acities
6.2.1 Overarching recommendation
Sector-wide discussions at the global level should be initiated to address the need
for a fundamental re-orientation of the humanitarian sector based on the principle
that the ownership of humanitarian assistance should rest with claim-holders.
This implies a shift of emphasis from delivery to support and facilitation. Such
discussions are expected to facilitate the implementation of the following
6.2.2 Recommendation 1: Engagement with local and
• International agencies should prepare in advance for the problems of scaling
up not simply by identifying resources but also by making their systems and
practices suitable for maximum participation by local people.
• They should also make plans to shift into more collective ways of working
during ‘mega-disasters' in order to ensure that they do not extend beyond their
competence but instead link with others and share roles.
• They should have clear partnership strategies and develop local partnerships
from the start in order to avoid glitches during the transition to recovery.
• They should institute procedures for making grants for longer time periods
even from the outset of an intervention, and should critically examine reporting
• Specific agreements and protocols should be made to limit ‘poaching' of staff
particularly to ensure that local capacity is not undermined.
6.2.3 Recommendation 2: Attention to social
inequalities, exclusion and hierarchies
• Planning should be based on the assumption that aid is likely to reinforce
inequalities within the community unless corrective action is taken.
• Planning should also take account of the complexity of community structures
and the need, therefore, for knowledgeable local intermediaries with power to
• Inclusion of the most marginalised should be treated as a fundamental
principle or right, regardless of costs.
• Aid should be given according to need rather than limited to a particular
disaster – in the case of the tsunami response, people affected by conflict
should be included in aid responses.
• Strategies should be developed to ensure that women and marginalised groups
have full access to information.
• Women claim-holders should be represented in all decision-making bodies
6.2.4 Recommendation 3: Contribution to an enabling
environment and context
• Communities should be encouraged to develop their own contingency plans for
disasters and receive material support with the proviso that adequate
provision must be made for poorer and marginalised groups. This should
extend to a wide range of civil-society organisations including women's groups.
• National governments in disaster-prone countries should develop
comprehensive plans and procedures for disaster management, including the
management of information in order to ensure that communities are kept fully
informed at all stages of the response.
• They should also make plans not only for the establishment of a central body
to manage disaster responses but also to enable cooperation between
departments and between the centre and local government.
• Those responding to a disaster should ensure that full information about their
activities is available to all those affected, especially in local communities. This
might include public notices giving financial information, and public audits.
• Agencies should strengthen watchdog movements and support the mass media
to promote better understanding of the response and opportunities for
feedback and dialogue.
TEC Dec 2005 report
Their earlier report (Dec 2005) has been summarised on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsunami_Evaluation_Coalition#The_six_initial_findings :
The six initial findings
The TEC published an initial findings report in December 2005. These are preliminary findings based on initial reports from the more that fifty consultants involved in the field-work. It is expected that the final synthesis report will focus more on policy issues in the sector.
Relief was effective
The relief phase was effective in ensuring that the immediate survival needs were met, through a mixtu