Few challenges are as great as delivering timely humanitarian assistance during conflict and disasters. It’s made even more difficult because of its vulnerability to fraud, diversion, bribery, and safeguarding risks. The USAID Humanitarian Assistance Anti-Corruption Integration Handbook provides guidance and standards on integrating anti-corruption measures into humanitarian assistance efforts to limit these risks. The handbook provides practical guidance on well-established practices:
- Risk Assessments: Conducting thorough risk assessments to identify potential corruption risks in humanitarian operations.
- Mitigation Strategies: Implementing strategies to mitigate identified risks, such as strengthening internal controls and promoting transparency.
- Capacity Building: Training staff and partners on anti-corruption practices and how to recognize and report corruption.
- Monitoring and Evaluation: Establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures.
- Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration with local communities, governments, and other stakeholders to enhance accountability and reduce corruption.
- Humanitarian Principles: In the context of the other practices, humanitarian organizations must adhere to humanitarian principles, such as humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
With the establishment of these standards, demonstrated adherence will not only help manage the risk of corruption on humanitarian activities, but it will also mitigate consequences of an OIG investigation or review of the Responsibility, Safeguarding, and Compliance Division (M/MPBP/RBC). The bar has been set high for good reason.
Review the handbook here.
