Message from the ICVA Secretariat: 26 April 2007

Building Safer Organisations project (BSO) relocation from ICVA to the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International (HAP-I)

E-mail Message to ICVA Members

*for your information*

To: ICVA Members
From: ICVA Secretariat
Date: 26 April 2007
SUBJECT: BUILDING SAFER ORGANISATIONS PROJECT RELOCATION FROM ICVA TO HAP-I

Dear ICVA Members,

We are writing to inform you that the Building Safer Organisations project (BSO) has relocated to the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International (HAP-I) as of April 2007. ICVA hosted the BSO project team from November 2004. Initially, the agreement was for BSO to remain with ICVA for 18 months as a non-core component of its work. However, in January 2006, ICVA’s Executive Committee agreed that ICVA should continue to house the project for a maximum of another 18 months.

During the project's two and a half years with ICVA, BSO staff successfully developed:

• two learning programmes on the investigation and management of sexual abuse and exploitation (SEA) complaints;

• a training of trainers learning programme;

• a handbook and a set of investigation guidelines; and

• provided support to organisations on the implementation of policies and procedures and on conducting investigations.

An evaluation of the project published by the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children in June 2006 (available at http://www.icva.ch/doc00001781.html) found that "the BSO learning program has proven a valuable tool for humanitarian agencies in strengthening their capacity" and that the learning program materials were "effective and well received."

RELOCATION TO HAP-I:

Given the agreement that ICVA would not be BSO’s permanent home, consultation with participants, NGOs, and donors took place to determine how best to manage the future of the project. BSO support and trainings remain in high demand and it was agreed that the project’s gains thus far will be strengthened and advanced through continuation and expansion of BSO’s activities beyond 2007.

In November 2006, the HAP-I and ICVA Executive Committees agreed that BSO – its materials, resources, and staff - would relocate to HAP-I, given their mutually reinforcing objectives and goals to improve NGO accountability to beneficiary communities.

BSO will continue to provide training and support to NGO investigators and their organisations, supervision of the use of BSO tools, and independent SEA investigation and investigation management services. In addition, the relocation will enable the project secretariat to continue to assist NGOs to strengthen their ability to receive and respond to allegations of SEA and to innovate new systems for enhancing compliance with accountability standards on SEA as promulgated by the IASC.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Please use our new addresses effective immediately:

• Katharina Samara-Wickrama ksamara@hapinternational.org

• Coleen Heemskerk cheemskerk@hapinternational.org

• Radha Ivory rivory@hapinternational.org

HAP International
Maison Internationale de l´Environnement 2
Chemin Balexert 7 (first floor, room 1-08)
CH - 1219 Châtelaine
Geneva, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 788 16 41
Fax: +41 22 797 38 61

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the BSO Secretariat at bso@hapinternational.org.

With warm regards,
ICVA and BSO Secretariats