Why certification?

HAP promotes certification because it is the most effective way to help agencies achieve and demonstrate their commitment to accountability and quality management.

The HAP certification process is a system of independent verification against industry recognized standards, which benefits all humanitarian stakeholders:

Benefits for disaster survivors

HAP certification shows an agency’s commitment to using its power responsibly. It enables survivors to compare the services promised to the services delivered by aid agencies and to provide feedback as necessary.

Agencies that meet the HAP Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management treat beneficiaries with respect and dignity and ensure that aid programmes respond to their very needs and circumstances. When interacting with a HAP-certified agency, disaster survivors define what good quality programmes means for them.

Benefits for humanitarian agencies

The HAP certification process is designed to facilitate continual improvement:

The baseline analysis and certification audit capture knowledge on good practices and show agencies how their services could be improved
A successful audit and certification signals to other stakeholders (beneficiaries, peer organsations, partners, donors and host governments) that the agency systematically applies recognised standards in its work for the benefits of disaster-affected communities. For smaller local or national agencies, this can be an equalizing factor in competing with larger agencies for institutional funding and access to people in emergencies.
After certification, HAP helps agencies to see how their good practices can be further strengthened.

Benefits for humanitarian donors

Accountability has been a concern to institutional donors at least since the Rwanda crisis of 1994, and it is increasingly important to private donors too. The HAP Standard and certification system offers assurance to all donors that agencies certified by HAP can be relied upon to deliver the best possible programmes in any given situation as judged by the communities that the programmes target.

Benefits for host nations

HAP certified agencies have proven their commitment to recognised humanitarian principles, consistent with International Humanitarian Law, and to the highest standards of probity, accountability and programme quality. These are characteristics that many states would like to ascertain when humanitarian agencies come to work in their country. HAP certification provides this assurance.

Enrol on-line in the certification scheme by clicking on the button below.

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