Humanitarian sector of Belarusian NGOs

This document, created for Belarusian aid organizations and humanitarian organizations, arose due to years of repression against people who disagree with the ideology of the official Belarusian state.

The initiators of the document are organizations providing humanitarian assistance to Belarusians affected by political repression.

Before starting work on the document, the initiators conducted a closed study, which included a quantitative survey of representatives of humanitarian organizations and two online focus groups with former political prisoners. The collected data provided a basis for generalizations and presenting trends and conclusions related to the practices of humanitarian organizations. The results of the study formed the foundation for many sections of this document, including recommendations for practical application of the principles.

The document is based on the experience of providing assistance to people affected by political repression in Belarus after the events of 2020. However, the principles contained herein, according to the authors, are universal and can be applied in a broader humanitarian context. Additional provisions may be developed for other target groups to address their specific needs and vulnerabilities.

1. To describe the general approaches and standards that Belarusian aid and humanitarian organizations can follow in their work.
2. To promote transparency in decision-making processes within aid organizations and humanitarian organizations and/or in humanitarian program operations.
3. To prevent discrimination and/or abuse both in providing and receiving humanitarian assistance.
4. To strengthen trust between Belarusian aid organizations, humanitarian organizations, supporting initiatives, international structures, and recipients of assistance.
5. To ensure timely, efficient, and complete provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need.

In 2020, Belarus experienced a legal collapse in the context of the presidential elections. Tens of thousands of people faced arbitrary detention, beatings, and torture. Thousands were subject to criminal prosecution and political repression.

Human rights and civic organizations, as well as aid initiatives existing before 2020 or emerging during the crisis, actively engaged in assisting those affected, including legal advice, material, medical, and food aid, support for families of detainees, evacuation assistance, and more.

Humanitarian assistance played a decisive role in supporting the affected individuals.

Unfortunately, the legal default in the country did not end with the events of 2020. Mass repressions continued, and any independent activity within the country was destroyed.

Nevertheless, organizations, funds, and aid initiatives continue to exist despite the difficult humanitarian situation, limited resources, political pressure, and forced emigration, actively supporting people both inside and outside the country.

This has been made possible by the continuous development of humanitarian organizations, aid organizations, and initiatives, as well as close and constructive cooperation among them.

To make individual structures, associations of organizations, and funds more resilient and able to increase the volume and scope of assistance, it is important to promote the self-determination of the humanitarian sector and systematization of its work, which is reflected in the goals of this document.

In this document, humanitarian organizations are understood as organizations and initiatives that systematically or episodically support people in crisis situations. Such support may include:

• material assistance in cash or in-kind forms;
• consultation and informational support;
• facilitation of rehabilitation and resocialization;
• assistance in emergency situations (evacuation, shelter);
• other social services and types of assistance.

In this document, aid organizations are understood as organizations and initiatives that may provide humanitarian assistance independently, or create infrastructure for assistance, coordinate its delivery, accumulate resources, and advocate for the interests and needs of recipients.

Considering the Belarusian context, humanitarian and aid organizations may meet one or several of the following criteria:

• operates as a fund, human rights organization, volunteer initiative, professional community, diaspora community, or international structure acting in the interests of the Belarusian civil society;
• registered as a legal entity;
• non-governmental and non-profit;
• has an experienced team working with recipients based on internal standards and assistance procedures;
• transparent in decision-making processes and publicly reports annually.

A recipient of assistance is an individual, group, civic organization, initiative, or any legal entity receiving humanitarian aid or donations from an aid or humanitarian organization. The recipient is the beneficiary for whom the charitable project or program is carried out.

Providing humanitarian assistance primarily relies on international practices and necessarily takes into account the local context. In their work, aid and humanitarian organizations follow the principles of human rights organizations in Belarus and UN humanitarian principles and adhere to the standards described in these documents.

In addition to these principles and standards, the initiators of this document suggest additional points relevant to work in our region.

It is important to note that the principles and standards below are cross-cutting, meaning they permeate all aspects and stages of humanitarian assistance related to Belarus and Belarusians. The initiators also suggest that organizations and initiatives use them when creating their internal documents.

Following these principles and standards is key to ensuring access to humanitarian assistance for people in need, regardless of their crisis situation.

Basic Principles and Standards

Coordination is an important operational tool for aid and humanitarian organizations, ensuring:

• distribution of efforts in assisting recipients;
• elimination of double funding for the same needs;
• increased coverage of assistance;
• fair allocation of resources and equal access to aid;
• targeted and timely assistance for those in need;
• strengthening the voice of the humanitarian sector in advocacy;
• verification standards;
• reliability of safety protocols;
• operational synergy among aid and humanitarian organizations.

Coordination may occur at both Belarusian and international levels with participation of international structures.

Coordination can include:

• regular meetings for experience exchange;
• joint databases (considering security protocols and data privacy);
• development and approval of common work algorithms or their parts (e.g., verification or safety protocols);
• formation of working groups to address specific sector tasks.

Verification mechanisms are developed by each organization based on the type of assistance provided and the characteristics of target groups, but the following principles can be highlighted:

Development of safety protocols is a key task. General principles:

Communication by aid and humanitarian organizations with the audience (including recipients, humanitarian sector representatives, journalists, and other stakeholders) should follow these principles:

Principles of communication with recipients:

Accountability and transparency are essential for trust in aid and humanitarian organizations.

Universal tools to ensure transparency may include:

The main goal of introducing ethical standards is to increase public trust in the humanitarian sector and its participants and create a positive image of aid organizations. Ethical principles aim to prevent actions that harm recipients or other humanitarian organizations.

1. In their work, aid and humanitarian organizations follow these ethical standards:

   • elimination of unethical behavior;
   • recognition of equality of organizations and respect for their rights and interests;
   • strengthening interaction between aid and humanitarian organizations;
   • promoting conditions for effective humanitarian sector functioning and stability;
   • fulfilling assumed obligations.

2. Aid organizations are obliged to:

   • act professionally, respectfully, honestly, and openly;
   • provide timely and quality humanitarian aid according to their protocols and programs;
   • give recipients full and truthful information about assistance conditions and procedures;
   • ensure timely communication about security risks;
   • carry out activities preventing deception or mistrust;
   • maintain confidentiality of aid received;
   • carefully handle conflicts, promptly consider complaints, and take corrective actions;
   • adhere to the principle of freedom of choice for recipients;
   • follow other principles and ethical standards described in the document.

3. Aid organizations are obliged in relations among themselves and with third parties to:

   • follow business ethics, cooperate, avoid spreading false or inaccurate information;
   • not take unjustified actions harming other organizations’ reputations;
   • care for the reputation of the humanitarian sector and its organizations;
   • inform other organizations and initiatives sharing these principles about violations;
   • promote solidarity and charity culture;
   • prioritize negotiation and compromise in disputes;
   • take measures to prevent harassment, discrimination, abuse, with corresponding protocols.

The principles of humanitarian assistance are based on the experience of the document's initiators and are proposed for use by Belarusian aid organizations and initiatives, as well as humanitarian organizations. These principles serve as a guideline to improve work practices to better adhere to the principles.

Agreement to work according to these principles can be indicated by signing the document at https://humsector.work.

The principles may be adopted and implemented by both officially registered organizations and initiatives without official registration.

Implementation of these principles is entirely voluntary; no one can be forced to use the information in the document.

Key recommendations for practical implementation include:

• systematic internal audits of workflows for compliance with principles;
• adapting principles to internal processes and assistance algorithms;
• developing internal documents to strengthen standards (policies, safety protocols, communication protocols, etc.);
• Conduct thematic educational programs for staff and volunteers, and provide introductory courses for new team members;
• Promote the public dissemination of the principles described in this document and their implementation in the work of organizations and initiatives;
• Create safe working conditions for teams, taking care of the psycho-emotional well-being of staff and volunteers;
• Other actions aimed at integrating the principles into their work;

For the development of protocols, policies, and humanitarian aid programs, as well as for organizing processes and regulating the internal work of aid organizations and humanitarian organizations, in addition to the principles described above, the following documents and materials can be used (which we relied on when developing this document):

• https://www.corehumanitarianstandard.org/
• https://emergency.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/Sphere_Handbook_2011_Russian.pdf
• https://plan-p.education/images/pdf/h-humanitarian-needs-assessment-the-good-enough-guide.pdf

Each organization, depending on the region and area of aid provision, may have its own specific approach to interpreting and applying the principles;

This document was prepared with the support of Belarus Beehive and the European Union.