2008 Annual Meeting
On 12 December 2008, representatives from 19 agencies participated in the Annual Peer Support Group meeting hosted in London by Muslim Aid. The agenda was prepared by an organising committee - Kate Bowen (Tearfund), Monica Blagescu (HAP), Alex Jacobs (MANGO), and Julian Srodecki (World Vision International) - with input from the wider membership.
Some presentations and brief notes captured on flipcharts during the sessions are available below.
Introduction
Welcome from Saif Ahmad, CEO, Muslim Aid
Monica Blagescu: Presentation from the HAP Secretariat (.ppt)
Session 1: Quality and Accountability in the Nargis Response
Jock Baker (CARE International): Debrief on the Real Time Evaluation (.ppt)
Meri Ghorkhmazyan (SCUK): SCUK Accountability Approaches in Myanmar (.ppt)
Session 2: Liberia and the Cyclone Sidr Response
Kate Bowen & Amy Rowlands (Tearfund): Beneficiary Accountability in Tearfund DMT Liberia (.pdf)
Hamid Azad (Muslim Aid): Beneficiary accountability in the Sidr Response
Session 3: Promoting relevant staff attitudes and behaviours
Toireas Ni Bhriain & Robyn Wilford (Concern): The Listen First Project (.doc)
Jonathan Potter (People in Aid)
Session 4: Complaint handling processes for agencies working through partners
Facilîtated by Smruti Patel (HAP)
Session 5: Complaint handling by agencies that are directly operational
Facilitated by Julian Srodecki (World Vision International)
Session 6: The HAP Standard
Facilitated by Monica Blagescu (HAP)
Session 7: Certification – where to?
Facilitated by David Bainbridge (Tearfund)
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HAP staff leading a focus group discussion with beneficiaries of Muslim Aid's programme in Sarankhola Upazilla, Bagerhat District, Bangladesh, November 2008
"In my field work, I saw humanitarian action at its best - heroism, courage, creativity, flexibility - but also at its worst: lack of understanding, respect for the mission and the beneficiaries. Humanitarian action does not exist for our sake. We are involved because we want to protect, rebuild, and restore. Human beings must be at the centre of our responsibilities."
Søren Jessen-Petersen - former SRSG Kosovo
