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CODE OF ETHICS FOR FIELD WORKERS
All ACTION AGAINST HUNGER field workers undertake to abide by a minimum number of principles and duties in all places and under all circumstances.
I. BASIC PRINCIPLES
1. ACTION
Whatever the circumstances, concrete, direct actions speak louder than words.
2. IMPARTIALITY
Act without making any distinction based on the nationality, race, religion or political affiliation of the native population. There are no “good” victims who must be helped and “bad” victims who can be neglected.
3. NEUTRALITY
Action Against Hunger intervenes in a country with the agreement of the government there, and takes no part in controversy or hostility of a political, racial, religious or philosophical nature.
4. INDEPENDENCE
Action Against Hunger works alongside the local public authorities in their social and humanitarian activities and as a result is subject to the laws of the land; Action Against Hunger works in co-ordination or in association with other non-governmental organizations, but in all circumstances keeps its autonomy in order to act according to its own basic principles.
5. UNITY
There is only one Action Against Hunger in any one country. Expatriate volunteers must provide a level of internal unity, which alone can engender and maintain the confidence of others.
6. THE VOLUNTARY CHARACTERISTIC
Action Against Hunger is an impartial voluntary organization which intervenes wherever hunger is a serious problem, and by extension, where there is a problem with either rural or urban development.
II - THE FIELD WORKER’S DUTIES
1. BEHAVIOUR, LIFESTYLE, AND RULES OF CONDUCT
Every Action Against Hunger volunteer must be aware that any mistake could compromise the entire mission, and therefore Action Against Hunger’s effectiveness and credibility.
As a result, the volunteer undertakes to:
1. Strictly observe the laws and rules of the country he or she is staying in throughout the period of the mission, especially security and traffic regulations.
2. Have a respectful attitude towards the religious beliefs and the habits and customs of the people he or she meets.
3. Be correctly dressed and avoid giving the impression of being on holiday.
4. Never express a political opinion on the country’s internal situation, whether it is in private or in public.
5. Refrain from referring to the political or military situation in either official or private communication, especially in conversation, telephone calls, radio messages, telegrams or letters.
6. Neither keep nor use arms and ammunition
7. Refuse any gift, whether in cash or in kind, with the exception of traditional presents of a symbolic nature and value.
8. Manage carefully and precisely all funds and supplies entrusted to her/him, and to be ready to account for them throughout the duration of the mission.
9. Take on no commitments for Action Against Hunger, whether financial or otherwise, without official authorization.
10. Keep Action Against Hunger informed by telex/mail of his/her movements, and to not leave the country assigned to without the authorization of Headquarters.
11. Act according to all instructions and directives as sent from Headquarters and passed on by the Country Director.
2. IMMUTABLE RULES
Under the responsibility of the Country Director and Administrator, all volunteers guarantee control over income and expenditure connected to their projects. All expenditures made must be within a predefined budget category and be supported by the necessary documentation (invoices or other proof of payment).
Before the 15th of each month, the Administrator or Country Director of the program must send the previous month’s accounts to the Action Against Hunger Headquarters, presented according to the framework defined by Action Against Hunger’s Financial Director.
No new contract with a project backer is to be signed locally without Action Against Hunger’s prior agreement.
No financial report can be sent locally to a donor without Action Against Hunger’s prior agreement.
Violation of these rules will lead to the termination of the present contract.
3. SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE
Every Action Against Hunger volunteer follows the six following core principles:
1. Sexual exploitation and abuse by humanitarian workers constitute acts of gross misconduct and therefore grounds for termination of employment.
2. Sexual activity with children (person under the age of 18) is prohibited regardless of the age of majority or age consent locally. Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defense.
3. Exchange of money, employment, goods, or services for sex, including sexual favors or other form of humiliating, degrading or exploitative behavior is prohibited. This includes exchange of assistance that is due to the beneficiaries.
4. Sexual relationship between humanitarian workers and beneficiaries are strongly discouraged since they are based in inherently unequal power dynamics. Such relationships undermine the credibility of humanitarian aid work.
5. Where a humanitarian worker develops concerns or suspicion regarding sexual abuse or exploitation by a fellow worker, weather in the same agency or not, s/he must report such concern via established reporting mechanisms.
6. Humanitarian worker are obliged to create and maintain an environment which prevents sexual exploitation and abuse and promotes the implementation of their code of conduct. Managers at all levels have particular responsibilities to support and develop systems that maintain this environment.
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