Introduction
In 2012 ALNAP and CDA started collaborating on action research looking at feedback mechanisms in humanitarian contexts, to establish what makes them work effectively and to focus on bringing different stakeholders’ perspectives – particularly those of crisis-affected people – into the conversation.
The overarching research question was formulated as follows: which features of feedback mechanisms for affected populations are most likely to contribute to the effectiveness of those mechanisms as perceived by different user groups – including, first and foremost, the crisis-affected communities?
The present study is the culmination of this research and is accompanied by: a method paper (Bonino and Knox Clarke, 2013); a literature review and desk study (forthcoming); and three case studies published separately (Jean with Bonino, 2013; and 2014 forthcoming). The case studies document the experience of three different agencies that use feedback mechanisms as part of their humanitarian programmes and operations: World Vision (WV) in Sudan; the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Shelter Cluster in Pakistan; and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Haiti.
The insights, observations and evidence generated from the stakeholders throughout the research process are presented and analysed in this study, with the aim of producing evidence-informed guidance for ALNAP Members and agency staff seeking to design and establish new feedback mechanisms, or modify and strengthen the set-up and use of existing ones.
Section I presents a summary of the three country case studies, to document (in real time) different examples of feedback mechanisms established in operational humanitarian contexts. Section II outlines the method used to collect, organise and analyse the data. The aim is to ensure the transparency and ‘traceability’ of the key steps followed to develop the final guidance. Section III analyses the three case studies to identify which features and characteristics of feedback mechanisms make a plausible contribution to their overall successful functioning. Section IV presents additional observations and insights indicating potential areas for further inquiry. Finally, Section V concludes with a series of pointers about good practice for strengthening the design, set-up and use of feedback mechanisms in humanitarian contexts.
