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a non-governmental organisation founded in 2015,[1] is the only independent quality assurance body currently present in the humanitarian aid and development sector[2]. Through a system of independent[3] quality assurance, HQAI assesses the degree to which organisations implement - or comply with - the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS). A pool of HQAI auditors assess the management systems of organisations and collect evidence through interviews, document review, observation and by speaking to people affected by crisis who are supported by aid organisations.[4] Audited organisations receive a report that identifies strengths and areas for improvement.[5][6]
The organisation offers three independent quality assurance schemes: certification, independent verification and benchmarking. HQAI is accredited[7] against ISO/IEC 17056:2012 for its certification scheme since 2018.[8]
In order to make independent quality assurance financially accessible for smaller organisations, an independent committee (the Subsidy Fund Management Committee) is entitled to grant subsidies that can cover up to 90% of the costs of an audit.[9] The Subsidy Fund is financed by two of HQAI's funding partners[10][11], i.e. the governments of Germany and Denmark[12].
The ultimate goal of the HQAI initiative is to help improve the work of humanitarian and development organisations for the sake of people and communities affected by crisis. In doing so, the organisation aims at enhancing the trust of various stakeholders in the work of such organisations, by making them effective and accountable.
Accountability to crisis-affected communities gained momentum after the joint evaluation of the humanitarian response to the Genocide in Rwanda 1996 concluded: “The current mechanisms for ensuring that NGOs adhere to certain professional standards are inadequate”.[13] The report investigated the shortcomings of aid organisations regarding coordination and accountability.[13]
In parallel and ever since, donors[15][16] and aid actors have invested in the professionalisation of the humanitarian sector so as to improve the outcome of humanitarian response to disasters and emergencies.[17] In 2014, the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) on Quality and Accountability[18] was launched as a result of a sector-wide consultation process of over 2’000 aid actors and inputs from affected communities.[19]
The CHS was designed so that its application can be measured. The CHS Alliance, one of the copyright holders of the standard, holds a Verification scheme under which organisations can measure their performance, track change and detect areas for improvement. Humanitarian and development organisations can choose between a self-assessment and two independent quality assurance schemes: certification and independent verification.[20] The latter two are conducted by HQAI.[6]
HQAI offers three different independent quality assurance schemes against the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), two of which under the CHS Alliance Verification scheme: certification and independent verification.[8]
Certification
Certification is the independent assurance that an organisation meets the requirements[22] specified in a standard, such as the CHS. A certificate is valid for four years, providing periodic checks confirm the continuing conformity with the requirements.
The certification process starts with an initial audit in the first year conducted by a team of HQAI registered auditors. After the initial audit, which includes interviews with staff, document reviews, observations and discussions with people affected by crisis, a report outlines the levels of conformity with the CHS, where an organisation excels and where there is room for improvement (the so-called non-conformities). If there are no major non-conformities, the certificate is granted by HQAI. Each year, a team of auditors check if minor non-conformities have been addressed in the given time frame and the conformity of the organisation with the standard is upheld. In case of a major non-conformity, the certificate can be suspended or withdrawn. After four years, a new recertification cycle begins.[23]
Independent verification is an independent assurance scheme assessing whether an organisation is making demonstrated, continual and measurable progress towards the application of a standard, namely the CHS. The requirement is that the major weaknesses in the application of the standard be eliminated within a four-year cycle. Unlike certification, this option assesses continual improvement, according to an agreed action plan. It is not a pass/fail test of compliance with the standard.[23]
Find here a list of CHS independently verified organisations[27]
Benchmarking
Benchmarking is a one-time independent diagnosis of the situation of an organisation with regard to the CHS. It is a first step towards aligning and integrating working approaches with those outlined in the specified standard.[23]
Find here a list of CHS benchmarked organisations.[28]
Subsidy Fund and Group scheme
Accessibility to independent quality assurance is important for a wide range of humanitarian and development organisations. HQAI developed the Subsidy Fund and a Group scheme with the aim of guaranteeing financial accessibility to all types of organisations, with a particular focus on national organisations.[29]
Subsidy Fund
The Subsidy Fund can cover up to 90% of the cost of an audit.[23] An independent committee, the Subsidy Fund Management Committee, attributes funds to the applying organisation prioritising national NGOs that directly assist people affected by crisis in their own country. Secondly, funds are allocated to national NGOs working with partners to provide assistance to people in need and, finally, to international NGOs.[30]
Group scheme
The Group scheme allows for several organisations to apply collectively - as a Group - for one of the independent quality assurance services and share the costs of the audit. The end result is that the Group as such is certified, independently verified or benchmarked against the CHS.[31] Groups are already common audit practice in other sectors.
Accreditation
HQAI is accredited against ISO/IEC 17065:2012 for its CHS certification scheme since 2018. Accreditation is a certification of the certifying body by an official accreditation body, usually a government agency, in HQAI's case ACCREDIA.[32] Accreditation formally recognises the quality[33] of an organisation's certification services. It also validates the robustness of the CHS certificates issued by HQAI. In order to maintain its accredited status, HQAI has to undergo annual maintenance audits with the accreditation body ACCREDIA.
Donors
The work of HQAI is supported by DANIDA (Denmark), FCDO (UK), Germany, Luxembourg and SDC (Switzerland). The organisation contributes to its revenues also through its audit activities.
↑Knox-Clarke, P., Mitchel J. (1999). "Reflections on the Accountability Revolution". Reflections on the accountability revolution. Retrieved 30 June 2021. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑Thomas, Gareth (7 October 2008). "DFID Humanitarian Reform". Retrieved 7 July 2021. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑HQAI (2019). "History of HQAI"(PDF). Independent quality assurance and the humanitarian sector: a history. Retrieved 30 June 2021. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR). "Improving Quality and Impact". Retrieved 7 July 2021. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑CHS Alliance, Groupe URD, Sphere (2021). "Home Page - CHS". Core Humanitarian Standard. Retrieved 25 June 2021. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). "Grand Bargain Localisation Workstream". Retrieved 7 July 2021. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
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