• ...
    “We see CHS independent verification as the gold standard. Why? It’s widely recognised and measurable.”
    Peter Taylor, FCDO
  • ...
    “By having CHS verification as a member requirement, we can better achieve our own strategic priorities, as well as making sure we’re supporting accountable aid.”
    Ruben Mulder, Dutch Relief Alliance
  • ...
    “ECHO’s acceptance of HQAI’s audit demonstrates that external verification of the CHS has the potential to reduce duplication of audits. Act Church of Sweden wants to decrease the compliance burden, in order to use resources more wisely.”
    Coleen Heemskerk, International Director of Strategic Planning at Act Church of Sweden
  • ...
    “I encourage all donors to make it a requirement to verify against the CHS. As we can see from the Humanitarian Accountability Report 2020 – there is room for improvement… It’s hard work, but it pays off!”
    Millie Dollner Fjeldsted, Head of Section, Humanitarian Action & Civil Society, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark




The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) helps aid organisations to enhance their accountability to people affected by crisis.

By applying and measuring performance against the CHS, organisations can better fulfill their commitments to people affected by crises. As more organisations undergo CJHS verification, the standard is becoming a collective tool to advance localization and streamline multiple due diligence processes.

Many governments, pooled funds, and other stakeholders, including UN and NGO funding bodies, recognise the CHS as the established framework for ensuring higher standards of quality and accountability. Increasingly, they request their partners to complete CHS verification to demonstrate adherence. Some funders use the CHS to simplify or “passport” elements of due diligence, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for aid organisations seeking funding.

Building a more accountable aid system requires action from all actors. The CHS – a globally recognized and measurable standard – offers a practical solution. We urge humanitarian donors to encourage and support their partners to measure their adherence to CHS commitments as part of continuous improvement efforts.

Below is a summary of governments, funding bodies and other stakeholders who require or recognise the CHS and CHS verification.

If you require further information on how the CHS could support your accountability and localization efforts, please contact verification@chsalliance.org

Require or formally request use of CHS

I.e. concrete/formal requests for adopting the CHS as standard and using its Verification options. It is a higher level of commitment and acceptance.

Name Organisation type How Accepted CHS verification option
Denmark, Danish Emergency Relief Fund (DERF) Government Requires organisations to adopt the CHS. CHS Certification and Independent Verification automatically qualifies partners.
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
Denmark, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/ DANIDA Government/Public Independent quality assurance against the CHS is a prerequisite for funding.
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
European Commission, Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) International Organisation DG ECHO accepts Framework Partnership Assessments (FPA) and Programmatic Partnership Assessments submitted by HQAI as ex ante auditor.

FPA auditors other than HQAI may use HQAI audit information to fill the ECHO ex-ante FPA.
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
Germany, German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) Government/Public GFFO accepts the 3 CHS Verification options to shorten partner capacity assessment.
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
  • Self-Assessment
Ireland, Irish Aid Government/Public CHS verification is a minimum requirement for partners to apply for and obtain funding under Irish Aid’s multi annual funding .
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
  • Self-Assessment
Luxembourg, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Government/Public CHS is referenced in Luxembourg’s Humanitarian Action Strategy. Only CHS certified organisations are eligible for financial support by Luxembourg.
  • Certification
Netherlands, Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) Non-Governmental Organisation/Pooled Fund Independent quality assurance against the CHS is a prerequisite for funding.
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
Sweden, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government/Public Swedish civil society organisations can apply for up to 80% of their costs for the Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI) CHS certification.
  • Certification
Switzerland, Swiss Solidarity Private Foundation/Pooled Fund Aid organisations verified against the CHS have access to streamlined partner capacity assessments.
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
  • Self-Assessment
United Kingdom, Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Non-Governmental Organisation/Pooled Fund Independent quality assurance against the CHS is a prerequisite for funding.
  • Certification
  • Independent Verification
United Kingdom, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Government/Public CHS certification audits are considered as primary source of information in due diligence assessments in-country.

Organisations seeking funding should ensure proposals take note and adopt the CHS among other standards.

FCDO recognises and supports CHS SEAH initiatives, as well as HQAI verification work.
  • Certification

 

Recognise CHS (without formal requirement)

I.e the general acknowledgement of the CHS as standard and/or its Verification options and/or general support, but without any formal requirement.

Name Organisation type How
Austria, Ministry of European and International Affairs Government/Public Inclusion in the Humanitarian Strategy. Due diligence referencing to CHS.
Canada, Humanitarian Coalition Non-Governmental Organisation/Pooled Fund Reference of the CHS in the Codes and Standards of the Coalition
Canada, Canadian Foodgrains Bank Non-Governmental Organisation/Pooled Fund Reference of the CHS in the Standards and Affiliations of the Foodgrains Bank.
Grand Bargain International Organisation The Grand Bargain Workstream 6 – Participation Revolution includes several references to the adoption of the CHS by aid organisations and donor requiring funding partners to apply the CHS.
Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) International Organisation The IASC Commitments on Accountability to Affected Populations (CAAP) references the CHS.
Norway, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Government/Public Partners are encouraged to use recognise the Core Humanitarian Standard in their work.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) International Organisation The CHS is referenced as a key standard, and as one of the foundational document cited in the OECD DAC recommendations.
Spain, Catalan Government Government/Public The CHS is referenced in the Catalan Development Cooperation Master Plan 2023-2026.
Spain, Ministry of Foreign Affairs/AECID Government/Public The CHS is referenced in the Spanish Strategy Humanitarian Action.
Spain, Government of Andalucia Government/Public The CHS is referenced in the Andalusian Plan for Development Cooperation.
Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR) Non-Governmental Organisation The SCHR supports the CHS, including certification, as a preferred approach to systematically improving the quality and impact of humanitarian response.
Switzerland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation Government/Public Switzerland has been a core donor until 2024.
United Nations, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) / Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) International Organisation The Handbook for Humanitarian Coordinators references the CHS.
United States, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Government/Public Recognition of the CHS as standard in several key policies and procedures, mostly around Accountability to Affected Population (AAP), Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH).

 

Click here to download a comprehensive table with references and links to different actors.

In October 2024 the Donor Recognition Working Group for CHS Alliance members had its first meeting. The group will convene bimonthly to share information and advance how funders recognise and adopt the CHS and CHS verification. Download the working group TOR here. Contact verification@chsalliance.org for more information or to join.