October 2010October 2010

CARE International PakistanCARE International PakistanProgram Quality & Program Quality &

Accountability Review Accountability Review

Why an Accountability Framework?Why an Accountability Framework?

A 2007 study by CARE and peers found two main challenges when field staff tried to “practice” quality and accountability:

1. Too many standards, principles and guidelines…which ones are optional and what is mandatory?

2. Performance management systems and donor incentives didn’t reward application of standards (and staff not penalized if not used).

Accountability “Cloud”Accountability “Cloud”What are we actually accountable for?What are we actually accountable for?

Local Partner Codes

PARs

National Laws

CARE Program PrinciplesDonor Compliance

Cluster Standards

UN guidelines

Govt. Standards

Local Customs

Procurement Rules

Sphere Standards

CARE Operations Manual

CARE’s HAF

Code of Conduct

UboraCARE Project

Standards

HAP Standards

Stakeholder Accountability “Cloud”Stakeholder Accountability “Cloud”Who is actually accountable for what?Who is actually accountable for what?

Local Partner

Lead Member HQ

National Government

UN Resident Coordinator

CARE Member

Cluster Coordinator

Humanitarian Coordinator

Govt. Tech Depts.

UN Agency

Communities

Contractors

Peer NGOs

Donor

Country Office

RMUCEG

Stakeholder Power Relations Stakeholder Power Relations

Donor Reps Host Govt.

Communities

Beneficiaries

National NGOs

Senior Mgmt Nat. Tech Depts.

Armed Groups

UN Agencies

Peer Agencies

Cluster Coordinator

Agency

Donor Govts. Women

Less power

More power

Vulnerable Groups

Local Partners

Military

Summarizes and prioritizes CARE’s Summarizes and prioritizes CARE’s humanitarian commitments in a concise two humanitarian commitments in a concise two page jargon-free document.page jargon-free document.

Help CARE managers, clarify roles & Help CARE managers, clarify roles & responsibilities in their teams to help put responsibilities in their teams to help put accountability into practiceaccountability into practice

An annex to the HAF acts as a “road map” to An annex to the HAF acts as a “road map” to provide additional guidance along with useful provide additional guidance along with useful references and web links, etc. references and web links, etc.

Balance accountability to different Balance accountability to different stakeholders, even the less powerful…stakeholders, even the less powerful…

HAF ObjectivesHAF ObjectivesHow does an accountability framework help?How does an accountability framework help?

Questions arising from this Questions arising from this review…review…

How to ensure the necessary capacity & How to ensure the necessary capacity & resources to put the HAF into practice?resources to put the HAF into practice?

How do we ensure we fulfill our How do we ensure we fulfill our accountability commitments when working accountability commitments when working with partners?with partners?

Given all the priorities and limited Given all the priorities and limited capacity…how do we decide which are the capacity…how do we decide which are the critical ones?critical ones?

RAR results show decrease RAR results show decrease between June & October 2010between June & October 2010

0

5

10

15

20

25

Benchmark

Sco

re

Jun-10

Oct-10

Fully met

Summary of Provisional FindingsSummary of Provisional Findings

Communications systems not well-Communications systems not well-developed (CARE, IPs, communities)developed (CARE, IPs, communities)

Accountability systems in place for some Accountability systems in place for some IPs, but not for CAREIPs, but not for CARE

Accountability systems more than just Accountability systems more than just complaints systemscomplaints systems

Capacity building for IPs needed to meet Capacity building for IPs needed to meet minimum standardsminimum standards

Little evidence of integration of DRRLittle evidence of integration of DRR

Summary of Findings cont…Summary of Findings cont… Humanitarian coordination systems could Humanitarian coordination systems could

be made more useful.be made more useful. IPs can help with coordination loadIPs can help with coordination load Location of new Multan office not conducive Location of new Multan office not conducive

to coordinationto coordination Clusters mainly information sharingClusters mainly information sharing Food security – duplication between clusters, Food security – duplication between clusters,

while some coordination mechanisms missing while some coordination mechanisms missing (e.g. cash for work)(e.g. cash for work)

Security restrictions on intl. staff in PunjabSecurity restrictions on intl. staff in Punjab

RecommendationsRecommendations

Top Priority…Top Priority…starting at community level starting at community level and working up;and working up;

Communications systems put in place for Communications systems put in place for key stakeholders key stakeholders

Capacity building combined with alignment Capacity building combined with alignment of activities and approaches with IPs of activities and approaches with IPs (including alignment of accountability (including alignment of accountability frameworks)frameworks)

Updated strategy(ies)Updated strategy(ies)

Other Recommendations Other Recommendations Integration of DRR, environmental impact Integration of DRR, environmental impact

and longer term planning and longer term planning Advocacy on better configuration and use Advocacy on better configuration and use

of clustersof clusters Review security management system from Review security management system from

a quality & accountability perspectivea quality & accountability perspective