Institutionalisation
Institutionalising CEA means making it part of the organisation’s DNA, or business as usual. It means integrating community engagement into strategies, policies, plans and ways of working until it becomes a predictable, systematic part of every activity, at every stage of the programme or disaster response cycle. To achieve this, an organisation needs to make strengthening accountability to communities an organisational priority, with adequate funding, staff time and leadership support. The range of case studies and guides on this hub will help you to institutionalise CEA in your own context.
Minimum actions and guidance to institutionalise CEA
To effectively institutionalise CEA, organisations need to take deliberate, practical steps that embed community engagement and accountability into everyday operations. The minimum actions and guidance outlined below provide a clear framework to help you do this. For more detailed guidance on each of the actions, visit the Institutionalisation chapter in the CEA Guide.
Strengthen CEA understanding and capacity at all levels in an organisation
Allocate resources, including funding and staff, to strengthen and institutionalise CEA
Integrate CEA into organisational strategies, values, plans, policies, and tools
Establish a community feedback mechanism for the organisation, with processes for managing sensitive complaints
Discover National Society CEA Institutionalisation Journeys
30 June 2025
British Red Cross’ Review of CEA Institutionalisation
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Learning reviewOrganization:
British Red CrossThis review documents the Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA) journey of seven National Societies currently being supported by the British Red Cross to institutionalise CEA. It explores key successes, challenges,…
9 June 2025
Afghan Red Crescent Societies’ CEA Policy
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PolicyOrganization:
Afghan Red Crescent SocietyThe Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) is undertaking substantial efforts to institutionalise CEA across its operations and programmes, and to advance the implementation of the CEA Minimum Commitments. As part…
19 May 2025
Strategy Refresh Insights: Community Listening Activities Summary Report
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ReportOrganization:
British Red CrossA summary of the community listening activities the British Red Cross undertook to inform their organisational strategy refresh in 2024.
1 April 2025
Ukraine Red Cross: Enquiry and Feedback Analysis 2022-2024
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ReportOrganization:
Ukrainian Red Cross SocietyProvides detailed analysis of data collected through the Information Center and Feedback Sector since 2022, disaggregated by type, location, sector, age and gender. The report also proposes 12 key recommendations…
31 March 2025
Video: CEA Best Practice in Hellenic Red Cross
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VideoOrganization:
Hellenic Red CrossA short video highlighting the importance of CEA and how it is being implemented by Hellenic Red Cross. Features volunteers and service users sharing their views, as well as HRC…
31 March 2025
Hungarian Red Cross Community Engagement and Accountability Report July-Dec 2024
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ReportOrganization:
Hungarian Red CrossSummary of CEA activities, achievements and future plans of the Hungarian Red Cross over the second half of 2024, with particular focus on the Society’s feedback mechanisms in work with…
27 March 2025
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society’s Annual CEA Report, 2024
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ReportOrganization:
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, IFRCThis report highlights the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society’s (BDRCS) efforts to institutionalize CEA across its programmes in 2024.
19 March 2025
Essential Themes Guidelines – CEA, PGI & SAF (Uganda Red Cross Society)
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GuideOrganization:
Uganda Red CrossThe Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) developed these guidelines to offer a structured, practical, and dependable approach to engaging with communities and ensuring accountability through Community Engagement and Accountability (CEA),…
17 March 2025
CEA in Asia Pacific 2024 Achievements
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ReportOrganization:
IFRCThis brief report summarises key highlights from the IFRC CEA team in the Asia Pacific region during 2024. A major focus was generating community-based evidence through studies and feedback mechanisms.…
16 March 2025
Minimum actions to institutionalise CEA
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InfographicOrganization:
IFRCThis infographic, adapted from the CEA Guide, illustrates the four Minimum Actions required to institutionalise Community Engagement and Accountability.
7 November 2024
CEA Asia Pacific Regional Workshop: What insights did you gain from the event?
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VideoOrganization:
British Red Cross, IFRC, Nepal Red CrossIn January 2024, 25 participants representing 16 countries travelled to Malaysia for the CEA Asia Pacific Regional Workshop hosted by IFRC. This peer-to-peer learning exchange aimed to strengthen CEA practices…
30 October 2024
Africa CEA Learning Event: What insights did you gain from the event?
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VideoOrganization:
British Red Cross, Cameroon Red Cross, DR Congo Red Cross, Eswatini Baphalali Red Cross Society, IFRC, Kenya Red Cross, Red Cross of Benin, Zimbabwe Red CrossIn November 2023, representatives from 20 African National Societies, IFRC, and partner societies gathered in Nairobi for the Africa CEA Learning Event hosted by Kenya Red Cross. In this video,…
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