Master’s Degree Awarded to Researcher Fatima Al-Ha madi at the Inclusive Development Research Center
Researcher Fatima Ahmed Mohammed Al-Hammmadi has been awarded a master’s degree with distinction in International Development and Gender Studies from the Inclusive Development Research Center (IDRC) at the University of Sana’a. Her thesis, titled “The Application of Accountability and transparency in International Organization’s work: Perspectives from Humanitarian Workers,” was defended on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
The discussion committee consisted of:
– Prof. Dr. Amal Mohammed Al-Mujahid, External Examiner and Chair.
– Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilham Mohammed Al-Rida, Principal Supervisor and Member.
– Dr. Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader, Internal Examiner and Member.
The thesis aimed to explore the implementation of accountability and transparency in the operations of international organizations working in the Republic of Yemen.
The study yielded several findings, including:
– A very high level of accountability and transparency towards donors and the government, with an average score of 4.35 for commitment to donors and 4.22 for commitment to government entities. This was evidenced by the organizations’ adherence to providing periodic reports, compliance with laws, and updating policies. However, there was a relative weakness in disseminating up-to-date information in an accessible manner.
– An average to high level of internal accountability and transparency (3.88), characterized by secure channels for reporting violations and clarity in roles and responsibilities. Nonetheless, gaps were noted in professional training and the dissemination of promotion standards.
– Among beneficiary communities, the level of accountability and transparency was moderate to weak (3.39). While organizations managed data securely, they faced challenges in engaging beneficiaries in projects directed at them and in sharing financial information.
The results indicated no statistically significant differences at the 0.05 significance level in the assessment of accountability and transparency practices in international organizations from the perspective of male and female workers, attributed to demographic variables (gender, age group, educational level, and work experience).
In her thesis, the researcher provided several recommendations, including:
– Improving the dissemination of up-to-date information and enhancing organizations’ efforts to share updated financial and administrative information through the development of transparent electronic platforms that allow all stakeholders easy access to reports and updates.
– Strengthening professional training by providing regular training programs for employees aimed at enhancing their understanding of accountability and transparency principles, alongside developing clear and transparent promotion criteria that ensure fairness and job satisfaction.
– Enhancing beneficiary engagement by establishing comprehensive mechanisms to involve targeted communities in the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages of projects, with easy and effective channels for submitting feedback and addressing complaints promptly and transparently.
– Addressing funding challenges by building strategic partnerships with donors to mitigate the impact of funding instability, focusing on standardizing reporting requirements and achieving greater flexibility in funding strategies.
– Increasing community awareness through targeted awareness campaigns to educate beneficiaries on the importance of accountability and transparency, empowering them to advocate for their rights and access information, while developing innovative means to reach vulnerable groups and ensure their effective participation in all stages of humanitarian work.
The defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, students, and interested individuals, as well as colleagues and family members of the researcher.
