Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) is a key principle in humanitarian action; it emphasises the importance of engaging with and being accountable to the populations served and ensuring intervention methods are dignified, effective and mindful.
We are assessing how well UNICEF has integrated AAP principles into its humanitarian and development programmes from 2020 to the present. We will generate actionable insights and recommendations to advance UNICEF’s APP in humanitarian programming.
The findings will also contribute to broader efforts within the humanitarian community to enhance accountability and ensure that aid is delivered in a manner that respects and empowers those it is intended to help.
UNICEF’s AAP Strategy
As part of its 2022-2025 AAP Strategy, UNICEF has developed a Monitoring Framework to track progress against four strategic objectives, using six strategic indicators.
Central to all of these objectives and indicators is the goal of:
“ensuring that affected children and families participate in the decisions that affect their lives, are properly informed and consulted, and have their views acted upon.”
Essential to this goal is robust and effective feedback mechanisms, community engagement, capacity development and a useful monitoring and evaluation processes.
Our role
By identifying good practices, challenges, and areas for improvement, we aim to support UNICEF in ensuring that the voices and needs of affected populations are central to its decision-making processes.
This evaluation will ultimately contribute to more effective, inclusive, and dignified humanitarian responses, aligning with UNICEF’s core commitments to children and their families.
Our methods and approaches
We believe it paramount to hear directly from persons of concern during this evaluation and to involve members of the affected populations in the evaluation process. In collaboration with UNICEF country offices and the EO, we aim to select community members from the affected population to pair with evaluators. These community members will participate in debriefings with the evaluation team during fieldwork and data collection, and in sense-making sessions to support the triangulation of findings.
Our methods of evaluation include:
- Process Review
We will assess UNICEF’s AAP initiatives against relevant strategies, policies, and guidance to determine if actions have been implemented as intended. This will involve a thorough review of documents at global, regional, and country levels.
- Outcome Harvesting and Participatory Action Research
These methods will help us identify and analyse outcomes that have already occurred, including unintended changes. By engaging directly with affected populations, we will ensure their voices are central to the evaluation, leading to more relevant and impactful recommendations.
- Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions
We will conduct semi-structured interviews with UNICEF staff, interagency partners, and community representatives. FGDs will be held with affected populations to gather their perspectives and validate findings.
- Global Surveys
A survey of UNICEF staff will provide insights into the nature of AAP work, the skills and experiences of staff, and areas where additional support may be needed.
- Data Triangulation and Analysis
Using MAXQDA software, we will systematically code and analyse qualitative data, ensuring robust and reliable findings.
- Sensemaking Workshops
We will hold workshops with UNICEF staff and affected populations to discuss preliminary findings and co-create recommendations, ensuring they are practical and actionable.
By integrating these methods, we aim to provide a comprehensive evaluation that highlights successes, identifies challenges, and offers actionable recommendations to enhance UNICEF’s commitment to AAP.
Outcomes and impact
The proposed outcomes of this evaluation are multifaceted and aim to significantly enhance UNICEF’s humanitarian and development efforts.
We will provide a detailed analysis of how well UNICEF has integrated AAP principles into its programs, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement by highlighting successful AAP initiatives and identifying challenges.
We anticipate the findings will help UNICEF strengthen its commitment to AAP, ensuring that the voices and needs of affected populations are central to decision-making processes and build the capacity of UNICEF staff and partners by increasing their understanding of AAP principles and practices. This will foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within the organisation.
