region.

   This presentation gave a voice to representatives of local communities in Ethiopia to hear their perspective on what they consider the most important aspects of engagement, as well as how and when it should happen in order to be meaningful.
    

4. Q&A