The Humanitarian Performance Project

Humanitarian Performance Project

Briefing Note No.1 
Briefing Note No.2

Element 1:
Counting what counts: performance and effectiveness in the humanitarian sector (8th RHA)

Element 2:
Improving humanitarian impact assessment: bridging theory and practice (8th RHA)

Element 3 - The State of the System report:
Terms of Reference

Proposal from Humanitarian Outcomes

Inception report (May 2009)

Inventory of the principal projects, initiatives and approaches which are relevant to overall performance assessment of the humanitarian system (draft, July 2008)

Provisional overview paper of the ALNAP Humanitarian Performance Project: How feasible is it to monitor and report on the overall performance of the humanitarian system? (September 2008)

Element 4:
Joint evaluations coming of age? The quality and future scope of joint evaluations (7th RHA)

Element 5:
Indicators Interest Group Note

Element 6 - Beneficiary surveys:
Watch this space for more details.

ALNAP has always been concerned with finding ways to assess and report on system-wide performance. The evaluation syntheses in different editions of the Review of Humanitarian Action (RHA) collectively present an important longitudinal review of sector-wide performance issues.

ALNAP played a central role in the formation and facilitation of the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC). The TEC carried out the first evaluation of system-wide performance since the joint evaluation of humanitarian aid to Rwanda in 1996.

Since the publication of the TEC synthesis report in 2006, ongoing discussions have explored the feasibility, value and possible scope of an improved mechanism for reviewing system-wide performance. This work is collectively referred to as the Humanitarian Performance Project (HPP), and has been informed by a series of membership-wide consultations. The ALNAP strategy for 2008-2013 includes the specific action of developing:

“an annual structured commentary on system-wide performance related issues and to make a judgement on the progress the system has made in trying to improve performance”.

The Humanitarian Performance Project now comprises six interrelated elements focusing on different aspects of understanding and managing performance:

Element 1:
Work to understand performance mechanisms within the sector, and how they might be usefully integrated

Element 2:
Impact assessment research and study

Element 3:
Developing and piloting the ‘State of the system’ report 

Element 4:
Work to understand collective action for performance, including joint evaluations study and Discussion Paper on collective action in humanitarian work (to be published in September 2009)

Element 5:
An ALNAP working group on performance indicators (to be launched formally in Autumn 2009)

Element 6:
Use of beneficiary surveys in performance assessment (to be launched in Autumn 2010)

The Humanitarian Performance Project is detailed in two Briefing Notes (Briefing Note No.1 and Briefing Note No.2) which describe progress to date and explain the next steps in this exciting and innovative area of work. A pilot project is currently underway. These HPP Briefing Notes will be circulated regularly to update the ALNAP membership on the progress of the HPP, and to outline opportunities for inputs and engagement. 

Share and bookmark