In September 2023, supported through funding from the McGovern Foundation, ODI convened a closed-door roundtable with humanitarian, government and academic experts to examine some of the core assumptions about accountability and to unpick if, how and why these assumptions are not being realised in practice. The roundtable focused on two common and growing aspects of AAP in practice: 1) more and better feedback as a key part of improved accountability; and 2) the added value of digital data in furthering AAP agendas.

This learning note highlights the emerging insights that came out of the discussion. It examines a number of particular, deep-set challenges around the place and role of the AAP agenda in the humanitarian sector, and explores where policy and research attention might most usefully be focussed to capitalise both on high-level commitments and existing country-level programming, to provide fresh thinking around AAP and expand opportunities for greater accountability.