Beyond toll-free lines and complaints boxes : A study of accountability and participation in humanitarian action in Chad

Abstract: In this thesis we look further into Oxfam and Action Against Hunger’s use of the concepts of accountability and participation, how the concepts are informing the programming of humanitarian interventions as well as their materialization in the implementation of the programs in Chad. The study is based on a literature review with secondary sources as the basis of the research material. Scholars debating the concepts provide for the point of departure and the case study is based on the project and program proposals from the organizations themselves. The thesis attempts to demonstrate Oxfam and Action Against Hunger’s degree of fulfilment of the frameworks relating to accountability and participation currently available, in regards of two ongoing interventions in Chad. The result of the research positively demonstrates that the organization uphold their commitments on paper, and to some extent invites the reader to understand the practical action used to adhere to the concepts. It further indicates a lack of insight into what level of accountability and participation which is upheld prior to the identification of activities and the methodology uses in the needs assessment.