PROCEEDINGS FROM 19TH SEMI-ANNUAL ALNAP

UNCLAS NAIROBI 003016 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/E, EPRATT AID/W FOR AA/DCHA, WGARVELINK, LROGERS DCHA/OFDA FOR GGOTTLIEB, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, PMORRIS, CGOTTSCHALK, CPRATT DCHA/FFP FOR JDWORKEN AFR/EA FOR JBORNS, JESCALONA USUN FOR EMALY BRUSSELS FOR PLERNER ROME FOR FODAG GENEVA FOR NKYLOH NSC FOR TSHORTLEY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF SOCI UN XA SUBJECT: PROCEEDINGS FROM 19TH SEMI-ANNUAL ALNAP MEETING Summary ¶1. From June 13 to 15, 2006, the Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action (ALNAP) convened its 19th semi- annual conference. The aim of the meeting was for humanitarian actors to draw out key aspects of learning, accountability, and performance related to food security, and to identify actions for ALNAP to encourage positive system-wide change. USAID/DCHA/OFDA's Humanitarian Coordination Specialist attended the conference, as USAID's representative on ALNAP's Steering Committee. End Summary. Background ¶2. Born in 1997 in the aftermath of the Rwanda genocide, ALNAP is a collective response by the humanitarian community, dedicated to improving humanitarian performance through increased learning and accountability. ALNAP incorporates many key humanitarian organizations and experts, including members from donor, non-governmental, Red Cross/Crescent, United Nations, independent, and academic organizations. ALNAP focuses on improving humanitarian performance, based on the findings of evaluations and studies. ALNAP now includes 60 Full Members and 600 Observer Members. USAID is part of the nine-member Steering Committee, and funds both the ALNAP Secretariat and various evaluations. ¶3. The theme of the 19th semiannual conference was food security, and discussions included: non-food related sectors and alternatives to food aid; the role of participation by disaster-affected communities in food security interventions; early warning, preparedness, and mitigation; the objectives of real time evaluations; and impact assessment. In addition, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Somalia Food Security Analysis Unit (FSAU) presented its proposed "phase classification" as a common analytical framework or format for describing the nature and severity of humanitarian crises. ¶4. A scheduled food aid workshop was cancelled because conference participants felt strongly that the subject had been exhausted in other fora and there was far greater appetite for exploring alternatives to food aid. Some ALNAP members questioned the need for "holism," referring to the call for humanitarians to provide "developmental relief" that includes a broad range of livelihoods activities. The majority of conference participants, comprising Nairobi-based practitioners, espoused an "economic security" approach, i.e., providing aid that moves beyond food security interventions. This fueled debate surrounding the parameters of emergency humanitarian action. Steering Committee ¶5. As the current Steering Committee Chairperson from Oxfam is stepping down to take a position in the private sector, USAID/OFDA proposed Eleanor Monbiot of World Vision as a replacement, and the proposal was accepted. As a nurse practitioner based in Nairobi and with considerable field experience, Ms. Monbiot represents one of the two dominant sub-groups within ALNAP: aid practitioners and academics. ¶6. USAID/OFDA supported Ms. Monbiot's candidacy in light of the need to keep ALNAP grounded in its connection to field work. Monbiot and other relatively new members of the Steering Committee concurred with the USAID/OFDA representative on this point, as well as on the need to diversify ALNAP's membership to include greater gender and geographic balance. ALNAP's Workplan ¶7. Following are highlights from ALNAP's current Workplan: The Review of Humanitarian Action (RHA): The RHA is ALNAP's flagship publication. Published annually, it aims to monitor humanitarian performance and key issues for the sector, while also highlighting key findings from recent evaluative reports for a wider audience. Evaluation Synthesis Report: ALNAP publishes an annual synthesis of current evaluation findings as part of the Review of Humanitarian Action series. It aims to promote learning by amplifying evaluation, and acting as a monitor for performance and emerging trends over time. This year's Synthesis will highlight "neglected emergencies," among other subjects. Utilization study: This study aims to explore the reasons (e.g., political) behind the decisions by humanitarian actors to either assimilate or not act on evaluation findings. ALNAP is considering an Arabic version of its Protection Guide, as well as the manual "How to Evaluate Humanitarian Action". ALNAP has launched a new website, www.alnap.org, providing detailed information on its background and structure, and showcasing past and current evaluations. ALNAP members approved a new category of Honorary Membership as an award for those who have made a substantial contribution to learning in the humanitarian field. In 2006, Honorary Membership will be conferred on Larry Minear, Director of the Humanitarianism and War Project at the Feinstein International Famine Center at Tufts University, as he officially retires from humanitarian work. Shaping ALNAP's Future ¶8. The ALNAP Secretariat has asked the Steering Committee for a strategy session to discuss ALNAP's direction for the next five years. Although ALNAP's membership has grown consistently, some members point out that the Tsunami Evaluation, which is to be launched on July 14, raises many of the same issues and areas for improvement as the Joint Evaluation of Emergency Assistance to Rwanda (JEEAR) did a decade ago, pointing to a failure by aid agencies to assimilate evaluation findings. The Secretariat points to the fact that during 2002 to 2003, 23 out of 51 Full Members provided funding for ALNAP's core budget (now at 467,000 British pounds),whereas in the 2006 to 2007 period, 33 out of 56 Full Members contribute. (Note: The USG, through USAID/OFDA, has provided USD 150,000 per year to ALNAP's core budget over the past few years, in addition to funding various studies conducted by ALNAP. End note.) Moreover, since 2002, only three members have withdrawn from ALNAP while 10 have joined. ¶9. There are different schools of thought within the ALNAP membership as to how prescriptive ALNAP should be in following-up on evaluation results. Generally, ALNAP's donor members and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) would like to see a more hands-on role in ensuring that the various stakeholders incorporate findings from evaluations such as the Tsunami Evaluation. (Note: This is the largest and potentially most seminal piece of introspection by the humanitarian community since the JEEAR, and will have no "home" once the Evaluation is launched on July 14 and the Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC) secretariat is disbanded in August. USAID/OFDA considers ALNAP an appropriate mechanism to monitor and pursue follow-up on the Evaluation's impressive list of recommended actions. End note.) ¶10. The next ALNAP conference will be held in Rome in December, and will be hosted by FAO and the UN World Food Program (WFP). The conference will focus on the role of the media in emergencies, as well as on the Tsunami Evaluation. In addition, NGOs working on the SIPDIS Gates' Emergency Capacity Building Project (ECBP) will convene in Rome at approximately the same time and will provide a readout of the status of the ECBP at the ALNAP conference. ROWE