All the evidence we need: Research to support the operationalization of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement Commitments for community engagement and accountability

Effective community engagement helps to ensure that humanitarian organizations are more accountable to the people they serve. The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is firmly rooted in local communities, and is committed to being accountable to communities as established in the Principles and Rules for Red Cross and Red Crescent Humanitarian Assistance and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Code of Conduct in Disaster Relief. Most recently, the Movement has increased its efforts to meet its commitments to improve how it engages with and is accountable to local communities through the Movement Commitments on Community Engagement and Accountability presented at the 2019 Council of Delegates. Furthermore, over the years the Movement has developed a robust set of resources, such as a guide and toolkit, that seek to support National Societies to strengthen their practices of engaging with local communities Yet, even with a wealth of resources and commitments a variety of barriers and challenges still exist in institutionalizing a consistent approach that ensures that community engagement is an integral part of all responses.