The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) serves as a frame of action for improving the quality and effectiveness of emergency assistance provided by SOS Children’s Villages. The CHS, a voluntary standard, is organized around nine commitments. Its aim is to ensure that people and communities affected by crises are at the center of emergency response programs. Their needs and priorities determine the programs' designs and outcomes. Participants have the possibility to influence decisions that affect them and are able to provide feedback and complaints, if needed.
“Membership in the CHS Alliance is another significant step on our journey towards greater accountability and impact for children and young people, particularly in our work responding to humanitarian crises. SOS Children’s Villages uses the standard to continuously improve its emergency response programs and to ensure they are aligned with the needs of the many children, young people and families we support,” says CEO Ingrid Johansen.
In 2020, SOS Children’s Villages started to mainstream the CHS into its operational guidelines. A self assessment against the standard resulted in an action plan to improve emergency response projects in Colombia and Somalia. In 2022, the CHS assessments will take place in Ethiopia and Mozambique.