Reform or Initiative | Lead organisation(s) | Description | Year |
---|---|---|---|
IASC (Inter-agency Standing Committee) | OCHA (Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs) | Humanitarian co-ordination forum for the UN system to ensure coherence of preparedness and response efforts, formulate policy and agree on priorities for strengthened humanitarian action [8]. | 1992 |
Code of Conduct | IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) | Voluntary code to maintain high standards of independence, effectiveness and impact to which other NGOs are signatories [9]. | 1994 |
People In Aid | People In Aid | International network of relief and development agencies committed to improving human resources management through the People in Aid Code of Best Practice [10]. Merged with HAP-I to form CHS Alliance in 2014 [3]. | 1995 |
ALNAP (Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance) | ALNAP | Global network of NGOs, UN agencies, members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, donors, academics, networks and consultants dedicated to learning how to improve response to humanitarian crises [11]. | 1997 |
Humanitarian charter & minimum standards in humanitarian response | Sphere Association | Humanitarian charter is a voluntary commitment of shared principles, rights and obligations for ensuring the welfare of crisis-affected populations. Minimum standards for health, WASH, nutrition, food security and shelter with suggestions for indicators and targets [12]. | 1997 |
Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International (HAP-I) | HAP-I | Multi-agency initiative and first body for self-regulation in humanitarian sector. Created the HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management. Merged with People in Aid to form CHS Alliance in 2014 [3]. | 2003 |
Cluster system | WHO | Co-ordination of humanitarian response at the global and crisis response level to ensure predictable leadership and accountability in all main sectors, strengthen system-wide preparedness and technical capacity in humanitarian emergencies [13]. | 2005 |
Transformative agenda | IASC | Set of concrete actions aimed at improving the timeliness and effectiveness of the collective response through stronger leadership, more effective co-ordination structures and improved accountability for performance and to affected people [14]. | 2011 |
Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability | CHS Alliance (formerly HAP-I and People in Aid), Sphere, Groupe URD, HQAI | Voluntary standard made up of nine commitments with key actions and organisational responsibilities to improve the quality and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance [15]. | 2014 |
Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative | HQAI | NGO providing services for benchmarking, verification and certification against the Core Humanitarian Standard [16]. | 2015 |
Grand Bargain | IASC | Agreement between donor governments, UN agencies and aid organisations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of international humanitarian aid particularly focussed on transparency, better co-ordination and reform to humanitarian financing [17]. | 2016 |