Humanitarian Performance Project

1
Humanitarian Performance Project

• ALNAP Biannual Meeting Madrid, 5th June

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Presentation structure Some background and 4
questions

• Based on the mapping and initial findings, is
  there a clear need and justification for a
  mechanism for assessing overall system-wide
  performance?
• How might such a mechanism utilise and add
  value to existing mechanisms?
• How would such a mechanism be used by different
  stakeholders in the sector, and what benefits
  would it yield?
• What form should the HPP take?
• Mechanism has yet to be defined. It could be a
  platform, a change process, a series of
  interlinked mechanisms or a coalition of interest
  groups. Full members will guide the way
  mechanism is defined.

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Some background

• Extensive document search
• Face-to-face and phone interviews with 45
  individuals
• Email correspondence with another 30 individuals
• Draft Inventory of 34 projects, initiatives and
  approaches relevant to performance assessment
• Preliminary mapping of the entries in the draft
  inventory
• The draft inventory and the maps need to be
  checked and verified by the projects and would
  justify further analysis/mapping

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Based on the mapping and initial findings, is
there a clear need and justification for a
mechanism for assessing overall system-wide
performance?

• On the basis of my interviews and discussions
  (conducted before the preliminary mapping work
  was undertaken) Yes, there is widespread
  interest in and general support for work that
  would lead to overall, system-wide performance
  assessment
• The preliminary mapping reveals
• The majority of current data gathering efforts
  are focused on initial needs assessments and
  assessments during operations. There is a deficit
  in information that will enable system-wide
  performance assessment
• Comparatively limited attention is currently
  being given to analysing processes of aid
  delivery, coordination or assessing outcomes
• Very limited attention or effort is currently
  being given to seeking the views of the affected
  population and recipients of assistance.
• There seems to be both need and justification for
  a mechanism that advocates for, and supports
  efforts to, fill the deficit

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How might such a mechanism utilise and add
value to existing mechanisms?

• Many of the building blocks are in place SMART,
  HNTS, FSAU-IPC, OCHA ACE, CREDs EM-DAT and
  CE-DAT, Sphere Standards, Beneficiary Perception
  Surveys, The Listening Project, etc.
• What is lacking is
• Adequate orientation of effort towards overall
  performance assessment
• A vision of what an overall performance
  assessment/mechanism would look like and the
  various elements that should comprise it
• A sense of how this might be achieved
  collectively and fairly
• DFIDs difficult experience with its 2005
  Benchmarking Initiative shows the need for
  approaches that are collective and inclusive
• An ALNAP project (HPP) could provide the vehicle
  for the journey
• It wouldnt replace or duplicate any existing
  mechanisms. It would work collaboratively but
  focused on delivering overall, system-wide
  performance assessments on a regular basis

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How would such a mechanism be used by different
stakeholders in the sector and what benefits
would it yield?

• The process of developing the mechanism would
  provide those that want such a mechanism with a
  means of achieving it
• Once the mechanism is functioning, the
  humanitarian system will have a more objective
  basis for
• Describing and quantifying its overall
  achievements
• Revealing areas that are working well and areas
  that can be improved
• Clarifying what is within its control and for
  which it is responsible and what is beyond its
  control and others are responsible for
• The following benefits could be anticipated
• More willing support from public and private
  funding sources
• Greater self-knowledge and sense of identity
• Provide the humanitarian system with an overall
  performance assessment framework that would help
  locate the various accountability, quality,
  evaluation and performance tools and highlight
  any gaps remaining if a comprehensive framework
  is to be achieved

10
What form should the HPP take?

• This is for Full Members to determine.
• If Advocacy and Support are accepted as
  appropriate roles then how should the balance
  between the two be determined?
• It may be helpful to approach this in terms of
  the following dimensions
• Inclusive or Exclusive? (degree of inclusion of
  wider groups and networks beyond ALNAP)
• Operational or Non-operational (degree of
  involvement in pilots/work at the field level)
• Policy or Practice (balance between the
  thinking/analysis and the doing/practical action)
  

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Breakout Groups

• 5 breakout groups
• Appoint a chair and a rapporteur
• Consider each of the questions
• Based on the mapping and initial findings, is
  there a clear need and justification for a
  mechanism for assessing overall system-wide
  performance?
• How might such a mechanism utilise and add
  value to existing mechanisms?
• How would such a mechanism be used by different
  stakeholders in the sector, and what benefits
  would it yield?
• What form should the HPP take?
• Be ready to report back in plenary by .am