Sharing information
Benchmark three of the 2010 HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management (pdf, 777 Kb) stipulates that the organisation ensures that the people it aims to assist and other stakeholders have access to timely, relevant and clear information about the organisation and its activities.
Policies, procedures and guidelines on information sharing
The Information provision guidelines (World Vision Field Tool, Haiti, 2010) detail how to provide information to communities. The document is available in English, Creole and French.
What is a non-disclosure policy? (HAP International, 2008). This document provides advice to agencies how to include a non-disclosure policy to explicitly outline the information an agency will and will not make public.
The Open Information Policy (OPI) (Christian Aid) outlines the organisational commitment to transparency and the six main areas of information that will be shared with supporters, partners and the people the agency works with.
The Public Information Board Notes (Oxfam GB, 2008) form part of the staff toolkit. They highlight pros and cons and points to consider when using information boards, and lessons learnt on what makes a good bulletin board.
The Need to Know List (Oxfam GB, 2008) guides staff when communicating about programmes to ensure availability and consistency of information.
Information sharing case studies and examples of good practice
Feedback Mechanisms in International Organizations (Collaborative Learning Projects, 2011). This report highlights current practices in gathering feedback and how to use feedback in organisational decision-making processes to increase effectiveness. It also outlines key lessons learnt and emerging approaches to strengthen feedback mechanisms.
Accountability to Children: Communicating Core Codes through Puppets (World Vision, 2011). This example illustrates the use of puppets to communicate accountability issues to children. Puppets can turn a dry and uninteresting topic into an interactive learning process that both staff and children enjoy. This tool is one of a suite of community accountability tools being developed by and with the field for the field.
Accountability Briefing: Information Sharing with Communities (CAFOD, 2010). This document provides a basic step-by-step guide for CAFOD partners on sharing information with the communities they support through development and/or humanitarian projects. Available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
Practical HAP examples in Zimbabwe (DanChurchAid, 2009). This document outlines a few practical examples of how HAP Principles can be used at project sites while working with partners, including a couple of examples related to information sharing.
Leaflet for staff: Code of Conduct (Save the Children, 2008). Produced for field offices to communicate to staff what Save the Children considers unacceptable behaviour for staff as outlined in their Code of conduct.
Booklet: to raise the awareness of beneficiaries about the Program Participant Protection Policy (Concern Worldwide, Ethiopia, 2008). Using a series of pictures, this booklet clarifies the responsibilities of Concern staff and the standards of behaviour that beneficiaries can expect from them.
Creating information centres in Myanmar (Save the Children, Myanmar, 2009). This case study outlines the experience of operating Information Centres in the Delta region alongside food distribution services. The Centres provide information on the programme, distribution process and locations, and allow community members to feed back questions, complaints and suggestions to agency's staff. Also available in French.
Community notice boards to increase transparency (Tearfund, 2007). This document outlines the experience of setting up community notice boards in ten villages in Northern Kenya in order to share information with communities. Despite low levels of literacy, several positive impacts were observed.
Leaflet: Complaints Mechanisms Procedure Uganda (Danish Refugee Council, 2008) example leaflet used to communicate the basics about their complaints and response mechanism with community members.
Leaflet: Sidr Special Bulletin (Muslim Aid, 2008). This leaflet is used in Saraonkhola, Bangladesh, to communicate project plans with a range of stakeholders, including beneficiary communities.
Construction of Pustu (primary health clinic) on Nias Island, Indonesia (Medair, 2008). Medair Indonesia created and started using signboards in the villages of Marao, Tuhemberua, Meluo, Hilliweto and Sifaoro’asi on Nias Island. Later, further signboards were used in Camat Lolowau, SMP Hiliotalua, Kolotano, Hiliwaebu and Loloana. Each signboard contained information on the organisation in general, Medair Nias and information about what Medair is doing in the village (with some pictures).
'Young Voices, Big Impressions' (Save the Children, Myanmar, 2009). This is a child friendly report based on an external evaluation.
Key messages for distributions in Creole (World Vision, Haiti, 2010). One pager handed out at distribution points outlining who the agency is and what it does, including key protection messages.
Financial transparency
Top Tips on Beneficiary Reporting (MANGO, 2008). This document illustrates how financial reporting to beneficiaries can improve participation and make NGOs more accountable to the people they aim to help.
