HQAI - Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative

The Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI) is an independent auditor for the humanitarian and development sector. The standard we use is the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) on Quality and Accountability. Our auditors verify that organisations correctly apply the standard from the head office to the field. The audit starts with document reviews and interviews at the head office. Then we visit a selection of country programmes where we interview staff and partners, but most importantly talk to the people who are affected by crisis. We actively ask for their views and take them into account for our reports and feedback to the organisation. Our objective: collect evidence and measure efficiently where an organisations stands in relation to the CHS, where it excels and where it can improve. HQAI’s auditing services are intended to systematically improve the quality and accountability of humanitarian and development work: organisations learn throughout the audit cycle. We provide an objective assessment of their performance and help them to credibly demonstrate the quality of their services. This builds trust with stakeholders - including institutional donors who increasingly recognise and recommend HQAI audits. And most importantly we ensure that organisations put vulnerable people at the centre of their work. Watch these benefits in a video. HQAI is a professional auditor and applies the internationally recognised ground rules of auditing and ISO standards. In other words: HQAI is an accountable, open and trustworthy partner.