Section 4.1 Guiding principles

4.1. Guiding Principles

A set of guiding principles should govern the implementation of activities designed to address relief, early recovery and medium and longer-term recovery. The purpose of such an agreed set of principles is to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian and recovery efforts, increase transparency and accountability of different actors, and promote understanding between stakeholders. The principles outlined below build on lessons learned from the immediate humanitarian response to Cyclone Nargis, as well as from medium and longer-term recovery processes in other disaster-hit countries.

Effectiveness, Transparency and Accountability:

• Sustained access to all affected populations, including access for assessment and monitoring.

• Aid is given regardless of the gender, race, creed or nationality of recipients and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone.

• Commitment to coordinated and coherent approaches, through transparent information sharing to avoid overlap and fill gaps.

• Establish common standards and approaches, with an independent complaint-handling mechanism to ensure accountability.

• Institute a comprehensive system for tracking the flow of aid and its utilization, with regular public reports.

• Assistance provided to the cyclone-affected population should not come at the expense of others in need in Myanmar – aid should be in addition to current assistance to Myanmar, rather than redirected from other parts of the country.

Independence, Self-Sufficiency and Capacity-Building:

• Involve communities at all stages in the management of relief, including decision-making and feedback on quality of the relief and recovery efforts.

• Maximize use of local initiative, resources and capacities. Base planning and execution on local knowledge, skills, materials and methods, taking into account the need for affordable
solutions.

• Build the capacity of local communities at every stage of the relief and recovery effort with a focus on reducing vulnerability to future disasters.

• Recognition of limited absorptive capacity in affected areas for large scale provision of aid.

• Ensure a progressive scaling up, as capacity of local communities increases.

Focus on the Most Vulnerable Groups:

• Although disasters increase the vulnerability of all, groups who are already disadvantaged
may need special assistance and protection from exploitation.

• Give priority to the most vulnerable groups, including female-headed households, children
and orphans, and the poor, and take account of those with special needs.

Strengthen communities:

• Protect the humanitarian interests of the affected population while respecting local culture
and customs.

• “Build back better,” to reduce future disaster risks but avoid radical redesign and restructuring of settlements or patterns of land use.

• Ensure that sensible and realistic measures are taken to protect the environment.

Source: The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) et alia, 2008, Post Nargis Joint Assessment.