and in humanitarian response

Module21 andin humanitarian response Oct-05-11 1

Be familiar with basic principles of standards and accountability Know some universal standards for humanitarian response Be familiar with some inter-agency accountability initiatives being implemented Be familiar with the difference between SPHERE minimum standards, key actions, key indicators and guidance notes Learning objectives Oct-05-11 2

Introduction • Standards and Accountability are linked. • Standards establish the thresholds or levels required to achieve the necessary quality for a particular good or service. • Accountability* is about being responsible to someone that certain standards have been achieved.

Legal standards – laws/rights Principle-based, voluntary standards – codes of conduct Technical standards – e.g. SPHERE standards Various standards Oct-05-11 5

Legal standards - some examples • International Human Rights Law (IHRL) international law that describes the rights of all persons and the obligations (or duties) of States. • Within this e.g. • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child • the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women • International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (includes ‘right to food’!) • the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948:

for all peoples and all nations, Article 25.1 states that “…everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”

The right to food • All human beings have the right to adequate food and the right to be free from hunger. • Such right cannot be suspended even in emergencies (emergencies are sometimes used for justifying suspension of some rights) • The right to food is not a right to be fed, but primarily the right to feed oneself with dignity.

Legal standards- Human rights law The Right to Food requires States to provide an enabling environment in which people can use their full potential to produce or procure adequate food for themselves and their families. However, when people are not able to feed themselves with their own means, for instance because of an armed conflict, natural disaster or because they are in detention, the State has a responsibility to provide food directly.

National legislation on foods and supplements, GMOs, labelling and marketing of breast milk substitutes are all examples of relevant national legal standards that can guide a nutrition-focused humanitarian response.

Various standards Legal standards – laws/rights Principle-based, voluntary standards – codes of conduct Technical standards – e.g. SPHERE standards Oct-05-11 6

10 Principle Commitments of the Code of Conduct • The humanitarian imperative comes first; • Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the • recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities • are calculated on the basis of need alone; • Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious • standpoint; • We shall endeavor not to be used as an instrument of government • foreign policy; • We shall respect culture and custom; • We shall attempt to build disaster response on local capacities; • Ways shall be found to involve program beneficiaries in the management • of relief aid; • Relief aid must strive to reduce vulnerabilities to future disaster • as well as meeting basic needs; • We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and those • from whom we accept resources; • In our information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall • recognize disaster victims as dignified human beings, not hopeless • objects. The Red Cross/NGO Code of Conduct Nutrition Cluster Global Oct-05-11 12

Everyone has the right to receive Humanitarian Assistance in times of disaster. The humanitarian imperative Oct-05-11 13

Humanity: to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found Impartiality: no discrimination – relieve suffering guided by needs Independence: maintain autonomy to be able to act in accordance with the principles Neutrality: not taking sides in hostilities Additionally the Code of Conduct has values Oct-05-11 14

In 2007, > 400 organizations signed up to the Code of Conduct but there is no agency/body who can hold signatories to account… Code of Conduct Oct-05-11 15

The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes The International Code = World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution (1981) + subsequent relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions • Protection from commercial influences on infant feeding choices. • It does not ban the use of infant formula or bottles. • Controls how breast milk substitutes, bottles and teats are produced, packaged, promoted and provided. • The Code prohibits free/low cost supplies in any part of the health care system. • Governments encouraged to take legislative measures. • Adoption and adherence to the Code is a minimum requirement worldwide. • Upholding the Code is even more critical in emergencies.

General concern with quality and accountability has been ongoing Humanitarian practice from past no longer sufficient (complexity and number of disasters increasing, changing nature of humanitarian community and increasing diversity, increasing number of actors) Post-Rwanda 1994: Multi-donor evaluation “Unnecessary deaths” The Sphere Project Oct-05-11 17

Aims to improve quality and accountability Launched in 1997 by group of NGOs and Red Cross SPHERE project’s Handbook begins with a Humanitarian Charter (mix of ethical/legal rights/obligations/beliefs) The Sphere Project Oct-05-11 18

2004 Sphere Handbook 2011 revised Sphere Handbook Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response The Humanitarian Charter - three principles: The right to life with dignity The right to protection and security The right to receive humanitarian assistance The Sphere Handbook Oct-05-11 19

The handbook is structured around six minimum standards common to all sectors: Community-centered humanitarian response Coordination and partnership Assessment Analysis and design Performance, transparency and learning Aid worker performance Sphere 2011 Oct-05-11 20

One chapter is dedicated to Food and Nutrition Security Assessment and analysis Infant and young child feeding Food assistance Food security and livelihoods Treatment of acute malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies Other chapters on standards from other sectors (which are directly related to the underlying causes of malnutrition): water, sanitation and hygiene promotion; shelter/settlement, non-food items; and health services. Sphere 2011 Oct-05-11 21

Each section includes: Minimum standards: qualitative, specifying minimum levels to be attained in the provision of food security, nutrition and food assistance responses Key actions: activities needed to achieve standards Core indicators: signals that show whether a minimum standard has been attained (quality/quantity) Guidance notes: specific points to consider, guidance on tackling practical difficulties, advice on priority issues, dilemmas, controversies, gaps in knowledge Structure of 2011 Sphere handbook Oct-05-11 22

Appendix 1: Food security and livelihoods assessment checklists Appendix 2: Seed security assessment checklist Appendix 3: Nutrition assessment checklist Appendix 4: Measuring acute malnutrition Appendix 5: Measures of the public health significance of micronutrient deficiencies Appendix 6: Nutritional requirements Oct-05-11 24

Severe acute malnutrition is addressed Management of Acute Malnutrition standard 2: Example Oct-05-11 26

Include in-patient care, out-patient care, referral and community mobilisation components interventions for the management of SAM (see guidance note X) Provide nutritional and medical care according to nationally and internationally recognised guidelines for the management of SAM. (see guidance notes X and Y). Investigate and act on causes of default and non-response or an increase in deaths (see guidance notes X, Y and Z). Key Actions Example Oct-05-11 27

More than 90% of the target population is within <1 day’s return walk (including time for treatment) of the programme site Coverage is >50% in rural areas, >70% in urban areas and >90% in camp situations (see guidance note X). The proportion of discharges from therapeutic care who have died is <10%, recovered is >75% and defaulted is <15% (see guidance note Y). Core Indicators Example Oct-05-11 28

more details on what and how p.170 of Handbook Guidance notes Example Oct-05-11 29

SPHERE Standards Focus on response phase but be alert to transition and recovery: (Some standards will have some indicators which will look at the longer term). Used for M&E of nutrition programmes as proposing minimum standards for programme performance. Often used as a tool in evaluations of humanitarian response – can highlight gaps To some extent universal, BUT indicators need adjustment on an emergency-specific basis. Achieving the standards may also require long periods of time In what contexts standards and core indicators cannot be met Oct-05-11 35

Insecurity or denial of access Displacement Lack of staff Cultural factors Bureaucracy Logistical constraints Lack of finance etc. If core indicators are not met, identify and understand the reasons why and consider alternative strategies Constraining factors include Oct-05-11 36

No body or agency has overall responsibility for technical standards in NiE response Application of minimum standards can create differences in standards of living of emergency-affected and surrounding populations Lack of funds restrict delivery of humanitarian assistance Accountability to whom? Limitations Oct-05-11 37

Standards may be: legal, based on principles and/or voluntary or technical. Everyone has the right to adequate food and to be free from hunger. Everyone also has the right to receive humanitarian assistance in times of disaster. This is known as the humanitarian imperative. The humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality provide a principle-based foundation for nutrition in emergencies. The Code of Conduct sets out ten principles to guide humanitarian action. The Sphere project’s Humanitarian Charter reaffirms that all people affected by disaster and conflict have a right to life with dignity; the right to receive humanitarian assistance; and the right to protection and security. However, there is currently no incentive, or obligation for humanitarian agencies to be accountable to affected communities, other than a voluntary commitment to do so. The Sphere standards specify the minimum acceptable levels to be attained in a humanitarian response. The Food Security and Nutrition standards cover assessment, infant and young child feeding, management of acute malnutrition and food security (food transfers, cash transfers and livelihoods). One of the main unresolved issues in relation to standards and accountability is that there is no body with overall responsibility for technical standards in nutrition in emergency response. Key messages

Any questions?

You endured the whole course of 21 modules, congratulations! Oct-05-11 38

and in humanitarian response