Our Dynamic Accountability Reporting & Action Planning process is designed as a way for organisations to internally reflect, publicly commit, and jointly advance accountability practices.
A focus on continuous learning and action
We believe that accountability reporting is about more than due-diligence and compliance aimed at donors and governments, but rather a continuous process that involves reflection, learning, and course correction to ensure that organization’s work is efficient and effective.
What makes Accountable Now’s reporting and action planning process unique?
- A more agile form of reporting – driven by stakeholders’ needs
- Streamlined set of questions
- Space for organisations to drive their own accountability priorities and focus
- Flexibility to external demands
About Our Reporting & Action Planning Process
Our Dynamic Accountability Reporting & Action Planning process (co-created between Accountable Now, our members, the Independent Review Panel, plus external experts) follows a triennial cycle, designed to enable organizations to better see effects, impacts and results of implementation.
The process is comprised of annual Core Reports, plus Action Plans and Action Reports. Continue reading to learn about the reporting and action planning process and frameworks.
Reporting and Action Planning Timeline
Year 1:
Submission of Core Report
Submission of Action Plan
Year 2:
Submission of Core Report
Submission of Action Report
Year 3:
Submission of Core Report
Submission of Action Report
Learn More About Core Reports
The Core Report, which addresses a set of 5 Core Questions, offers a bird’s eye view of an organization’s accountability practices and demonstrates a commitment to living out their values.
Click here to see the Core Questions.
- What have been your most significant achievements and impacts this year and how has this been validated with your stakeholders?
- If applicable – How have your organisation’s accountability processes been impacted by significant internal or external changes over the reporting period?
- How has your organisation learned from reported incidents, complaints and grievances received in the past year?
- Internally, how has your organisation practised a more dynamic approach to accountability?
- How has your organisation worked towards being dynamically accountable to your external stakeholders (i.e partners, communities, programme participants, etc)?
Our Independent Review Panel carefully reviews and provides comprehensive feedback on all submissions. All reports are published on Accountable Now’s website to promote transparency and highlight commitment towards accountability.
The Core Report is offered to our Full Members each year, Associate (Tier 2) and Friends (Tier 3) members can access this tool alongside accompanying support and IRP feedback at a discounted rate. Learn more about our membership tiers and benefits here.
** Our approach to reporting has been updated in 2023 to respond to emerging accountability demands. While our approach remains anchored to the Global Standard 12 Commitments, new accountability aspects such as informed consent, anti-racism, decolonization, and climate justice, among others, have been added to our guidance documents to support CSOs in the current context better.
Learn More About Action Plans and Action Reports
Action Plans lays out the roadmap for accountability improvements and are submitted in Year 1 of the reporting cycle. They are assessed according to dynamic accountability principles by our Independent Review Panel.
Actions Plans should outline clear objectives and commitments for an organization, establish a baseline, and include reflections for next steps – alongside a general schedule or timeline. In order to serve a diverse range of organization types and sizes, Action Plans are customizable – actions can be drawn from any accountability areas of the Action Framework, but they can also go beyond. Action Plans are not envisioned to be separated from the work of an organisation; the aim is to complement internal and/or programmatic processes. Members are therefore free to choose how many and which areas/questions to include in their action plans.
In general, plans should reflect on the following:
- What is the current state of the process, mechanism, or activity being shared?
- What are the future actions and timelines? What direction is the practice heading towards? What are some expected outcomes
- How have stakeholders been engaged and how may engagement processes be adapted to their needs?
Please note: Accountable Now recognises that Action Plans are subjected to change as implementation takes place; this can happen because of a diverse range of factors, including unforeseen changes in funding, the need to adapt actions according to feedback received, among others. To this end, members may choose to resubmit the plan after they receive feedback from the Independent Review Panel, or provide an update on how the plan has changed within the following year’s submission.
Action Reports provide progress updates against Action Plans and are submitted in Year 2 and 3.
Updates should aim to reflect on the following:
- How did the organisation carry out its planned actions? What has been achieved (with examples and evidence of implementation)?
- What are the outcomes and impacts so far?
- How have stakeholders’ feedback and voices been reflected in what was carried out?
- How have the planned actions changed as a result of continuous listening and engagement?
Reporting Guidance Documents
Take a closer look at the documents that guide our members, Independent Review Panel, and Secretariat through the reporting process:
All you need to know about reporting and action planning, including an overview of the processes and cycle, reporting expectations, timeline, and more.
Overview of all Action Questions, plus mapping of the Core Questions and Action Questions.
Members' Accountability Reports
About the Independent Review Panel
- Internationally-recognised experts
- Backgrounds in development, human rights, business and academia
- Based around the globe
- Ensure credibility and integrity of the reporting process
