HAP International: 2013 Humanitarian Accountability Report

The 10th annual edition of the Humanitarian Accountability Report reviews the progress that the sector has made over the past decade in accountability to crisis-affected populations, and the obstacles faced along the way. The report documents a sector-wide shift in how accountability has been conceptualised, from its inception in humanitarian work as fashionable terminology to the adoption of policy-level humanitarian standards and implementation in the field.

The report reviews progress in the sector by measuring six benchmarks: establishing and delivering on commitments, staff competency, sharing information, participation, handling complaints, and learning and continued improvement. It concludes that the range, significance and likely impact of developments point to the achievement of a 'critical mass' of activity within the sector in favour of accountability.

Despite significant progress on issues of accountability and quality, the report concludes that in the next 10 years it is critical that these efforts translate into structural and system-wide improvements. A chapter including the views of individuals and communities on the receiving end of aid programmes in Borena, Ethiopia adds to the body of evidence highlighting these gaps between the accountability discourse in aid policy and the reality of humanitarian interventions.