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Good Practice Toolkit

Commitment 4.2:
We analyse and understand the contexts in which we work.

Compliance Indicators

Compliance with the Commitments will be assessed against the following Compliance Indicators. All of the applicable Compliance Indicators must be met by every ACFID Member to be considered compliant with the Code. Each of the Compliance Indicators has one or more compliance Verifiers. Verifiers are the description of evidence that is required to substantiate compliance with each Compliance Indicator. Guidance is also provided.

4.2.1 Members’ planning and practice are informed by analysis of context, evidence and research, and inclusion of the perspectives and knowledge of primary stakeholders.

  • Design, planning or appraisal framework, process, tools, templates which require or approaches which consistently show context and stakeholder analysis. Contextual analysis should consider the perspectives and knowledge of primary stakeholders, impacts of climate change and an analysis of power dynamics including issues of gender equality and equity. 

     

Guidance

Your design or planning framework, tools and templates could include: explicit sub sections or prompts in the design document template requiring contextual analysis including the identification of different primary stakeholder groups and an analysis of the power dynamics for each, reference to research or other evidence and how primary stakeholder’s perspectives were sought.

Your appraisal/selection process could include sub sections or criteria covering: an assessment of the adequacy of: contextual analysis; stakeholder analysis; the research or evidence used; and how the perspectives of primary stakeholders were sought.

4.2.2 Members assess and manage risk in their development and humanitarian initiatives.

A risk framework, risk management plan or approach that assesses and addresses risks for all initiatives including from a protection / safeguarding perspective, and risks associated with climate change (see 1.4.1, 1.5.1, 3.2.1). 

Guidance

Your design template could include a requirement to compete a risk management matrix or analysis. Your appraisal/selection process could include sub sections or criteria covering an assessment of the risk analysis and management strategies. Protection/safeguarding is a critical area of practice to ensure we ‘do no harm’. To ensure protection/safeguarding is always considered in all risk assessments, your risk management matrix and your appraisal/selection process should explicitly include a section or criterion on protection/safeguarding.

There will be variation in the detail and complexity of risk analysis and risk management tools depending on the size and scope of your organisation and the initiatives, but there are accepted standard approaches. Your approach should always include consideration of protection/safeguarding risks regardless of the size or scope of your organisation or the initiative. You can download an example of a risk analysis and management tool in the Resources Section below.

4.2.3 Members undertake research and establish their own ethical guidelines for research.

This indicator and its verifier is relevant only to Members which undertake research.

Ethical guidelines for research. 

Research plans and results are shared with those who are involved in or impacted by the findings. 

Guidance

If your organisation undertakes research, you will have documented guidelines to inform these processes. Guidelines should reflect the four principles of:

  • respect for human beings;
  • beneficence;
  • research merit and integrity; and
  • justice.

You can download RDI’s Principles for Ethical Research and Evaluation in Development in the Resources Section below.

Good Practice Indicators

The following Good Practice Indicators describe a higher standard of practice than that set out in the Compliance Indicators. While Members do not need to meet the Good Practice Indicators to be considered compliant with the Code, they will self-assess against these indicators once every three years. This provides a clear pathway for Members to strengthen and improve practice over time.

  • The Research for Development Impact (RDI) Network Principles for Ethical Research and Evaluation in Development are used to inform approaches to research. 
  • Training is provided to key personnel and partners on undertaking contextual, stakeholder and risk analysis, including the analysis of power dynamics and gender. 
  • Structured processes to periodically re-assess contextual and stakeholder analysis and risk on an ongoing basis are in place. 
  • The results of research are shared with local partners and primary stakeholders. 

Good Practice Guidance

Here are some practical suggestions for your organisation to further deepen and improve practice over time.

Context and Stakeholder Analysis

  • Develop a full understanding of the program’s context including the impact of national and community-level political, social, economic, cultural, power, gender and environmental factors, as well as the enablers and the barriers to social change
  • Seek the perspectives and experiences of primary stakeholders directly impacted by poverty or inequality
  • Seek the perspectives of all vulnerable or marginalised groups where protection/safeguarding risks could be increased e.g. people with disability, women, children, people identifying with different or non-binary gender etc.
  • Carry out an analysis of the key relationships that will impact the project, how that impact will occur, and how those groups or people can be positively engaged
  • Train staff in how to carry out power analyses as a basic step in the preparation of any development activity
  • Periodically review the context as it changes over time as part of regular monitoring activities and reflect any changes by adapting project plans and approaches.
  • Ensure program guidelines explicitly outline the importance of identifying the needs and expectations of all key stakeholders, including potential differences in interests and points of view.
  • Use stakeholder analysis tools in project design so that you can identify the key local organisations and stakeholders and the relationships between them that contribute to or can break down poverty and inequality; vulnerability, risk and capacity for each stakeholder group.
  • Identify key groups marginalised through vulnerability and analyse the increased vulnerability and risks posed through intersectionality of vulnerabilities.
  • Conduct research to identify the enabling factors and barriers for participation of local people.
  • Invest resources in and create opportunities for local organisations and/or primary stakeholders to discuss and agree on their own priorities for development and to fully contribute to the design and planning of initiatives that affect them.
  • Assess the level to which primary stakeholders have been involved in the initial planning of the program and the level of consultation and engagement with various community groups and the local government.

Gender and Power Dynamics Analysis

Undertaking an analysis of gender and power dynamics should ideally be done in close consultation with your partners and the communities or target groups with whom you work. The focus of your analysis should be nuanced depending on the context although there are some common issues or areas that can be considered. These include:

  • Ensure careful analysis of how gender and power intersect and the impact each aspect has on the other.
  • The legislative or regulatory environment within a particular country that could inhibit or enable. This could include regulations or laws relating to industrial relations or labour, land and asset ownership, marriage, sexual orientation and gender identity, child protection, sexual exploitation and abuse.
  • Cultural and religious norms that could inhibit or enable how decisions are made in work places, within households and within communities – who holds the information and knowledge, who influences decision making and who controls decision making.
  • Ownership and control of land and other productive assets e.g. land, animals, productive trees, water ways.
  • The division of labour in general and in regards to these productive assets i.e. men may own the assets but women may undertake all the labour
  • The control and use of other assets within the workplace or community i.e. public spaces and services
  • Ownership and control of profits and incomes
  • Control of body and sexuality – how are decisions about sex and relationships made within families, households and communities
  • Attitudes in the workplace, households and communities towards sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Resources to help organisations undertake an analysis of power dynamics, including issues of gender equality and equity, can be found in the Resources Section below.

Approaches to risk analysis

  • Consider both organisational and initiative based risk analysis.
  • Establish protocols for the conduct of regular risk reviews.
  • Share risk assessment, analysis and management strategies with the governing body and periodically review these.
  • Appoint a staff person or committee to be responsible for ensuring regular risk assessments are carried out.
  • Use ISO standards to guide your risk assessment processes.
  • Undertake targeted risk analysis for particular initiatives, for example risks related to child protection, risks related to vulnerable groups, risks related to gender or gender identification.
  • Communicate your commitment to risk analysis and management amongst your staff, governing body, and partners.
  • Work with partners to develop their risk management capacity and procedures.

Risk Areas

Risk identification should be a collaborative process that involves partners and staff from key functions that are relevant to logistics, security, field offices, programs, technical staff, HR and partner management. In any development and humanitarian initiative, there will be a wide range of risks to be considered that are specific to the sector of work and the context. In all initiatives, however, there are some risks that should always be considered. These include:

  • Child safeguarding incident involving staff or partners
  • Sexual exploitation or abuse incident involving staff or partners
  • Resources being diverted to proscribed ‘terrorist’ groups
  • Poor fraud management planning leading to repeated fraud incidents
  • Lack of staff or specific technical skill-sets in country office or partners
  • Security situation affecting implementation negatively

Safeguarding Risks

Each context will present different protection and safeguarding risks, and it can be helpful for organisations to systematically identify what these risks are and how they can mitigate these. If the initiative is working directly with children, a child protection and safeguarding risk assessment should be undertaken.  Some questions to consider include:

  • What contact will this activity have with children?
  • What contact will this activity have with vulnerable adults?
  • What contact will staff and volunteers have with children and/or vulnerable adults?
  • What hazards exist in the activity or the context that may make children and adults vulnerable to exploitation and abuse?
  • What safeguards exist to prevent the exploitation and abuse of children and vulnerable adults?
  • What mechanisms exist for children, vulnerable adults and staff to report concerns and incidents relating to exploitation and abuse?
  • What policies and procedures are in place to safeguard children and adults from exploitation and abuse?
  • What additional mitigating strategies are needed to protect children and adults from exploitation and abuse?

Approaches to research

  • Use Research for Development Impact (RDI) Network Principles for Ethical Research and Evaluation in Development to inform your approach to research.
  • Ensure that local stakeholders have a meaningful input into the design of research initiatives and in undertaking the research.
  • Provide appropriate training to local staff and primary stakeholders who may be involved in research activities
  • Include local stakeholders in research teams and hold meetings at the completion of the research with local stakeholders to share the findings and receive feedback on them.
  • Translate research findings into local language and conduct forums where this information can be shared.

ACFID Resources

IWDA Policy: Risk Management

This resource outlines the comprehensive risk management practices implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to ensure the successful achievement of its development program objectives. This is suitable for all ANCP or potential ANCP accredited organisations. It is relevant to the Code in providing practical recommendations and policy examples for managing various risk factors, including environmental and social safeguards, terrorism resourcing, and fraud prevention.

Religion and Development: Australian Faith based development organisations

This resource is about examining the pivotal role of faith in development efforts, particularly through the lens of faith-based organisations (FBOs). It delves into the challenges and opportunities faced by FBOs in navigating their ties to local community, religiosity and its impact on development work. This is suitable for organisations who partner with FBOs and require insights into the complexities of FBOs' contributions and their unique advantages over secular organisations.
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Other Resources

A guide to risk management for not-for-profits and social enterprises

This resource is a comprehensive guide to focusing limited resources on key priorities for risk management. This is suitable for emerging and small organisations. It draws upon legal and risk practitioners' expertise, as well as established governance and risk management frameworks, such as ISO 31000:2018 and ISO 37301:2021, to provide comprehensive guidance on risk management and compliance.

An introduction to the risk management process

This resource is about implementing a risk management process within not-for-profit organisations. This is suitable for all organisations seeking to assesses and addresses risks for all initiatives including from a protection / safeguarding perspective, and risks associated with climate change (see 1.4.1, 1.5.1, 3.2.1). It is also relevant to organisations looking for a collaborative approach risk management.

Development risk management

This resource outlines the comprehensive risk management practices implemented by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to ensure the successful achievement of its development program objectives. It highlights the importance of managing risks throughout the lifespan of investments and maintaining integrity in all endeavors. It offers valuable insights into establishing robust risk management frameworks to enhance program effectiveness and integrity.  

Establishing a context for risk management in your organisation

This resource provides a comprehensive guide to effectively managing risks within not-for-profit organisations. It emphasises the importance of clarity regarding both internal and external contexts in which an organisation operates. This guide is suitable for all organisations, but particularly those with limited resources and diverse service offerings across multiple locations. This is relevant to the Code because organisations require a risk management plan.

How to collaborate with Pacific Churches for development research

This guide offers academics and practitioners the tools and knowledge to navigate the unique demands and opportunities of working with Churches and Church-based organisations in the Pacific region.

Risk management and locally led development: Understanding how to better manage risks for sustainable impact

The resource provides key lessons for risk management in locally led and owned development co-operation. It also emphasises the importance of respecting individuals' autonomy, lived experiences, and empowering staff flexibility. This is relevant to the Code by incorporating community perspectives into risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

Risk management for not-for-profit organisations

This resource is designed for executive directors, managers, and senior staff, within not-for-profit organisations responsible for risk management. It provides a step-by-step approach to identifying, assessing, monitoring, and managing risks effectively. It offers practical insights and strategies tailored to the unique challenges and objectives of the sector. It is suitable for all organisations.

Risk Management Register Template

This resource is a template risk register. A risk register is a document that records all of your organisation's identified risks, the likelihood and consequences of a risk occurring, the actions you are taking to reduce those risks and who is responsible for managing them. This is suitable for all organisations. This is relevant to the Code because members' must show evidence of assessing and managing risk in their development and humanitarian initiatives.

Stakeholder Analysis Matrix Template

This resource is a basic stakeholder analysis (also called stakeholder mapping). This is suitable for emerging to small organisations undertaking program design and want to include the perspectives and knowledge of primary stakeholders. This is relevant to the Code because it emphasises the importance of understanding stakeholders' perspectives and interests in program development.

Time to Decolonise Aid

This resource is a report on the findings and recommendations derived from a three-day online consultation about unequal power dynamics in the international aid system. This is relevant to the Code because it addresses power dynamics and structural racism. It is also relevant to organisations striving for transformative change. The report is also available in Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Urdu, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish and Swahili downloadable from the web page.

Trauma-Informed Approaches to Development Checklist

This resource is about understanding trauma and implementing trauma-informed approaches in international development projects. This is suitable for all professionals seeking for more effective and context-specific interventions in development activities. This is relevant to the Code because it emphasises the importance of prioritising the well-being and resilience of individuals and communities affected by trauma, aligning with principles of ethical practice, empathy, and cultural sensitivity.

Unplugged: Creating risk assessments with community

This resource delves into implementing a 'dignity of risk' approach in co-designing risk assessments and mitigation strategies with diverse communities. It offers valuable insights into adopting inclusive approaches to risk management. It is suitable for all organisations that wish to centre community perspectives and lived experiences in navigating daily risks. This also aligns with QP1, QP2 and QP5.
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