We will ensure that communities are designing and driving initiatives themselves and are supported by the Red Cross and Red Crescent in a way that meets their needs, capacities and priorities. We seek true transparent, needs driven design and we move from participatory approaches to user-led approaches where possible. We aim to ensure communities are involved in decision-making about the allocation of resources we make in their names.

We rigorously monitor and evaluate our work including seeking feedback from the communities we are working with using a variety of mechanisms to ensure diverse and ethical input. The information we collect will be consensual with all people understanding how their data will be used, stored and what implications of these data collection mechanisms might be.

The safety and wellbeing of the people who come into contact with our services and initiatives is of paramount concern to the network. We have channels where communities can easily and confidentially make complaints or give feedback. Serious complaints related to staff misconduct, corruption, sexual exploitation and abuse are treated with high priority and in a framework centred on the affected person, survivor or community.

We recognise that in order to support people to thrive we require approaches that are respectful of all people, that do not make assumptions about their needs or desires, and which builds two-way trust between institutions and people.

On accountability to donors and partners

We recognise that financial supporters place their trust in us to use their funds and resources to help drive a better life for affected people, and we take seriously the obligations to use this wisely and efficiently. The network’s accountability is based on being transparent about our decision making, processes and results, and how our funds and other resources are managed and spent.

Our financial management is open and available for scrutiny by communities and the wider public. We publish audited accounts and regularly communicate about how funds are being allocated and why, and whether they are achieving their purpose.

On accountability to ourselves

We strive to be accountable to each other: to build a culture of trust, safety, integrity, hold each other to account and recognise the power that peer relationships can play within the network at transforming behaviour and promoting ethical conduct.

Leaders in the Red Cross and Red Crescent will embody the principles of the Movement, they will build cultures of respect and trust within the network and implement strategies to ensure integrity is maintained – including ensuring the practices, the way we act and culture reflect our values and our active codes of conduct.

Our leadership – including governance – will be diverse and reflective of the communities we work in partnership with. There will be a focused effort to promote equality in gender representation at governance and senior leadership roles. Our Governance will be highly effective and transparent ensuring open oversight into the organisation.

We will invest in our staff and volunteers, take responsibility for their wellbeing and growth, and will ensure they have the skills and resources needed to achieve their work. We will ensure our workplaces are safe, inclusive and that our human resources systems are fair. We will develop talent in order to ensure organisational effectiveness and individual high performance.