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Self Report 2019

The self-report on WHS Commitments below is organized according to the 24 transformations of the Agenda for Humanity. It is based on commitments pledged at the time of report submission. Click on the 'Expand' symbol to expand each section and read the reporting inputs by transformation.

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  • 1C
    Remain engaged and invest in stability

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Humanitarian Aid International will collaborate with other Southern NGOs and networks to hold governments and other stakeholder groups accountable, so that they uphold their mandates and calibrate early solutions.


    • Advocacy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    • Humanitarian Aid International programmes will systematically address the root causes of poverty and work as deterrent for people to join violent struggle.


    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    During the year, Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) contributed to establishing a global network, Alliance for Empowering Partnership (A4EP), together with other organizations from Asia, Africa and Europe. The network primarily focuses on humanitarian advocacy at global level to strengthen local and national humanitarian actors, as well as seeking durable solutions to humanitarian crises. The network intends to strengthen engagement with key global processes including Agenda for Humanity, Grand Bargain and Charter for Change to influence better delivery on the commitments made by international actors. The alliance has published its position paper entitled Equal partners not only passengers to influence better delivery on the localization commitments. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Buy-in
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The biggest challenge in implementation of the commitments is the information gap. It is not only the local actors who are unaware of the commitments made by international actors; their country offices are also largely unaware of commitments made by headquarters. 

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    Information dissemination to build awareness is of utmost importance. It is important for the headquarters of international actors to inform their country offices and partner agencies about the commitments they have made, and get the commitments integrated in their organizational policies, strategies and the implementation approach. 

    Keywords

    Local action

  • 2A
    Respect and protect civilians and civilian objects in the conduct of hostilities

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Humanitarian Aid International commits to work on improving the policy environment in order to protect the rights and entitlements of the vulnerable and at risk communities.


    • Policy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) is working with Hindu refugees from Pakistan who are now sheltering in India. HAI is exploring all constitutional provisions available to ensure essential support to them. HAI is collaborating with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to ensure access to basic services in refugee camps. HAI is exploring legal possibilities to help them get Indian citizenship. HAI is also helping the refugees on their vocational skills development, so that better integrate into local society once they acquire Indian citizenship. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Human resources/capacity
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Adequate funding is a problem. Because of this, HAI is not able to grow its planned activities to the desired scale. 

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    In addition to funding, legal support is required to facilitate integration of refugees. The Government of India's  Citizenship (Amendment) Bill may support this. 

    Keywords

    Displacement

  • 3A
    Reduce and address displacement

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Given the high number of refugees and asylum seekers and long periods of displacement, Humanitarian Aid International will advocate for special programmes with host communities, in order to minimise hostility and ensure better integration. It commits to be inclusive of excluded and invisible people in all programmes, particularly of women, children, elderly, disabled and socially marginalised.  It firmly believes that the ultimate solution to displacement is not providing refuge and granting asylum, but seeking permanent and lasting solutions to conflicts, so that displaced people settle back to their places of origin with absolute safety and protection. However, until solutions are agreed, the displaced populations'€™ right to life with dignity must be ensured. Protection of the rights of population on the move, or in displacement must be a top priority.


    • Advocacy
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Cross-border, disaster and climate related displacement

    During the year, Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) responded to several natural disasters in India, including fire in Uttarakhand and floods in Nagaland and Kerala. All the disaster responses were timely through local member organizations, which reduced the period of displacement as well as the chance of 'distress migration.' 

     

    Humanitarian advocacy is one key focus area for HAI. HAI constantly advocates for seeking durable solutions to protracted crises facing so many countries. HAI advocates for early and durable solutions, to ensure safe return of the displaced population. HAI's stand is, granting asylum is not the most ideal solution. The best solution is resolution of conflicts, so that people live in their own context. Migration should always be a choice, not a compulsion. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Data and analysis
    • Funding amounts
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Financial resources and the humanitarian architecture are still dominated by international actors. Local actors still struggle to get adequate funding. International actors have little focus on a long-term plan and in seeking durable solutions. Since local actors are largely excluded from such discussions, they are not able to influence the discourse.

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    International actors have to constantly remind themselves of the commitments they have made. There is a need to better inform local and national actors, who also need to come up with their own framework, instead of being reactive to Northern frameworks. 

    Keywords

    Displacement, Local action

  • 3D
    Empower and protect women and girls

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Given the high number of refugees and asylum seekers and long periods of displacement, Humanitarian Aid International will advocate for special programmes with host communities, in order to minimise hostility and ensure better integration. It commits to be inclusive of excluded and invisible people in all programmes, particularly of women, children, elderly, disabled and socially marginalised.  It firmly believes that the ultimate solution to displacement is not providing refuge and granting asylum, but seeking permanent and lasting solutions to conflicts, so that displaced people settle back to their places of origin with absolute safety and protection. However, until solutions are agreed, the displaced populations'€™ right to life with dignity must be ensured. Protection of the rights of population on the move, or in displacement must be a top priority.


    • Advocacy
    • Leave No One Behind
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Empowerment of women and girls

    Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) kept a focus on women and girls in all of its responses as they are more vulnerable in disaster contexts. In its refugee program in India, HAI ensured that specific reproductive needs of women and girls were met. That trauma still remains with them. HAI has introduced a series of training programmes to support healing the trauma of girls who suffered sexual abuse and to help make them economic contributors to their family and community. HAI is undertaking efforts, with special focus on girls, to ensure that all refugee children receive formal schooling and do not drop out. 

    Likewise, in all other humanitarian responses, HAI assesses the specific needs of women and girls and addresses them through the response. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The shortage of funding is affects scaling up of the program. 

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    HAI is strengthening collaboration with State authorities and civil society organizations to address the needs of the refugee population comprehensively. 

    Keywords

    Gender

  • 4A
    Reinforce, do not replace, national and local systems

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Humanitarian Aid International commits to break the silos of humanitarian and development programmes by bringing resilience at the centre stage. All of its humanitarian and development programmes will lead to addressing risks, vulnerability and exposure.


    • Policy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Strengthening national/local leadership and systems

    This is one area where Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) is very actively engaged nationally and globally. At the national level, HAI has established a platform of local organizations for a nationalized humanitarian architecture. The Alliance for Empowering Partnership (A4EP) has been established at global level for wider advocacy. HAI continues being a member of the coordination group of Charter for Change. HAI has also initiated a process to develop a national hub in India, which will be connected with the Start Network to strengthen local response mechanisms. HAI is working on a national dashboard to provide a simple platform for local and national actors to publish their data and thereby ensure transparency. 

    To influence better delivery of global commitments on localization, A4EP published a position paper. HAI has also published a paper for the Forum for Indian Development Cooperation, aiming to inform the Indian audience about the flaws of existing funding mechanisms. The paper also provided recommendations to strengthen local response mechanisms. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Buy-in
    • Data and analysis
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Because of the information gap, local organizations are not able to challenge international actors for not delivering sufficiently on their commitments. Unequal power structures are another key barrier, which cause local actors to have a lack of confidence to assert themselves. 

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    International actors must ensure that their commitments are institutionalized across their structures. Their country offices need to demonstrate a better understanding and resolve to deliver on the commitments. Currently, global decision-making bodies are in control of international actors, including the Grand Bargain work streams, the Grand Bargain Facilitation Group, the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and others. International actors decide which local actor should participate, when, where and how much. This power dynamic needs to change meaningfully.  

    Keywords

    Local action, Strengthening local systems

  • 4B
    Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Humanitarian Aid International believes that the corporate sector has tremendous potential to contribute to alleviate humanitarian suffering. It will constantly work with the corporate sector enterprises and national governments for poverty reduction, income generation, vulnerability reduction, education and livelihood diversification, especially in disaster-affected areas by facilitating stakeholder engagement.


    • Partnership
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management (including resilience)

    Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) is working on three pillars to strengthen a timely and cost-efficient humanitarian response. These pillars are: (1) a national platform of local organizations; (2) a national pooled fund and (3) a national roster for providing surge capacity to local actors. HAI is setting up a national hub, connected to the global Start Network, to facilitate an early and efficient response. This will be a multi-stakeholder platform, promoting knowledge and innovation in addition to setting up a national pooled funding mechanism. This hub will support international actors in better delivering on their localization commitments. 

    During the reporting year, HAI responded to four crises through local organizations. Each response mainstreamed disaster risk reduction and resilience. Although resources were scarce, HAI tried its best to support the humanitarian-development nexus to mitigate risk factors and strengthen resilience. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    An incomplete humanitarian response cycle leaves unresolved problems behind, underlining the need for adequate funding and efficient use of it to complete the cycle. Moreover, often it is hard to mobilize resources for disaster risk reduction and resilience, which are key barriers to mitigate risk and vulnerability factors proactively. 

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    The three pillars of HAI and the establishment of a national hub connected to the Start Network are the efforts in the right direction. A multi-stakeholder platform will ensure greater complementarity and address the humanitarian-development nexus, which is highly needed to reduce humanitarian needs. 

    Keywords

    Country-based pooled funds, Disaster Risk Reduction, Emergency Response, Humanitarian-development nexus, Local action

  • 4C
    Deliver collective outcomes: transcend humanitarian-development divides

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Humanitarian Aid International commits to break the silos of humanitarian and development programmes by bringing resilience at the centre stage. All of its humanitarian and development programmes will lead to addressing risks, vulnerability and exposure.


    • Policy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    • Humanitarian Aid International commits to constantly strive for the synergy of humanitarian programmes with development programmes of all actors, in order to address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability.


    • Policy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Investing in disaster risk reduction

    During the year, Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) responded to four disasters. Three disasters were responded through local member organizations. For all of them, funding was barely enough to complete the relief phase. However, HAI tried its best to mainstream resilience so that relief activities helped to provide long-term solutions for affected people. HAI is working directly with Hindu refugees from Pakistan who are currently in Delhi. While addressing their immediate relief needs, HAI is also focusing on their development needs so they better integrate into their community once they acquire Indian citizenship. HAI is also extending necessary legal support for them. HAI is focusing on their skills development with a special focus on women and girls. HAI is also focusing on children's regular formal schooling. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Funding amounts
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The refugees supported by HAI are not covered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' mandate. Resource mobilization extremely challenging. Because of limited resources, it is extremely challenging to scale-up planned activities and to cover the entire refugee population. 

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    HAI is using current constitutional provisions for such refugees while taking up advocacy with the Government for better facilities and legal protection for these refugees. HAI is also highlighting the plight of these refugees so that adequate resources could be mobilized to improve their overall living conditions and address their development needs. 

    Keywords

    Displacement, Education, Gender

  • 5A
    Invest in local capacities

    Individual Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Humanitarian Aid International firmly believes that local actors do have the capacity to respond. They only lack resources to be more prompt and effective. Being a local actor, Humanitarian Aid International is better placed to address this gap. It will commit itself to strengthen the network of local organisations, and support them with adequate resources (professional, technical and financial) to reduce the response time.


    • Partnership
    • Invest in Humanity

    • Humanitarian Aid International commits to address the flaws of humanitarian financing by bringing local actors at forefront of humanitarian response, in order to reduce the administrative expenses, so that maximum resources are utilised on programmes.


    • Advocacy
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Capacity building of national/local actors

    Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) works mostly through local organizations and passes on at least 90 per cent of funds to them for humanitarian responses. HAI has established a national platform of local organizations, which has 23 members as of now. HAI systematically invests on strengthening capacities of local actors, providing them complementary support and advocating on the factors responsible for their marginalization. 

    At the global level, HAI has contributed in establishing Alliance for Empowering Partnership (A4EP) to advocate for a system which strengthens local and national actors.

    HAI is also member of the Start Network's Hubs Advisory Group as well as the Membership Committee, where HAI is promoting better delivery on localization commitments. 

    As member of the Charter for Change Coordination Group, HAI leads the group on dissemination of global frameworks to local and national organizations to ensure their improved engagement in global processes. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    • New Way of Working
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Buy-in
    • Data and analysis
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Information about  localization continues being poor even among signatory organizations; this has become a key impediment in delivering on commitments. This is one of the principals reasons why country offices are usually a barrier, instead of a facilitator, on commitments.

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    The problem of the information gap is being addressed through the Charter for Change and the Alliance for Empowering Partnership. HAI is constantly making efforts so that the signatories of Grand Bargain and Charter for Change take responsibility for disseminating information to their partners through their country offices. A necessary amendment has been made in the Charter for Change to facilitate this process. 

    Keywords

    Local action, Strengthening local systems

  • 5E
    Diversify the resource base and increase cost-efficiency

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • Humanitarian Aid International commits to address the flaws of humanitarian financing by bringing local actors at forefront of humanitarian response, in order to reduce the administrative expenses, so that maximum resources are utilised on programmes.


    • Advocacy
    • Invest in Humanity
    1. A. Highlight concrete actions taken between 1 January – 31 December 2018 to implement the commitments which contribute to achieving this transformation. Be as specific as possible and include any relevant data/figures as well as any good practices and examples of innovation.

    Humanitarian Aid International (HAI) operates in India. Almost all international actors are registered as national organization in India with the primary purpose of raising funds nationally. As such, home-grown organizations rely on international actors even for accessing domestic funding. Home-grown organizations do not feel confident to challenge this practice for fear of losing funding and/or lack of information. HAI is actively challenging this practice. A policy paper has been developed and this was published by the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), which an Indian think tank. 

    At the global level , HAI also challenges this fundraising practice by international actors. 

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • Charter for Change
    • Grand Bargain
    2. A. Please select no more than 3 key challenges faced in implementing the commitments related to this transformation. Only the categories selected by the organisation will be seen below.
    • Buy-in
    • Data and analysis
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    The second annual report of the Grand Bargain showed insufficient achievements on commitments. Work stream 2 (More support and funding tools to local and national responders) shows poor progress. While international actors are either reluctant or still find it difficult to pass on more funding to local and national actors, it adds to problem if they also compete for domestic resources. 

    3. What steps or actions are needed to make collective progress to achieve this transformation?

    International actors will have to make themselves more accountable to the commitments they have made. Moreover, they must come up with an ethical policy on fundraising, so they stop competing with home-grown local and national actors. HAI is working in this direction. 

    Keywords

    Local action

Attachments

  • Forum for Indian Development Cooperation Policy Brief on local funds for local organizations
    Transformation - 4A, 4C, 5A, 5D, 5E | Country-based pooled funds, Local action, Strengthening local systems | Charter for Change, Grand Bargain
  • Alliance for Empowering Partnership - Position Paper on Grand Bargain
    Transformation - 4A, 4C, 5A, 5D, 5E | Local action, Transparency / IATI | Grand Bargain