Dorcas is officially CHS certified, which confirms its quality and commitment

Dorcas has received the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) certification by Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI). The CHS is an international quality standard for humanitarian assistance which focuses on the needs and rights of those in need. This certification confirms that Dorcas’ projects adhere to the highest quality and accountability standards. 

Gerben de Witte, Dorcas’s Quality Manager, explains what this means for the organisation: ‘We are proud that Dorcas is now CHS certified. It confirms that we deliver quality to our project participants. During the audit, participants expressed that they felt genuinely respected and affirmed that Dorcas actively listens and responds to their needs. The fact that this has been confirmed by an independent assessment is a meaningful recognition of our entire organisation, and especially of the dedicated teams in the countries where we are active.’ 

How the CHS audit was conducted 

Gerben explains: ‘Auditors conducted interviews with employees in the Netherlands and at various country offices and studied extensive policy documentation. They also selected a number of projects for in-depth review to assess whether the policy is being implemented in practice within the projects and by our partners. 

As part of this evaluation, the auditors also spoke with project participants about their experiences with Dorcas and the projects in question. This way, they verified independently that the organisation and their projects comply with the Core Humanitarian Standard.’ 

Strengthening accountability 

Working towards CHS certification has provided Dorcas many new insights, which are used to enhance their work and projects. For instance, they have established feedback and complaint mechanisms in all their projects so that participants can inform them when something is not going well or when they feel certain things should be done differently.  

As Gerben de Witte explains, “At Dorcas, we have always worked in and with communities, providing ample opportunity for participation. Feedback and complaint mechanisms help us to address any complaints quickly and learn from them, enabling us to continuously improve our projects. This ensures that the assistance we provide continues to meet the actual needs of those in need.” 

Importance of certification 

We believe it is important that our work and projects meet the highest quality standards. We want to be accountable to project participants and the communities in which we operate. Institutional donors also set high standards for the quality of our support. The CHS certificate objectively demonstrates that we meet these standards. 

CHS certification strengths Dorcas’ position across its country programmes. José Salema, Country Director Yemen, explains

“The certification enhances credibility with communities, donors, and partners. It contributes to improved programme quality, encourages responsible working practices, and provides a competitive advantage in a complex humanitarian setting.” 

As we move forward, we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of quality and accountability for our work.  

Statement of Commitment to the CHS

1. Knowledge of rights and participation: People can exercise their rights and participate in decisions affecting them. 
2. Timely and effective support: People receive timely and effective assistance tailored to their needs.
3. Preparedness and resilience: People are better prepared and more resilient to potential crises. 
4. Support that does not cause harm: Assistance avoids causing harm to people or the environment. 
5. Reporting and addressing concerns: People can safely report concerns and complaints and have them addressed. 
6. Coordinated and complementary support: People receive coordinated and complementary support. 
7. Continual improvement based on feedback: Support is continually adapted and improved based on feedback and learning. 
8. Respectful staff and volunteers: People interact with respectful, competent, and well-managed staff and volunteers. 
9. Ethical and responsible resource management: Resources are managed ethically and responsibly for their intended purposes. 

Read here more about CHS.

28 August 2025