The Inter-Agency Accountability Working Group in Ethiopia

The Inter-Agency Accountability Working Group in Ethiopia (IAAWG-E) is a collaborative network primarily comprised of agencies operating in Ethiopia who aim to adhere to the IASC  Commitments on Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), Sphere and the Humanitarian Partnership Standards (HSP) as a whole. The working group was established in Addis Ababa in 2009 by organizations that have strong interest in promoting accountability in humanitarian and development work using the HAP standards. Currently, the working group has 51 members (NGO and UN, Cluster Lead Agencies etc.), with IOM Ethiopia as the lead Co-Chair and Plan International Ethiopia as supporting Co-Chair, for the year 2022.

• Joint Regional Network for Tigray -ToR
• Key milestones -June – August 2021
• Standard Operating Procedures 
• IAAWG - Common Data Points for Tracking and Reporting AAP
• IAAWG - Workplan 2021
• IAAWG-E Meeting Minutes 2021
• AAP Working Group Workplan 2022-2023

A. AAP Principles and Frameworks

• The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability
• OCHA On Message,  Accountability to Affected People | OCHA (unocha.org)
• IASC Revised Commitments on Accountability to Affected Populations and Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, 2017
• IASC Collective Accountability to Affected People (AAP) Framework
• IASC Collective AAP resources (3 pager)
• Sphere Standards
• Guidance Note: Data Responsibility and Accountability to affected people in Humanitarian Action

B. AAP Resource Libraries

• Community Engagement Hub
• ALNAP (Accountability & Inclusion for People-Centered Humanitarian Action)
• CDAC Network
• CDAC Message Library (support quick dissemination of critical information to people affected)

C.  AAP Organisational and Programmatic Compliance Assessment

• CHS Self-Assessment

D. Online Self-Paced Course (AAP ad CHS)

• CHS Training (kayaconnect.org)
• CHS 2024 Interactive Handbook
• Introduction to AAP on kayaconnect
• Online self-paced training on Collective AAP. You will be be required to self-enroll for the course through a few easy steps.

E. Bit-sized AAP Videos

• The importance of community engagement during a crisis (OCHA)
• An introduction to community engagement and accountability (Red Cross)
• Communication is aid (Infoasaid)

F. Additional AAP Resources for Complaints and Feedback Mechanisms

• UNHCR tool kit - key considerations in establishing feedback mechanisms and 10 steps in setting up an effective feedback mechanism
• IASC best practice guide for inter-agency community-based complaints mechanism: Page 22 contains a checklist that addresses PSEA considerations
• IFRC Feedback Tool Kit: It contains quite a number of tools based on the various stages (4) in establishing and running an effective CFM.
• IFRC Hotline in a box: an older guide but very useful in detailing the steps in a simple and user-friendly format.
• Plan International's Child Friendly CFM Guide and Tool Kit
• IFRC guide on establishing CFMs in migration contexts
• Start Network Guidance on establishing CFMs in mixed migration contexts
• Rapid Guide on setting up Client Feedback Mechanisms - International Rescue Committee (IRC)
• Guidance to present, Interpret and Respond to Client Feedback - International Rescue Committee (IRC)

• Making collective accountability to affected Populations a Reality (8 September 2021, 14:00-16:00 CET)
• Practitioner insights: Applying guidance on Accountability and Inclusion (5 October 2021, 14:00-16:00 CET)
• Accountability and Inclusion in the Covid-19 response: lessons for the future (2 November 2021, 14:00-16:00 CET)
• Complaints and feedback mechanisms: Making much-needed changes (7 December, 14:00-16:00 CET)

Caroline Ronsin
MEAL Coordinator
International Organization for Migration-Ethiopia 
Email: cronsin@iom.int

Hiwotie Simachew
Deputy Country Director
Plan International Ethiopia
Email: hiwotie.simachew@plan-international.org

Join the AAP Working Group [Registration Link]
Monthly online meetings: First Thursday of every month, 2:00pm - 3:00pm