Participation by Crisis-affected Populations in Humanitarian Action Practitioners' Handbook (draft)

London, 2003
by Charlotte Dufour, François Grünewald and Karla Levy

Summary

This ALNAP Global Study responds to a growing consensus that the consultation and participation of disaster-affected populations during the planning, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian action is critical to the accountability and performance of the humanitarian sector.

Through direct observation of current practice in five country case studies, the Global Study series seeks to reveal mechanisms by which the voice of affected populations can be enhanced, while remaining alert to the difficulties posed by emergencies.

This Practitioners' Handbook is intended as a manual for international humanitarian personnel, as well as staff working for national and local organisations, and is based on the empirical evidence of the five case studies. A revised edition called 'The Participation Handbook - Involving crisis affected people in humanitarian action' will be published in English, French and Spanish by Groupe URD in 2009/10.

Contents

Foreword
List of Acronyms
Preamble

I. Background
II. Objectives And Target Audience
III. Content And Use Of The Handbook
IV. Final Tips

Introduction
Participation Of Crisis-affected Populations In Humanitarian Action

A Few Essential Questions
A. Participation …
B. Of Crisis-affected Populations …
C. In Humanitarian Action
D. Your Strategy For Participation

Part 1: Designing A Strategy For Participation In Humanitarian Action

Chapter 1
Factors Affecting Participation in Humanitarian Action

1.1 A continuous process
1.2 Developing your strategy for participation: the context
1.3 Developing your strategy for participation: the affected population
1.4 Developing your strategy for participation: the humanitarian aid organisation
1.5 Bringing it all together

Chapter 2
The Communication Imperative

2.1 Communication: a two-way process
2.2 Tools for communication
2.3 Transparency: a prerequisite for trust

Conclusion

Part 2: Participation Throughout The Project Cycle

Chapter 3:
Assessment

3.1 Before you begin
3.2 Understanding the context
3.3 Understanding the crisis and its effects
3.4 Understanding who is who
3.5 Participatory vulnerability and capacity analysis
3.6 Understanding needs and demands
3.7 Key issues in the assessment phase and the tools available

Chapter 4
Design

4.1 Before you begin
4.2 Participatory identification of solutions
4.3 Participatory prioritisation
4.4 Participatory targeting
4.5 The logical framework: a team-building mechanism
4.6 Presentation of information to the affected population
4.7 Conclusion

Chapter 5
Implementation

5.1 Clarify your approach
5.2 Participation in implementation
5.3 Establishing contract and partnership agreements
5.4 Do not forget local capacities!
5.5 Conclusion

Chapter 6
Monitoring

6.1 Approaching participatory monitoring
6.2 Participatory monitoring: key principles
6.3 The design of a participatory monitoring process
6.4 Implementation of the monitoring process
6.5 The keys to successful participatory monitoring

Chapter 7
Evaluation

7.1 Approaching participatory evaluation
7.2 Participatory evaluation: key principles
7.3 The process
7.4 Design of the evaluation process
7.5 Implementation of the evaluation
7.6 The keys to successful participatory evaluation
7.7 Conclusion: accountability and learning

Conclusion of Part 2

Part 3: Sector-related Issues

Chapter 8: Participation and Food Security

Chapter 9: Participation and Water/Sanitation Programmes

Chapter 10: Participatory Habitat and Shelter Programmes

Chapter 11: Participation and Health Programmes

Chapter 12: Participation and Education

Conclusion

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