Putting people at the centre: accountability to affected populations

This is part of the Explain: Essential briefings for humanitarian decision-makers series.

Accountability has long been at the forefront of humanitarian discourse, but progress for people affected by crisis is stalling. The ‘participation revolution’ promised by the Grand Bargain hasn’t materialised and those giving feedback are increasingly disillusioned by what they experience as a non-responsive and top-down aid system.

Reduced budgets and rising needs are leading stretched donors and agencies to question whether they must trade off community engagement approaches against ‘life-saving’ activities.

Feedback mechanisms have become prolific in humanitarian responses, but agencies struggle to close the feedback loop by meaningfully addressing local concerns, particularly for people trapped in protracted displacement or multiple cycles of crisis.

Download the briefings above, or watch the video presentation below.