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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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  • 1B
    Act early

    Joint Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will advocate with political leaders and parties to conflict to mitigate and end conflicts, and will provide evidence of the human cost of resorting to violence to solve political problems.
    • Advocacy
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will strive to aid in the prevention of crises through programming that mainstreams peace-building, conflict mitigation and good governance, with the goals of breaking cycles of conflict and fragility, and building the resilience of affected populations.
    • Operational
    • Political Leadership to Prevent and End Conflicts

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    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.

    InterAction actively engaged in the preparation of the IASC Early Warning Early Action and Readiness (EWEAR) reports, which aims to foster inter-agency preparedness for potential humanitarian emergencies through timely risk analysis. 

    InterAction's Disaster Risk Reduction Working group colloborated with 15 other NGO coalitions working on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and advocated with development stakeholders to enhance preparedness and early action with more risk-informed policies and practice. InterAction has also met with US Government focal points and USAID's Office for Resilience to highlight member challenges and the need to invest in early and preventative action. 

    InterAction working groups convene regularly to ensure coordinated advocacy which, in part, centers around early action. The Yemen Working Group holds ongoing and regular dialogue between civil society, UN organizations and senior State and USAID officials in an effort to act early and ensure coordinated NGO advocacy on humanitarian needs. Highlighting NGO perspectives from the field as well as specific recommendations to the USG have resulted in public statements by the President, Secretary of State and other senior officials calling on warring parties to respect IHL and improve humanitarian access. The Syria Working Group works closely with UN agencies to collectively advocate for humanitarian access to areas of acute need. This "whole of system" approach to advocacy has been effective for preserving the operational space required to access vulnerable communities in need of lifesaving services.

    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.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    • Unclear if actions being taken at global and field level even after disseminating IASC Early Warning Early Action and Readiness (EWEAR) reports. 
    • Development actors not taking preparedness, risk reduction and early action seriously. 
    • Frontline workers unable to access areas of acute need due to bureaucratic impediments and instrumentalization of humanitarian aid.

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

    • Operationalizing and taking action on early warning preparedness recommendations.
    • Improved linkages with development actors must be strengthened to foster more risk-informed policies that encourage prevention as well as early action and preparedness.
    • A unified and collective approach to advocating against policies that impede humanitarian access and instrumentalization of lifesaving services.

    Keywords

    Disaster Risk Reduction

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

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.
    • 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.

    InterAction has taken numerous actions to shape US policy discourse on the protection of civilians and applicable international law. In 2018, InterAction, jointly with CSIS and CIVIC, stimulated focused policy attention to the protection of civilians in US partnered operations through multi-stakeholder roundtables (including defense, diplomatic, humanitarian, human rights and academia) and a report identifying critical issues and recommendations.

    InterAction facilitated engagement of humanitarian NGOs with the US Department of Defense (DoD) in order to feed into development of new DoD policy on minimizing civilian harm in US military operations. This included a DoD-NGO consultation on acknowledging and making amends for harm resulting from US military operations.

    In October 2018, under the auspices of the GPC, InterAction took a lead role in designing and organizing a two-day stock-take of the IASC Protection Policy and Centrality of Protection. Key topics included engaging with parties to conflict and working towards protection outcomes. The outcome report from the Stock-take highlights priority actions needed to fulfill the Centrality of Protection, focused on (1) investing in effective leadership for protection outcomes; and (2) stimulating analysis, learning and enhanced skill sets for collective protection outcomes.

    InterAction conducted protection-focused field missions to Iraq, Myanmar, and Nigeria to examine critical protection issues and trends, how they are being addressed by humanitarian actors and recommend possible strategies and measures to address them to practitioners, policymakers, donor governments and humanitarian leaders.

    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
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    A paucity of funding focused on the protection of civilians, and significant gaps in analysis on the most critical risks to civlians in situations of armed conflict, hampers abilty to influence policy and practice of parties to conflict and to design and monitor field level strategies.

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

    Enhanced and more consciously cultivated coordination among key NGOs and UN entities to maximise collective capacity to address critical issues for enhanced protection of civilians.

    Keywords

    IHL compliance and accountability, Protection

  • 2D
    Take concrete steps to improve compliance and accountability

    Joint Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will eradicate sexual exploitation and abuse by their staff through the operationalization of policies that protect affected populations.
    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will prioritize the prevention and response to gender-based violence, including the mitigation of risk, within all of its humanitarian programming.
    • Operational
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    Individual Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will analyze and promote the adherence to norms that safeguard humanity in their response.
    • Advocacy
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity
    • Implement a coordinated global approach to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis contexts, including through the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies.
    • 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.

    IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability

    InterAction convenes multi-stakeholder roundtables, and ongoing engagement with relevant departments of the US government, concerning the protection of civilians and encompassing both country-specific concerns as well as systemic issues of US policy and practice. InterAction has facilitated joint NGO recommendations addressing the acknowledgement of civilian harm, ex gratia condolence payments, civilian property and public infrastructure in urban areas, partnered operations, and the importance of regular and evidence-informed operational level civil-military dialogue on the protection of civilians with humanitarian organizations.

    Gender-based violence prevention and response

    InterAction produced a literature review on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence and consulted with NGOs and academia about the development of a results-based evaluation framework on SGBV prevention.

    Protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)

    InterAction established a CEO Task Force on Preventing Sexual Abuse, Exploitation, and Harassment of and by NGO staff and held the first meeting in January 2018. In March 2018, InterAction launched the CEO Pledge to Action, which outlines 15 commitments the CEO signatories agreed to implement. A total of 126 NGO CEOs signed the pledge which was shared with relevant donors and organizations including IASC and USAID.

    In October 2018, InterAction held a leadership retreat that brought together more than 40 CEOs and senior leaders to discuss wehre we are now, progress to date, and balancing organizational responsibilities and survivor-centered responses.

    In 2019, InterAction will launch a multi-year, multi-million dollar grant which will provide resources for members to examine internal structural changes needed, convene around solutions and pilot collective solutions.

    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.
    • Adherence to standards and/or humanitarian principles
    • Buy-in
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    InterAction constantly assesses and reassess our progress on our commitments but recognizes that transformational change needed will take years marked by incremental progress through organizational engagement at all levels.

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

    InterAction will continue its leadership role within the NGO community and work to continue progress towards fulfilling our collective commitments throughout 2019. Sustained, substantive leadership from the Inter-Agency Standing Committee members is needed for far-reaching collective transformation.

    Keywords

    Gender, IHL compliance and accountability, PSEA

  • 2E
    Uphold the rules: a global campaign to affirm the norms that safeguard humanity

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and enhance respect for international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and refugee law, where applicable.
    • 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.

    InterAction's Refugee Policy Working Group actively contributed to and shaped the development of the Global Compact on Refugees through advocacy and policy recommendations that aimed to strengthen refugee assistance and protection within the humanitarian system in the areas of root causes of mass movements, self-reliance, specifically education and livelihoods, climate change and environmental influencers, vulnerable populations, and durable solutions and resettlement. InterAction convenes multi-stakeholder roundtables, and ongoing engagement with relevant departments of the US government, concerning the protection of civilians and encompassing both country-specific concerns as well as systemic issues of US policy and practice. InterAction has facilitated joint NGO recommendations addressing the acknowledgement of civilian harm, gratia condolence payments, civilian property and public infrastructure in urban areas, partnered operations, and the importance of regular and evidence-informed operational level civil-military dialogue on the protection of civilians with humanitarian organizations

    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
    • IHL and IHRL compliance and accountability
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    • Lack of political will to commit to responsibility sharing for refugees through accountability frameworks;
    • Lack of coordination among key NGOs and UN entities on collective advocacy;
    • Ongoing politicization/ instrumentalization of humanitarian assistance efforts.

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

    Enhanced and more consciously cultivated coordination among key NGOs and UN entities to maximise collective capacity to address critical issues for enhanced protection of civilians.

    Keywords

    Displacement, IHL compliance and accountability

  • 3A
    Reduce and address displacement

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new approach to addressing forced displacement that not only meets immediate humanitarian needs but reduces vulnerability and improves the resilience, self-reliance and protection of refugees and IDPs. Commit to implementing this new approach through coherent international, regional and national efforts that recognize both the humanitarian and development challenges of displacement. Commit to take the necessary political, policy, legal and financial steps required to address these challenges for the specific context.
    • 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.

    Refugees

    InterAction's Refugee Policy Working Group advocates Member States, UN partners, and the NGO community to take the necessary policy and practice steps to improve the resilience, self-reliance and protection of refugee and internally displaced persons (IDPs).

    In addition to actively contributing to and shaping the development of the Global Compact on Refugees through advocacy and policy recommendations, InterAction hosted roundtable discussions with the UNHCR High Commissioner, Director of the UNHCR Bureau for the Middle East and North Africa, and the Head of UNHCR's Syria and Iraq Team in addition to regularly hosting research findings presentations on refugee returns, refugee self-reliance, durable solutions etc.

    IDPs (due to conflict, violence, and disaster)

    InterAction actively engages with the IASC to promote a more coordinated and improved response to the challenge of durable solutions for IDPs. 

    InterAction has also helped shape the stratey and work plan for the 20th Anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (GP20) and has standing observer status on the steering committee.

    The Refugee Policy Working Group also provided multiple rounds of feedback to UNHCR during the revision of their internal IDP policy.  In additon, the working group hosted key policymakers and actors on IDP issues including the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) Director and a presentation of the "Breaking the Impasse Report" by OCHA.

    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.
    • Institutional/Internal constraints
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    • Lack of meaningful national-level dialogue on improving national frameworks, preparedness and action on internal displacement crises.
    • Mandate-driven action that leaves gaps in response to internal displacement
    • Lack of accountability for responsibility sharing for refugees

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

    • Better understanding among national governments, humanitarian and development actors of the economic, development impact of not addressing internal displacement;
    • Meaningful national-level dialogue on improving IDP policy and practice;
    • Better coordination and accountability when responding to IDP crises;
    • Clear metrics for global responsibility sharing for refugees integrated into every-four-year Global Refugee Forum.

    Keywords

    Displacement

  • 3D
    Empower and protect women and girls

    Joint Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will adopt and implement organizational policies and practices to strengthen gender equality.
    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Empower Women and Girls as change agents and leaders, including by increasing support for local women's groups to participate meaningfully in humanitarian action.
    • Leave No One Behind
    • Ensure that humanitarian programming is gender responsive.
    • 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.

    Gender equality programming

    The InterAction Gender-based Violence (GBV) working group convense regularly to ensure coordinated advocacy on GBV issues in humanitarian settings. In November 2018, InterAction organized a webinar titled, Language in Protective Humanitarian Action: Practical Lessons from Myanmar/ Bangladesh and Northeast Nigeria, which highlighted unique gender dimensions of linguistic barriers exacerbating the risk of women and girls and the importance of translation for results-based protection.

    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
    • Gender and/or vulnerable group inclusion
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    • Lack of results-oriented protection strategies based on the analysis of protection issues.

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

    • Development of results-based evaluation frameworks on SGBV prevention and response grounded in contextual analysis.

    Keywords

    Gender

  • 3E
    Eliminate gaps in education for children, adolescents and young people

    Joint Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members recognize that quality education is a life-saving intervention and commit to expand access to education for people in crises, especially underserved populations, and to mobilize new resources accordingly.
    • Operational
    • Leave No One Behind

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    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.

    InterAction houses and provides administrative support to the Basic Education Coalition, an independent, non-profit advocacy organization working to ensure that all children around the world have access to a quality basic education.

    InterAction was successful in feeding key recommendations into the Global Compact on Refugees, including the importance of ensuring access to education for refugees, especially school-aged children. InterAction will continue to advocate for these key recommendations ahead of the Global Forum on Refugees and in the implementation phase of the Global Compact on Refugees.

    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 modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Gaps in education are often exacerbated by weak national/local education systems. NGOs focused on education are often challenged by funding constraints, including funding modalities as in many cases NGOs often find themselves operating education systems on behalf or in lieu of the government.

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

    Sustained attention from the donor community and Member States including for multi-year funding and more flexible funding modalities that support long-term education outcomes.

    Keywords

    Displacement, Education

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

    Joint Commitments (6)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will be open and ready to use evidence-informed approaches, including cash-based programming, in its efforts to be as effective and responsive as possible to the needs of the populations it serves.
    • Advocacy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will collaborate with Government-led response leadership, to the extent that principled humanitarian action permits within any given context.
    • Partnership
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will ensure information flow to and from affected people, in order to facilitate their active role in analysis and decision-making about strategic and operational issues from the earliest stages of a humanitarian response.
    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will go only where needed, ensuring that its support is based on a clear assessment of complementarity with national NGOs, local CSOs and other stakeholders, avoiding acting directly merely for fundraising or media attention goals.
    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will invest in continuous learning as part of an approach to ensure efforts are always relevant, adaptable, and accountable to people'€™s priorities during crises.


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

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will promote participation in decision-making and the leadership of affected people, especially underrepresented populations, to ensure the humanitarian and development programs and processes are accountable to them.
    • Advocacy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    Core Commitments (6)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to reinforce national and local leadership and capacities in managing disaster and climate-related risks through strengthened preparedness and predictable response and recovery arrangements.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to increase investment in building community resilience as a critical first line of response, with the full and effective participation of women.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to ensure regional and global humanitarian assistance for natural disasters complements national and local efforts.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to increase substantially and diversify global support and share of resources for humanitarian assistance aimed to address the differentiated needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises in fragile situations and complex emergencies, including increasing cash-based programming in situations where relevant.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to empower national and local humanitarian action by increasing the share of financing accessible to local and national humanitarian actors and supporting the enhancement of their national delivery systems, capacities and preparedness planning.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need 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.

    Strengthening national/local leadership and systems

    InterAction implemented Phase II of NGOs and Risk examining how national and local NGOs contend with different types of risk, and how risk is managed within national-international partnerships.

    InterAction incorporates discussions on localization in practice into country-specific and thematic working groups.

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • 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.
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Within InterAction’s discussions with members on a range of topics, strengthened national/local systems is critical to achieving real transformation within this commitment. Zero tolerance donor regulation challenges true empowerment of local/national actors and innovative, practical solutions are needed.

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

    More active and effective approaches to shared risk awareness and responsiveness in partnerships including better risk mitigation and co-ownership in contracts, broadened partner management functions, early dialogue between donors/UN agencies and NGOs to address concerns related to perceived risk and better adherence to partnership principles.

    Keywords

    Local action, Strengthening local systems

  • 4B
    Anticipate, do not wait, for crises

    Joint Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will advocate for action on early warning of natural hazard or conflict risks to mitigate the impacts of disasters and other humanitarian crises; wherever feasible, they will use their own resources to undertake early action on early warning, and invest in contingency planning for displacement due to disasters and climate change.
    • Advocacy
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need
    • Commit to improve the understanding, anticipation and preparedness for disaster and climate-related risks by investing in data, analysis and early warning, and developing evidence-based decision-making processes that result in early action.
    • 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)

    InterAction's Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group has partnered with the Climate Change Working group to form a task force to investigate and explore forecast-based financing models among its membership. The task force consisting of about 8 members has explored various modalities of how members are adapting to intervene prior to an emergency. Members of the group also participate in similar efforts elsewhere and are planning to engage donors and development actors.

    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 modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Preparedness
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Forecast-based financing models are a relatively new mechanism and its understanding and application requires further engagement and awareness. Progress is slow but InterAction will continue to explore existing organizational and donor challenges going forward.

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

    Better understanding of various models for early action and identifying more practical lessons that have had positive impacts.

    Keywords

    Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction

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

    Joint Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will invest time and resources to continue to improve the connectivity between humanitarian and development programs within member organizations. Where needed, InterAction and 63 members will make high level systems changes to its structures and ways of working to ensure those served benefit from an approach that integrates humanitarian and development elements.
    • Partnership
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will make data and analysis the basis and driver for determining a common understanding of context, needs and capacities, reporting data into a common reporting platform accessible to all actors.
    • Operational
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to a new way of working that meets people's immediate humanitarian needs, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years through the achievement of collective outcomes. To achieve this, commit to the following: a) Anticipate, Do Not Wait: to invest in risk analysis and to incentivize early action in order to minimize the impact and frequency of known risks and hazards on people. b) Reinforce, Do Not Replace: to support and invest in local, national and regional leadership, capacity strengthening and response systems, avoiding duplicative international mechanisms wherever possible. c) Preserve and retain emergency capacity: to deliver predictable and flexible urgent and life-saving assistance and protection in accordance with humanitarian principles. d) Transcend Humanitarian-Development Divides: work together, toward collective outcomes that ensure humanitarian needs are met, while at the same time reducing risk and vulnerability over multiple years and based on the comparative advantage of a diverse range of actors. The primacy of humanitarian principles will continue to underpin humanitarian action.
    • 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.

    Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis and planning towards collective outcomes

    InterAction and many of its members operate under a mixed-mandate model and we work to convene and organize NGOs around both humanitarian and development issues. There is increased recognition on the need to engage a wide array of actors particularly as it relates to protracted or forgotten crises. Practically, this means that InterAction's humanitarian team increasingly engages with and makes recommendations to actors that are more traditionally viewed as development actors. This includes more regular dialogue and better coordination with actors such as national security and defense-orientated policy thinkers in Washington DC to the inclusion of a broader range of stakeholder inputs into InterAction's field support missions.

    InterAction's Results Based Protection program and approach increasingly emphasizes the importance of engaging with a diverse set of actors to ensure outcome-oriented analysis and design.

    Additionally, there is a significant degree of collaboration both among NGO members and across Inter-Action's Global Development and Public Policy and Humanitarian teams around sharing information and analysis related to emerging regulatory challenges and USAID procurement reform.

     

    B. Please select if your report relates to any initiatives launched at World Humanitarian summit
    • 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
    • Joined-up humanitarian-development analysis, planning, funding and/or response
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Humanitarian Country Teams (HCTs) do not have clear guidance on how to implement the humanitarian-development nexus (HDN) and efforts have been limited to sharing good practices. HDN can be bent to mean many things as a result. Siloed planning processes and funding streams disincentive joint analysis and planning.

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

    Development of system-wide recommendations and guidance in addition to the sharing of best practices by individual agencies. Alignment of analysis and planning processes to allow true space to develop and implement collective outcomes.

    Keywords

    Humanitarian-development nexus

  • 5A
    Invest in local capacities

    Joint Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility

    • InterAction and 63 members will develop concrete organizational targets to increase direct and predictable financing to national and local actors, and advocate for long-term support to develop such actors'€™ capacity to seek and manage funds and mitigate accompanying risks (including financial, security, safety, reputational, and legal).


    • Operational
    • Invest in Humanity

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will invest in the long-term capacity of its NGO and CSO partners, raising their profile through greater transparency on partnership arrangements.
    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to empower national and local humanitarian action by increasing the share of financing accessible to local and national humanitarian actors and supporting the enhancement of their national delivery systems, capacities and preparedness planning.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need 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.

    Addressing blockages/challenges to direct investments at the national/local level

    InterAction executed an 18-month study, "NGOs & Risk: Managing Uncertainty in Local-International Partnerships", on how risk is managing in INGO-L/NNGO partnerships in complex, conflict driven crises. The report outlines how growing risk aversion among humanitarian actors, particularly related to fiduciary risks, is leading to increased compliance and reporting burdens, less flexible funding and disbursement mechanism, and significant real and perceived legal risks that diminish operational presence and ultimately, program quality.

    InterAction's continued investment in development and evidence-base, shared understanding and collective learning around enterprise risk management will continue to address the blockages/ challenges around direct investment to the national/ local level.

    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 modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Strengthening national/local systems
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    InterAction's "NGOs & Risk: Managing Uncertainty in Local-International Partnerships" brings attention to the perverse outcomes that result from donors' zero tolerance policies in high need and high risk humanitarian contexts.

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

    The report outlines encouraging examples of risk management in partnerships, which the humanitarian actors can replicate and resource across the sector. Recommendations for iNGOs, donors and local NGOs span five categories: shifting from risk transfer to risk sharing; taking a capacity-building approach to risk management in partnerships; strengthening security risk management; strengthening NGO coordination; and practicing ethical duty of care.

    Keywords

    Local action

  • 5B
    Invest according to risk

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to invest in risk management, preparedness and crisis prevention capacity to build the resilience of vulnerable and affected people.
    • 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.

    InterAction's Disaster Risk Reduction Working group has collaborated with 15 other NGO coalitions working on DRR and advocating for more risk informed policies and practice from development stakeholders. The work will result in a joint statement on behalf of civil society organizations at the Global Platform for DRR. InterAction has also met with US Government focal points and USAID's Office for Resilience to highlight member challenges and the need to invest in prevention.

    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 modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    • Multi-stakeholder coordination
    • Preparedness
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    Significant divide between how development assistance and humanitarian responses are funded is a major challenge. The responsibility for risk reduction should also be the focus of development stakeholders.

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

    Better cohesion is needed with initiatives and global frameworks such as SDGs, Habitat 3's New Urban Agenda, COP15 and Sendai Framework for DRR goals and actions.

    Keywords

    Disaster Risk Reduction

  • 5D
    Finance outcomes, not fragmentation: shift from funding to financing

    Core Commitments (1)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
    • 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.

    Within many of InterAction's working groups, but especially in working groups focused on partnering with UN agencies, InterAction advocated on the importance of continued planning and dialogue around strategies and approaches to providing more quality/multi-year funding to frontline responders.

    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 modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    NGOs spend the majority of time addressing challenges around delayed UN contracts or disbursements at country level, detracting time and focus away from more strategic discussions related to the future of financing.

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

    Increased efficiencies and effectiveness gains through multi-year humanitarian planning and unearmarked funding that pass down the humanitarian chain to INGOs and LNGOs.

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

    Joint Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Commitment Type
    • Core Responsibility
    • InterAction and 63 members will develop and implement more transparent program planning and reporting processes, in alignment with IATI standards, to drive efficiency gains and reduce duplicative costs.
    • Operational
    • Invest in Humanity

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    • InterAction and 63 members will work with donors to support NGO-led financing mechanisms, collaborating amongst members and with national NGOs to ensure that funding is effectively disbursed to NGO actors.
    • Financial
    • Invest in Humanity

    Partners: Action Against Hunger USA, ActionAid International USA, ADRA International, Airlink, Alliance for Peacebuilding, American Jewish World Service, American Red Cross, American Refugee Committee, AmeriCares, Amigos de las Américas, Association of Volunteers in International Service, USA (AVSI USA), BRAC USA, Bread for the World, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, CARE USA, Church World Service, Concern Worldwide (U.S.), Inc., Catholic Relief Services, CBM-US, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects, Doctors of the World USA, Episcopal Relief & Development, Friends of ACTED, Global Communities, Global Links, Habitat for Humanity International, Handicap International, Headwaters Relief Organization, Heart to Heart International, Helen Keller International, HelpAge USA, International Catholic Migration Commission, iMMAP, InsideNGO, International Medical Corps, International Orthodox Christian Charities, International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief USA, Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, Keystone Human Services International, Life for Relief and Development, Lutheran World Relief, Mennonite Central Committee U.S., Mercy Corps, Oxfam America, PATH, Physicians for Peace, Plan International USA, Population Communication, Project C.U.R.E., Refugees International, Relief International, Save the Children USA, Solar Cookers International, Stop Hunger Now, Water for South Sudan, Women's Refugee Commission, World Concern, World Hope International, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, World Neighbors, World Renew, World Vision, Zakat Foundation of America

    Core Commitments (2)

    • Commitment
    • Core Responsibility
    • Commit to increase substantially and diversify global support and share of resources for humanitarian assistance aimed to address the differentiated needs of populations affected by humanitarian crises in fragile situations and complex emergencies, including increasing cash-based programming in situations where relevant.
    • Change People's Lives: From Delivering Aid to Ending Need Invest in Humanity
    • Commit to promote and increase predictable, multi-year, unearmarked, collaborative and flexible humanitarian funding toward greater efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of humanitarian action for affected people.
    • 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.

    InterAction continues to advocate for and support efforts to improve partnerships, advocating for streamlined processes and reduced burdens. InterAction facilitated multiple conversations between members and UNHCR, WFP and UNICEF to look at ways to improve cost efficiency within partnerships.

    InterAction contributes to global discussions on this topic within the IASC at the Principals and task team/Results Group levels. InterAction has invested significant time in improving cost efficiency by advancing the Grand Bargain (GB), particularly through its role on the GB Facilitation Group.

    InterAction collaborated closely with US Office for Development Assistance (OFDA) and UNOCHA to streamline communication with members to help improve information management in a cost-efficient manner.

    InterAction also provided multiple rounds of feedback on the draft Global Compact on Refugees focused on policies that would enable a more comprehensive response to the needs of refugees and improved/expanded durable solutions including efforts to diversify the resource base for refugee response funding.

    In 2018, InterAction published all funding to International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI). InterAction remains committed to the fundamental principle of aid transparency.

    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
    • Funding amounts
    • Funding modalities (earmarking, priorities, yearly agreements, risk aversion measures)
    B. How are these challenges impacting achievement of this transformation?

    For key humanitarian actors with the influence and resources to make gains on this transformation, incentives remain insufficient. Reporting all funding to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) was an onerous and complex task, only made possible by existing staff technical know-how and dedicated resources available within our development programs.

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

    Examine ways to incentivize key stakeholders to change the status quo.

    International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) data must demonstrate organizational value as it relates to analysis, strategic decision making and key business processes because it is currently a burdensome and complex task. For actors to establish IATI as a permanent business function, there must be incentives to publish with a clear scoping and roadmap for humanitarian user gaps that captures stakeholder needs.

    Keywords

    Transparency / IATI