Humanitarian Assistance 7: Empowering beneficiaries: Humanitarian professionals at a crossroads?

Summary: Humanitarian organizations face an inevitable tension that arises from two separate accountability structures. One framework, established by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, holds organizations accountable to host states and donor states. A second framework, the human rights based approach, calls for accountability to individuals affected by hostilities. These two accountability structures create a multiplicity of obligations for humanitarian operators, who must simultaneously respond to the expectations of host state authorities, maintain accountability to donors, and respond to the needs of beneficiaries. The discussion was moderated by Claude Bruderlein (Director, HPCR) and Christina Blunt (ATHA Coordinator, HPCR). Panelists included: Andy Featherstone (Humanitarian Consultant), Brian Kelly (Emergency and Post Crisis Advisor, Asia and Pacific, IOM) and Maria Kiani (Senior Quality and Accountability Advisor, HAP International).