Are We Truly People-Centred? CHS Verification: From Policy to People
Group of displaced and host community women in Kreinek congregate at NRC's protection centre. The centre provides women with a safe space to meet and talk about life's challenges, as well opportunities to receive training in key protection themes.
The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) is increasingly shaping how organisations show that they work responsibly, deliver good-quality programmes, and listen to the people and communities they work with.
Join the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in an open conversation where they share first-hand experiences on what CHS certification means in practice. Is it worth the time and effort? How has it helped the organisations in improving the way they work, both in humanitarian response and long-term development?
Click here to register for the event.
Please register by Tuesday 15 September 2026, at 10:00.
What We Will Explore
- The role of the CHS in strengthening accountability and programme quality.
- How the CHS verification processes work.
- How independent verification can strengthen donor and partner relationships.
- Lessons learned from the certification journeys of NRC and NCA.
- The organisational investment required and the benefits achieved.
- How certification influences leadership, organisational culture and decision-making.
- How CHS verification can be used in other assessment processes (CHS passporting) and a critical reflection on due diligence practice and reform.
- How CHS verification supports locally led aid.
- Q&A with colleagues who have gone through the process.
Agenda
Welcome
- What is the Core Humanitarian Standard? Tanya Wood, Executive Director, CHS Alliance
- Introduction to the verification process, Désirée Walter, Director, and Victoria Lyon Dean, Head of Quality Assurance Team, Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI)
- How does CHS verification support locally led aid? Tanya Wood, Executive Director, CHS Alliance
- CHS verification and due diligence practice and reform. Désirée Walter, Director, HQAI
Lessons learned – an NGO perspective
- Martin Andreas Suvatne, Director Institutional Partnerships, Norwegian Refugee Council
- Maria Paula Arenas H. Grundetjern, Administration and Communications Coordinator, Norwegian Refugee Council
- Andrés Miguel España, Head of Division, Accountability & Knowledge, Norwegian Church Aid
- Daniela Visekruna, Admin Advisor, Department of International Programmes, Norwegian Church Aid
Q&A
Come curious. Bring your questions. Join the conversation.
Facilitated by NCA and NRC.