ICVA is committed to improving quality and accountability in humanitarian response. To this end, it encourages its members to identify and use suitable tools from the broad range of quality and accountability initiatives that exist in the humanitarian field.

ICVA has identified the following accountability and humanitarian principles as minimum commitments for ICVA members:

Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief

The 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 1995 took note of, and welcomed, the Code of Conduct for The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief (see Resolution 4) and many humanitarian NGOs around the world have registered their support of the Code.
You can access the Code at this website, which lays out 10 key principles for humanitarian organisations. The Code also has three important annexes:

Annex 1: Recommendations to the governments of disaster affected countries
Annex 2: Recommendations to donor governments
Annex 3: Recommendations to intergovernmental organisations
You can also voluntarily sign your organisation up to the Code using the registration form.
Code of Conduct

Principles of Partnership

The Principles of Partnership (PoP) were endorsed by the Global Humanitarian Platform (GHP) – a forum of NGOs, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the UN – to improve the partnership between different actors in humanitarian response.
www.globalhumanitarianplatform.org/pop.html

Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse

Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13)
Implementation Guidelines for the Field on the Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse
Statement of Commitment on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and Non-UN Personnel

There is a sample letter that your organisation can use to sign up to the Statement of Commitment.

The SPHERE Project

In July 1997, the Sphere Project was launched by a group of humanitarian agencies. This project sought to develop a set of universal minimum standards in core areas (water supply & sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter & site planning, and health services) of humanitarian assistance. The aim of the Project is to improve the quality of assistance provided to people affected by disasters, and to enhance the accountability of the humanitarian system in disaster response.
www.sphereproject.org

In addition, ICVA encourages NGOs to consider the following, non-exhaustive list of initiatives for their use as appropriate:

ALNAP

ALNAP is an interagency forum working to improve learning and accountability in the international humanitarian system. Its 43 Full Members represent bilateral and multilateral donor organisations; UN agencies and Departments; NGOs and NGO umbrella organisations; the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; and selected consultants, academics and research institutes.
www.alnap.org

Groupe URD

"Groupe URD is a research, evaluation and training institute. Our area of expertise is humanitarian action and post-crisis reconstruction. We aim to help improve practices and consequently improve the situation of crisis-affected people. [...] Today, Groupe URD works on themes which are specific to each operational sector (Nutrition, Water and sanitation, Protection, Urbanism, etc.) as well as on cross-cutting issues such as aid quality, the environment, disaster risk reduction and prevention and LRRD." www.urd.org

Humanitarian Accountability Partnership-International (formerly the Humanitarian Ombudsman Project and the Humanitarian Accountability Project: Voice for People Affected by Disaster and Conflict)

The Humanitarian Accountability Partnership-International is a partnership of members agencies that aim "to make humanitarian action accountable to its intended beneficiaries: those people whose lives are at risk due to armed conflict or other calamitous events."
For documents on HAP please also see below www.hapinternational.org

MANGO - Management Accounting for Non Governmental Organisations

"Mango exists to help aid agencies and NGOs to work more effectively. We help strengthen their financial management by providing:

financial training for NGO staff;
finance staff to work with NGOs;
publications, including our free Guide;
professional networking opportunities;
consultancy services.
We contribute to debates on accountability in the NGO sector, e.g. through our Who Counts? campaign, as a member of HAP and by working with BOND.
We run a register of finance staff who we place to work with NGOs in the field and HQ."
www.mango.org.uk

People in Aid

"People In Aid is a global network of development and humanitarian assistance agencies. We help organisations whose goal is the relief of poverty and suffering to enhance the impact they make through better management and support of staff and volunteers."
www.peopleinaid.org

Quality COMPAS

"The Quality COMPAS is the result of a six-year research project on quality issues in the humanitarian sector. The Quality COMPAS is a Quality Assurance method which comes equipped with its own set of tools, training modules and consultancy services. These components have been designed specifically for aid agencies with the overall aim of improving services provided to crisis-affected populations."
The Quality COMPAS website is managed by Groupe URD.
www.compasqualite.org/en/index/index.php

General

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Background Paper: Best Practice Experience at the National Level [PDF] (posted: 21 October 2011)

Background Paper: Building Trust: Challenges for National Authorities and International Aid Agencies in Working Together in Times of Disasters [PDF] (posted: 21 October 2011)

Background Paper: Regional and International Initiatives [PDF] (posted: 21 October 2011)

International Dialogue on Strengthening Partnership in Disaster Response: Bridging National and International Support: Annotated Agenda [Word] (posted: 21 October 2011)

Enhancing the Effectiveness and Quality of International Disaster Assistance: International and Regional Initiatives to Support Affected States - ECOSOC Side Event 21 July 2011 [PDF] (posted: 15 July 2011)
ECOSOC, Humanitarian Affairs Segment, Side Event, 21 July 2011, Palais des Nations - Room XXV - 13:15-14:45

Accountability to Disaster-Affected Populations: A Peer Review by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response - IASC Working Group 74th Meeting, Geneva, 13-15 July 2009 [Word] (posted: 2 July 2009)
Session 4.4

Accountability Paper for the IASC - IASC Working Group 74th Meeting, Geneva, 13-15 July 2009 [Word] (posted: 2 July 2009)
Session 4.4

Sample Letter for Endorsing the Statement of Commitment on Eliminating Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by UN and Non-UN Personnel [Word] (posted: 16 March 2009)

Developing Cluster Responsibilities and Accountability (posted: 11 July 2005)
IASC Working Group on Humanitarian Reform, New York, 12 July 2005

IDPs: Strengthening UN Agency Accountability in Crises of Internal Displacement-Background Paper (posted: 14 June 2005)
IASC WG 61st Meeting, 22-23 June 2005

Ensuring Accountability for the Implementation of the IASC Policy on IDPs (posted: 13 January 2004)
Briefing Note on Recent Discussions in the Senior Network on Internal Displacement

Accountability Mechanisms, Discussion Paper (posted: 7 November 2003)
Background Document for the 126th Meeting of the ICVA Executive Committee, 30 and 31 October 2003