Promoting Quality in Humanitarian Response

Just like in every other sector, quality and experience make all the difference when assisting survivors of disasters. The survivors of earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, or other disasters need and deserve the best assistance possible, provided to them as fast as possible. This is no easy task, but this work is driven by determination to help those in need and the experience to know it must be done well.

The members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION (CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan Canada and Save the Children Canada) are some of the most experienced humanitarian agencies in the world, with over 200 years of combined experience. They have brought assistance to millions of people on every continent in the world and presently operate in over 120 countries. Very few organizations can rely on this level of experience working in so many cultures and communities, and responding to help disaster survivors in nearly every kind of situation imaginable.

Each member organization of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION strives to provide accountability, transparency, and collaboration to serve those in need most effectively and to improve their operations. To that end, they have provided leadership by developing and participating in internationally recognized Codes of Conduct and International Standards. These Codes of Conduct and International Standards are used as foundations for quality programming and strengthen performance while also providing accountability to donors, peers, and those they bring assistance to.


Codes and Standards

The following list includes some of the principal Codes of Conduct and International Standards that the members of the HUMANITARIAN COALITION are committed to uphold.

The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief
This code of conduct outlines ten principle commitments that NGOs should adhere to in disaster response work, while maintaining high standards, independence, and effectiveness of impact.
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The Sphere Project: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response
The Sphere Project aims to improve the quality of assistance to people affected by disaster and improve the accountability of states and humanitarian agencies to their constituents, donors, and the affected populations. Sphere provides three things: a handbook , a broad process of collaboration , and an expression of commitment to quality and accountability .  Read more...

Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) – Standards in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management
This partnership seeks to provide qualitative and quantitative standards by which humanitarian products and processes can be evaluated. The HAP Standard seeks to measure accountability and quality commitments made by aid agencies as specified in their accountability framework. It also measures the management systems used and the services provided by its members.  Read more...

The People in Aid Code of Good Practice
The Code of Good Practice serves as a management framework to improve standards, accountability, and transparency in the middle of such challenges as disaster, conflict, and poverty. It provides seven guiding principles to help humanitarian aid and development agencies enhance the quality of their human resources management.  Read more...

 

Canadian Council for International Cooperation (CCIC): Code of Ethics and Operational Standards
The Code of Ethics and Operational Standards outlines the ethical principles that CCIC and its members accept and promote. These include general, organizational, and developmental principles. The code provides a set of operational standards, which includes compliance procedures and guides practices.  Read more...