CHS

Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability
Community Health Supervisor

Core Humanitarian Standard

The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) was launched December 2014 as the result of a global consultation process involving 2000 humanitarian and development practitioners. Humanitarian organisations may use it as a voluntary code with which to align their own internal procedures. It places communities and people affected by crisis at the centre of humanitarian action.[1][2]

It sets out nine commitments for humanitarian and development actors to measure and improve the quality and effectiveness of their assistance.[1]

The Nine Commitments: Quality Criteria

1. Humanitarian response is appropriate and relevant
2. Humanitarian response is effective and timely
3. Humanitarian response strengthens local capacities and avoids negative effects
4. Humanitarian response is based on communication, participation and feedback
5. Complaints are welcomed and addressed
6. Humanitarian response is coordinated and complementary
7. Humanitarian actors continuously learn and improve
8. Staff are supported to do their job effectively, and are treated fairly and equitably
9. Resources are managed and used responsibly for their intended purpose

The CHS Guidance Notes & Indicators

This is a supplement to the CHS which provides clarification on the Key Actions and Organisational Responsibilities in the CHS and examines some practical challenges that may arise when applying the CHS. It explains why each of the Nine Commitments of the CHS is important and provides some examples for different audiences and for different contexts.[3]