Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability
HAP International, People In Aid and the Sphere Project
First edition: 2014 [December] :: 24 pages
ISBN: 978-2-8399-1564-9
Foreword
The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) is a direct result of the Joint Standards Initiative (JSI) in which the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) International, People In Aid and the Sphere Project joined forces to seek greater coherence for users of humanitarian standards. The JSI consulted more than 2,000 humanitarian workers in head offices, regions and in disaster-prone countries. The feedback highlighted the need for the harmonisation of standards, with communities and people affected by crisis at the centre and humanitarian principles as the foundation.

The CHS is the result of a 12-month, three-stage consultation, during which humanitarian workers, communities and people affected by crisis, several hundred Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and networks, governments, United Nations and donor agencies,
and academics rigorously analysed the content of the CHS and tested it at headquarters and field level.

The feedback from each consultation was then considered and the revisions approved by a 65-person Technical Advisory Group representing a broad spread of constituencies and areas of technical expertise in humanitarian action and standards development.
It is the intention of the boards of HAP International, People In Aid and the Sphere Project that the CHS will replace the 2010 HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management, the People In Aid Code of Good Practice in the Management and Support
of Aid Personnel and the Core Standards section of the Sphere Handbook.

The Nine Commitments and Quality Criteria
vii. Commitments, Actions and Responsibilities
1. Communities and people affected by crisis receive assistance appropriate and relevant to their needs.
2. Communities and people affected by crisis have access to the humanitarian assistance they need at the right time.
3. Communities and people affected by crisis are not negatively affected and are more prepared, resilient and less at-risk as a result of humanitarian action.
4. Communities and people affected by crisis know their rights and entitlements, have access to information and participate in decisions that affect them.
5. Communities and people affected by crisis have access to safe and responsive mechanisms to handle complaints.
6. Communities and people affected by crisis receive coordinated, complementary assistance.
7. Communities and people affected by crisis can expect delivery of improved assistance as organisations learn from experience and reflection.
8. Communities and people affected by crisis receive the assistance they require from competent and well-managed staff and volunteers.
9. Communities and people affected by crisis can expect that the organisations assisting them.