Accountability for leadership of operational response was the cornerstone of the cluster approach adopted in 2005. Two decades later, there is little if any scrutiny of key elements of the approach (lead aid agency designation, activation of the provider of last resort, etc.) The cluster approach 20th anniversary in 2025 is an excellent opportunity to review what is left of it.

The humanitarian sector’s emphasis on the ethical principle of accountability to crisis-affected populations is understandable, but it has also raised a smokescreen. Few agencies are willing to open their books on the compromises they make to reach affected communities in contested areas and even fewer have consulted affected communities in negotiating humanitarian access. Central to these shortcomings, the sector has carefully guarded accountability as an internal affair, blocking systematic (external) scrutiny or control. 

In the lead-up to our anniversary, join us as we look back on previous work, highlighting the lessons and recommendations that past pieces have brought up and exploring any outcomes, follow-up, or lack thereof. This message on accountability is but one of many components of our retrospective; you can find the full series here.