Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief
Basic information
- Type: Code of Conduct/Ethics
- Year established: 1994
- Status: Active
- Thematic area: Advocacy / lobbying, Humanitarian / emergency relief
- Summary: The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief is a voluntary code of conduct that seeks to maintain standards of independence, effectiveness and impact of disaster response NGOs and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The principles address accountability to donors and beneficiaries; respect for culture, religion and beneficiaries; independence and impartiality; and beneficiary participation, among others. It also includes recommendations for governments of disaster affected countries, donor governments and intergovernmental organisations.
Contact details
- Host organisation: International Committee of the Red Cross
- Acronym: ICRC
- Website: www.icrc.org
- Phone: + 41 (22) 734 60 01 K18
- Address: 19 avenue de la Paix CH 1202 Geneva
Areas addressed
- Principles or standards: Principles-based
- Communications / advocacy / fundraising:
- General commitment to transparency
- Ethical communications
- Governance and Management:
- Procurement
- Beneficiary / client / supporter participation:
- General commitment to beneficiary participation
- In all project cycle stages
- In project design
- In implementation
- Monitoring and Evaluation:
- General commitment to evaluation
- Dissemination of evaluations
- Impact evaluation
- Cross-cutting thematic areas:
- Human rights
- State - CSO relations
Further info: The Code is based on ten fundamental principles to which all signatories agree to adhere. These principles cover issues such as distributing aid regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients; respecting culture and custom; building disaster response on local capacities; involving programme beneficiaries in the management of relief aid; and recognising disaster victims as dignified humans, not hopeless objects in public communications.
Participation
- Reasons for participation
- Enhancing credibility, quality or reputation
- Further information: The Code has become an accepted norm; today, being a signatory to the Code is expected of most humanitarian NGOs.
Compliance
- Monitoring mechanism: Commitment only
- Has sanctioning mechanism: No
Assessment
The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief lays out the broad principles of humanitarian work upon which the more specific standards and methodologies outlined by other initiatives adhere. While relatively brief, this Code fulfills the role of defining the mission and parameters of NGO humanitarian action.
