March 2011March 2011

Development of a CARE Development of a CARE International Accountability International Accountability

Framework Framework

Why is an Accountability Why is an Accountability Framework needed?Framework needed?

CARE has too many standards, CARE has too many standards, principles and guidelines, leaving staff principles and guidelines, leaving staff confused.confused.

Current performance management Current performance management systems and donor incentives don’t often systems and donor incentives don’t often reward application of relevant standards.reward application of relevant standards.

CARE is not sufficiently accountable to CARE is not sufficiently accountable to communities, partners or even within the communities, partners or even within the CARE membership.CARE membership.

Increasing criticism of NGOsIncreasing criticism of NGOs

Governments questioning the lack of Governments questioning the lack of transparency, cost-effectiveness and transparency, cost-effectiveness and marginal impact by NGOs.marginal impact by NGOs.

A Google search for “NGO Watchdog” A Google search for “NGO Watchdog” returns over 1½ million hits. Clicking on returns over 1½ million hits. Clicking on most of these links bring up articles and most of these links bring up articles and blogs questioning the value-added of blogs questioning the value-added of NGOs.NGOs.

2008 One World Trust GAP 2008 One World Trust GAP Transparency RankingsTransparency Rankings

CARE

What they are sayingWhat they are saying::

““NGOs in Haiti face new questions about their NGOs in Haiti face new questions about their effectivenesseffectiveness””

Washington Post Headline – Feb. 1, 2011Washington Post Headline – Feb. 1, 2011

““CARE appears to regard its “indirect cost rate” CARE appears to regard its “indirect cost rate” and “cost share” as confidential. To hide this and “cost share” as confidential. To hide this information, USAID also had to black out the information, USAID also had to black out the budget’s bottom linebudget’s bottom line” ”

www.aidwatchers.com Blog – Aug. 18, 2010www.aidwatchers.com Blog – Aug. 18, 2010

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 Culture

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 RepsTrad.

LeadersCommunities

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

Host Govt.

No!!!No!!! CARE managers just ask for CARE managers just ask for something simple that pulls together something simple that pulls together existing accountability commitments.existing accountability commitments.

They want a framework that can They want a framework that can help managers and their teams to help managers and their teams to be more accountable where it be more accountable where it counts.counts.

Is the Accountability Framework just Is the Accountability Framework just another new initiative?another new initiative?

Dropping the “H” from the HAFDropping the “H” from the HAF

CARE’s POC agreed that:CARE’s POC agreed that:

They take the lead in developing a CI-wide They take the lead in developing a CI-wide Accountability Framework Accountability Framework

The AF will be organizational as well as The AF will be organizational as well as program-orientedprogram-oriented

Communities are a central focus of the AFCommunities are a central focus of the AF The HAF would be used as a starting point The HAF would be used as a starting point

as many CARE staff were already using itas many CARE staff were already using it A Task Force be set up to steer this workA Task Force be set up to steer this work

Start with…a Map!Start with…a Map!Step one: know where you’re heading…Step one: know where you’re heading…

What internal and external standards, principles, What internal and external standards, principles, etc. is CARE signed up to?etc. is CARE signed up to?

Who within CARE has a key role in promoting Who within CARE has a key role in promoting accountability and how do they define it?accountability and how do they define it?

What ongoing processes can this complement?What ongoing processes can this complement? What are the relevant lessons from peers?What are the relevant lessons from peers? What should a CARE Accountability Framework What should a CARE Accountability Framework

look like?look like?

What were the main findings What were the main findings from this mapping study?from this mapping study?

CARE staff wish to incorporate accountability more fully into CARE staff wish to incorporate accountability more fully into their work;their work;

CARE is not sufficiently accountable to communities, our CARE is not sufficiently accountable to communities, our partners, our advocacy targets or the environment; partners, our advocacy targets or the environment;

A big challenge is to reconcile donor compliance while A big challenge is to reconcile donor compliance while increasing our accountability to communities; increasing our accountability to communities;

Need more accountability between CARE members; Need more accountability between CARE members;

CARE staff want a robust compliance mechanism for an CARE staff want a robust compliance mechanism for an Accountability Framework so that it is actually applied;Accountability Framework so that it is actually applied;

There are many examples of existing good practice which There are many examples of existing good practice which CARE can build upon.CARE can build upon.

Why is accountability important?Why is accountability important?

What might an Accountability What might an Accountability Framework look like?Framework look like?

CARE staff strives to be accountable both for our CARE staff strives to be accountable both for our contribution to achieving lasting change in contribution to achieving lasting change in people’s lives and for the way that we work, people’s lives and for the way that we work, including how we:including how we:

Uphold our values, principles and standards   Uphold our values, principles and standards   Fulfil our agreed goals and commitments Fulfil our agreed goals and commitments Wisely use the funds entrusted to us  and Wisely use the funds entrusted to us  and

respect local statutory requirements respect local statutory requirements Ensure the welfare and support of our staff Ensure the welfare and support of our staff Manage and reduce our environmental footprint  Manage and reduce our environmental footprint 

How could an Accountability How could an Accountability Framework be put into practice?Framework be put into practice?

Accountability processesAccountability processes Give stakeholders a voice in our decision making Give stakeholders a voice in our decision making  Communicate in an open and honest way Communicate in an open and honest way  Actively seek feedback and complaint from others Actively seek feedback and complaint from others  Demonstrate impact, quality and effectiveness Demonstrate impact, quality and effectiveness Learn with and from others Learn with and from others 

Accountability enablers Accountability enablers Demonstrate attitudes and behaviours that reflect our Demonstrate attitudes and behaviours that reflect our

principles and values principles and values  Develop appropriate systems to support accountabilityDevelop appropriate systems to support accountability Encourage leadership in accountability at all levelsEncourage leadership in accountability at all levels

Main recommendationsMain recommendations Communicate and discuss the AF development process Communicate and discuss the AF development process

across CARE more broadlyacross CARE more broadly

Pilot the AF in a selected number of different CARE Pilot the AF in a selected number of different CARE organisational unitsorganisational units

Develop draft guidance on how to put the AF into Develop draft guidance on how to put the AF into practice, including how to adapt it to local contextspractice, including how to adapt it to local contexts

Agree a high-level statement, alongside CARE’s Vision & Agree a high-level statement, alongside CARE’s Vision & Mission, of what CARE will hold itself accountable forMission, of what CARE will hold itself accountable for

Plan for the adoption of the AF as a change Plan for the adoption of the AF as a change management process across the organisationmanagement process across the organisation

Consider setting up an external reference group to Consider setting up an external reference group to support CAREsupport CARE

Some Key Questions…Some Key Questions… How can we rationalize and prioritize all our How can we rationalize and prioritize all our

commitments to produce a useful AF? What will commitments to produce a useful AF? What will we have to leave out? How will we need to we have to leave out? How will we need to change ourselves?change ourselves?

Can we consider potential impact on Can we consider potential impact on communities during our decision-making communities during our decision-making processes? processes?

How do we ensure that CARE has the How do we ensure that CARE has the necessary motivation, capacity & resources to necessary motivation, capacity & resources to put the AF into practice?put the AF into practice?

How can we still fulfill our accountability How can we still fulfill our accountability commitments when working via partners? commitments when working via partners?