Making Humanitarian Action Accountable: A Case Study of Humanitarian Accountability Partnership Certification and the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium

Title: Making Humanitarian Action Accountable: A Case Study of Humanitarian Accountability Partnership Certification and the Thailand-Burma Border Consortium

Author: Mac Albert Shaw

Year: 2010

Keywords: HUMANITARIAN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNERSHIP /, THAILAND BURMA BORDER CONSORTIUM

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The development and aid sector has undergone a general professionalization, which lately has paved the way for a number of quality and accountability mechanisms. These are intended to provide evidence of impact and to demonstrate that NGOs support their intended beneficiaries in a justifiable manner. One of the recent initiatives is the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP). It is a self-regulatory NGO-initiative which has a primary focus on certifying member organizations against benchmarked standards for humanitarian action and has lately come to be known as the loudest champion of beneficiary voices. This research critically assesses the HAP certification scheme through a case study of the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) who dismissed a suggestion to become HAP-certification on the grounds that it would have no clearly demonstrable benefits. The analysis looks into how the TBBC staff members practice and perceive their current accountability initiatives, the motives for TBBC to dismiss HAP certification at this time, and finally what challenges and opportunities TBBC face in relation to seeking HAP certification. The research shows that HAP certification could strengthen TBBC's legitimacy globally without being at the cost of their local legitimacy. However, if HAP becomes successful enough to become a pre-requisite of funding, it would put pressure on TBBC to re-organize and take on the certification process at a pace that would undermine local accountability. Currently TBBC staff members are divided towards the organization's strategic line. Therefore a deeper discussion at all levels of the organization of what HAP certification might mean for TBBC, would be beneficial to internalize and streamline the strategic position and hereby increase internal legitimacy. Aid and development agencies have undertaken general professionalization efforts, recently paving the way for new, qualitative and verifiable mechanisms. These are aimed at providing evidence of impacts and demonstrating that private organizations justify their expected benefits. One recent innovation is the Humanitarian Aid Auditing Partnership (HAP), a self-regulatory mechanism for non-governmental organizations whose primary objective is to certify member organizations according to established standards for humanitarian work. This concept has been welcomed by many and has been hailed as one of the most influential voices among beneficiaries. This research critically evaluates the HAP accreditation program using the case study of the Thai-Myanmar Border Cooperation Project, which abandoned its recommendation to become an accredited HAP on the grounds of unclear benefits. Data analysis focuses on the work of personnel in the Thai-Myanmar Border Cooperation Project, opinions on the current auditing mechanism, the motivations behind the project's abandonment of HAP accreditation at that time, and finally, to examine the challenges and opportunities the Thai-Myanmar Border Cooperation Project may face when seeking HAP accreditation in the future. The research concludes that ratification of a party to the Humanitarian Aid Inspection Party could enable the Thai-Myanmar border cooperation project to gain international recognition without sacrificing local recognition, which is understandable. However, if the Humanitarian Aid Inspection Party proves sufficiently successful to be a prerequisite for receiving financial assistance, the Thai-Myanmar border cooperation project would be obligated to obtain ratification promptly, potentially leading to local verification. Currently, the personnel involved in the Thai-Myanmar border cooperation project are divided into several factions according to the organization's strategy. Therefore, in-depth discussions at all levels within the organization regarding the potential impact of ratifying the Thai-Myanmar border cooperation project as a party to the Humanitarian Aid Inspection Party could gradually foster a strategic position and potentially lead to increased international legal recognition.

Application of the human security framework to the impact assessment of Sambor Dam project in Cambodia

Title: Application of the human security framework to the impact assessment of Sambor Dam project in Cambodia

Author: Eunkyong Park

Year: 2010

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Carl Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Although the Human Security (HS) framework has been proposed for quite some years now, attempts to apply the framework to actual developmental projects haven’t been widespread. The concept of a Human Security Impact Assessment (HSIA) is emerging as a new tool to determine the costs and benefits of development projects in a multi-disciplinary way using the Human Security framework, although the HSIA has not been used extensively to date and has never been used to evaluate a dam project. In fact, the range of costs and benefits of large dams have never been analyzed using the Human Security framework. This study does not attempt to do a HSIA, but it is an attempt to test whether it is feasible to use the HSIA tool for a proposed dam project, and also asks whether it would be useful to do so. For a successful and useful HSIA, the study considers that there are three mandatory pre-requisites to be met, namely: being able to determine the current human security situation of the target community; being able to predict the potential impacts of the development project on the community's human security; and the endorsement and support of stakeholders to undertake a HSIA 4 villages in Sambor, Kratie province in Cambodia were interviewed to measure the current HS status. Also, the external stakeholders such as NGOs, Governmental agencies and International organizations were interviewed to find out their current understanding and perception on Sambor community and the proposed Sambor dam, and to anticipate whether a HSIA would be possibly conducted for the Sambor dam project. This study demonstrates that it is possible and would be useful to undertake a HSIA for the Sambor dam project because it will help stakeholders to see the impacts in a more holistic way and to design better projects with a decreased possibility of unfavorable consequences. There certainly is enough information and knowledge existing from the all stakeholders if they are synthesized together to undertake an assessment of the current human security situation in the Sambor area and to anticipate the changes to human security if the proposed Sambor dam is built. However, for a successful HSIA, the current limitations and barriers should be addressed including lack of resources and lack motivation to share information.

Neoliberalism and social protection : The case of food security among the people living with HIV and AIDS in Cambodia

Title: Neoliberalism and social protection : The case of food security among the people living with HIV and AIDS in Cambodia

Author: Marly Anne E. Bacaron

Year: 2009

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Surat Horachaikul

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The impact of embedded neoliberalism has seen the worsening impact on social inequalities, particularly in developing countries. In addition, it impacts on economic and non-economic assets and capabilities of the poor. These aforementioned factors can expose them to vulnerabilities and risks while determining their entitlements and capabilities. The effects of globalization via neoliberal policies are revealed by taking a look at food security policies of the chronically ill such as those with HIV and AIDS in Cambodia. HIV-AIDS and the issue of food security is a relatively under-researched area. To many, the linkage between the two issues may seem peculiar more so when juxtaposed against the open economy inclined towards neoliberal policies. Whereas HIV-AIDS is generally related to health concerns and ergo strategies directed at health and nutrition to combat the disease, food security is multi-faceted covering availability of food, access to and use of food needs. Recommendations focused on transformative social protection mechanisms for chronically ill people like those with HIV-AIDS offer a way forward to protecting the poor and vulnerable against globalization. The paper is focused on Cambodia because of (a) food security issues related to land reform and disputes, weak tenurial laws and economic policies; and (b) its weak health system, heavy reliance on donor support for basic national development needs and the high prevalence of HIV-AIDS in the country during the 1990s. The lack of what is known as an “HIV-AIDS lens” on food security reinforces this issue.

The socio-economic impacts of Lao-Thai informal border trade on people's livelihood and poverty reduction

Title: The socio-economic impacts of Lao-Thai informal border trade on people's livelihood and poverty reduction

Author: Viengxay Thammavong

Year: 2008

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Puangthong Pawakapan, Advisor

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the networks of informal cross-border trade and its relationship to formal trade, as well as the impact of informal trade on the livelihoods of those involved. The study shows that almost all informal cross-border traders are women aged 25-45 with limited education. All informal cross-border trade is small-scale, primarily trading consumer goods and household appliances. The research also indicates that the income from informal cross-border trade is significantly higher than their previous incomes. Therefore, informal cross-border trade is a genuine source of income for those involved, and it can even become their primary occupation, resulting in improved living conditions. The study demonstrates that cross-border traders overcome business obstacles by leveraging their social networks and business expertise. They operate as a social community comprising cross-border traders, porters, etc. This integration of social networks benefits the cross-border traders by reducing competition, building trust, and enhancing their capabilities. At the same time, they use these social networks to protect themselves from exploitation. The study further highlights the businesses of these cross-border traders. Cross-border trade involves elements of both formal and informal trade. Specifically, border traders own legally registered shops, have obtained licenses from relevant government agencies, and pay taxes. Meanwhile, the goods sold in these shops are purchased both formally and informally to reduce costs and maximize profits. Therefore, formal and informal trade inherently overlap in some aspects. This study focuses on studying the characteristics of informal border trade networks and its relation to formal channel, and the impacts of informal trade on people's livelihoods involving in the informal trade. The finding determined that almost of the informal border traders are women, aged between 25 to 45 years old, with low level of education. Most of the informal border trade was on a small scale and the products traded are mostly consumption and household goods. The research also indicated that the income earning from informal border trade of the traders is much higher than those from their previous jobs. Therefore, the informal border trade is a real source of income for people who involve in the business and it can be considered as their main job. As the result, their living condition has been improved better. The finding of the research showed that the border traders are able to overcome the barriers in their business operations by calling on a number of social network and business skills. They work in a social community which included other border traders, porters and other parties. The combination of these social linkages gives border traders advantages in minimizing hassles, building trust and increasing the scope of their capabilities. At the same time, they use these social networks to guard against another party taking advantage of them. The research also found that the businesses of these cross border traders are themselves combine a formal and informal characteristic. On the shop itself, a shop owner has to apply for a license from authority concerned and pay taxes to customs while goods suppliers in a shop buy from both formal and informal channel in order to reduce their capital and gain maximize profit. Therefore, formal and informal trades are overlapping in this border trade area.

Special Economic Zone Project Assessment in Savannakhet, Lao PDR: An Application of Human Security Framework

Title: Special Economic Zone Project Assessment in Savannakhet, Lao PDR: An Application of Human Security Framework

Author: Vaughan, Robert

Year: 2006

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Ora-orn Poocharoen

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Special Economic Zone Project Assessment in Savannakhet, Lao PDR: An Application of Human Security Framework