The HAP Roving Team was deployed to Sri Lanka from 22 July- 21st October, 2009 with the aim to improve understanding about, and strengthen performance of, the humanitarian accountability and quality management practices of participating HAP Members and their partners responding to the humanitarian crisis in northern Sri Lanka. During this time the team worked in Colombo and at Vavuniya District, (Menik Farm is located here), with 17 HAP Members and/or their implementing partners, over 140 agency staff, 9 non-HAP agencies, and held discussions with key humanitarian actors. In June 2009, approximately 250,000 disaster-survivors who had escaped the conflict in Northern Sri Lanka were interned in Menik Farm making it one of the of the largest camp for internally displaced person (IDPs) in the world. The complex and restrictive operational context in Sri Lanka hindered the safeguarding of protection rights, consultation with beneficiaries, their participation in the design and implementation of projects, and the provision of safe avenues for registering complaints. The context has remained fluid, with the return of IDPs starting in September and according to UN1 sources by November 2009, the pace of returns accelerated allowing around 90,000 IDPs to leave the camps. The aim of the HAP deployment was to provide support to agencies in increasing understanding of humanitarian accountability in light of the prevailing context, and to highlight internal and external efforts and actions that could decrease the accountability deficit within the current constraints. All activities undertaken aimed to provide support to strengthen NGO accountability primarily to affected-people in the ongoing humanitarian response as well as planned future assistance. The objectives included: a) Delivering appropriate immediate and direct support to interested agencies. This was done through inter-agency workshops; guided self-assessment process undertaken by to ACTED, Christian Aid- DanChurchAid partner OfERR, Habitat for Humanity Sri Lanka Mercy Malaysia, Save the Children in Sri Lanka, World Vision in Sri Lanka and provision of context-specific and direct support at Colombo and Vavuniya (which included a visit to Menik Farm). An inter-agency lesson learnt event was held towards the end of the deployment and relevant learning resources were made available to the agencies. Tailored support to CARE Sri Lanka and additional support to Christian Aid and ACTED was also provided. b) To facilitate collective learning between HAP members, their partners and other interested agencies within Sri Lanka. Planned activities included establishing an accountability working group, however this could not be undertaken due to a range of reasons, and this activity is being reviewed for future deployments. The HAP 2007 Standard was translated into local languages by Lutheran World Relief Sri Lanka. Case studies and tools from other agencies across the world were shared and used to enhance the wider learning of staff in Sri Lanka. Three new case studies related to the application of accountability and the HAP 2007 Standard were also developed and more are anticipated. A number of staff also participated in the HAP 2007 Standard Review Process and contributed their expertise. To ensure wider awareness and understanding of accountability issues, an inter-agency workshop for non-HAP Members was held, along with bi-lateral meetings with agencies, UNHCR and donor community operating in Sri Lanka. c) To analyse, and share outputs and lessons learnt during the deployment, so that HAP and member agencies can continually improve impact and practice. An externally facilitated After-Action Review was held on 15th October. The report examines the activities and impact of the deployment and will be shared with participating agencies and focal points. Staff from participating agencies also highlighted their immediate and long term actions and the progress being made.
