Criteria for ICVA Missions

As agreed by the ICVA Executive Committee at its 125th Session,
12-13 June 2003

Background

In the past, "ICVA missions" have been undertaken to Burma (1992), Mexico and Guatemala (1993), and Chiapas (1995), possibly among others. Based on the reports of the above-mentioned missions, the missions consisted of four to six persons and were generally meant to assess the humanitarian and refugee situations and to provide recommendations for improvements. The missions met with government officials, UN representatives, and NGOs.

The idea of re-starting ICVA missions arose during discussions around ICVA's Strategic Work Plan 2003-2005. It was felt that such missions were a way of raising awareness of the humanitarian issues in a specific country or region. Such a mission would also be an excellent way of ICVA members working together to carry out advocacy on a situation considered to be a "forgotten crisis," one of the sub-themes of the ICVA Conference held prior to the last General Assembly (February 2003) and a direct means of following-up on the discussions at the Conference.

As foreseen in the Strategic Work Plan, a field visit by a Secretariat staff member could prepare the ground for an ICVA field mission. At the same time, the Executive Committee noted that ICVA missions should not put too much of a burden on Secretariat staff.

The question arises, "Where should an ICVA mission go?" Past missions have been the result of recommendations by Working Groups (e.g. the Regional Work Group for Central America and Mexico and the ICVA Sub-Group on Latin America and the Caribbean) or invitations by groups of NGOs (e.g. NGOs in Bangkok).

During the ICVA Conference discussion on "forgotten crises," it was suggested that an ICVA mission could focus on such a crisis. In terms of determining which crisis, however, is not necessarily a simple decision. Several factors have to be taken into consideration when undertaking such a high-profile mission, including the impact on existing programmes, the impact on the situation, and the willingness of the authorities to allow such a mission.

Criteria for an ICVA Mission

1. There should be a stated need, and desire, from at least two ICVA members or partners (other NGOs or UN agencies) to have such a mission take place. Without such an "invitation," the cooperation from the field will be limited.
2. There should be clear objectives to the mission that are developed in cooperation and consultation with NGOs working on the ground.
3. There should be at least two or three ICVA members working in the area that can facilitate the mission.
4. There should be a strategy for following-up on the findings and recommendations of the mission, for example, a presentation at the Inter-Agency Standing Committee or its Working Group and recommendations on what the IASC(-WG) should do.
5. The area chosen should be one that is relevant to the work of ICVA, i.e. humanitarian issues, refugee/IDP situation, "cross-over" issues between relief and development.
6. Priority for missions should be given to "forgotten crises" and where an ICVA mission is expected to have a positive outcome on the situation. Elements of a "forgotten crisis" include a lack of political interest on the part of the international community, even in cases where there is media coverage of a situation; a limited number of humanitarian actors in an area where there are unmet humanitarian needs; and inadequate funding for programmes where there are identified humanitarian needs.
7. ICVA missions' participants should include international and national NGOs, which are, preferably, ICVA members or are potential ICVA members.

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