International initiatives
General
There are several international self-regulation initiatives that are applicable to all types of NGOs and CSOs at a global level. The World Association of NGOs (WANGO), for example, has developed a Code of Conduct for NGOs worldwide, which addresses a commitment to transparency, good governance, and beneficiary participation, among others. The ISO 9000 Management Standards can also be applied to all types of NGOs. The Global Reporting Initiative's NGO Sector Supplement, while still in development, seeks to provide a reporting framework for NGOs to align with GRI's corporate reporting standards. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
Practical Quality Assurance System for Small Organisations (PQASSO)
Charities Evaluation Services
ISO 9000: Quality Management Standards
International Organisation for Standardisation
International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) Accountability Charter
Berlin Civil Society Center
GRI NGO Sector Supplement
Global Reporting Initiative
Global Accountability Report
One World Trust
G3 (Version 3 of the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines)
Global Reporting Initiative
Code of Ethics and Conduct for NGOs
World Association of NGOs
Advocacy / lobbying
Few CSO self-regulatory initiatives focus solely on advocacy and lobbying at the international levels. However, several initiatives include principles of good practice for advocacy and lobbying. At the international level, these initiatives include the INGO Accountability Charter which calls for responsible advocacy and the Code of Good Practice for Responding to HIV/AIDS which sets out a specific advocacy agenda. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
The Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS
NGO Code of Good Practice Secretariat at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
PASOS Project
Policy Association for an Open Society
International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGO) Accountability Charter
Berlin Civil Society Center
Code of Ethics and Conduct for NGOs
World Association of NGOs
Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief
International Committee of the Red Cross
Agriculture / food / nutrition
International self-regulation among CSOs operating in agriculture, food and nutrition activities is still largely in development. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
Draft Revised Food Aid Charter: A Code of Good Conduct in Food Crisis Prevention and Management
Sahel and West Africa Club/OECD
Arts / culture / sport
International self-regulation among CSOs delivering services and performing research and advocacy in arts, culture and sport is still largely in development. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
The International Platform for Sport and Development
Swiss Academy for Development
Development
There are several international self-regulatory initiatives for NGOs working in development (a number of the humanitarian initiatives also apply to development NGOs). They include codes of conduct, reporting frameworks and certification schemes, among others. Coordination SUD's Synergy Quality for example, outlines key principles in governance, project management and beneficiary accountability, while SGS and Foreign Aid Ratings provides certification services to NGOs on issues such as governance, transparency and human resources. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
The Istanbul Principles for CSO Development Effectiveness
Open Forum for CSO Development Effectiveness
The International Platform for Sport and Development
Swiss Academy for Development
NGO Benchmarking Certification
Societe Generale de Surveillance
International Resource Centre for National Platforms of NGOs
A partnership among four national platforms - ABONG (Brazil), ACCION (Chile), CONGAD (Senegal), VANI (India) and Coordination SUD (France) supported by UNDP
ForeignAid Certification
Foreign Aid Ratings LLC
Code of Good Practice in the Management and Support of Aid Personnel
People In Aid
Education
International self-regulation among CSOs delivering services and performing research and advocacy in the education field is still largely in development. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
The International Platform for Sport and Development
Swiss Academy for Development
Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies, Chronic Crises and Early Reconstruction
Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies
Environmental and social impact
There are a number of international self-regulatory initiatives that either set standards for NGOs on managing and reporting on their environmental performance/impact or set standards on conservation practice. The ISO 14000 for example, certifies NGOs (as well as companies and public bodies) on their environmental management systems. The Standards for the Practice of Conservation on the other hand, sets standards for conservation NGOs in designing, managing, and monitoring conservation work. G3, Version 3 of the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, from the Global Reporting Initiative is currently in development and will address environmental and social impact assessment among other areas. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (version 2.0)
The Conservation Measures Partnership
ISO 26000
ISO Central Secretariat
ISO 14000: Environmental Management Systems
International Organisation for Standardisation
ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards
ISEAL Alliance
Fundraising
Self-regulation of fundraising is widespread in the CSO sector at national levels. A few initiatives also address CSO fundraising practices at the international level as well as the regional level within Europe. Globally, the International Committee of Fundraising Organisations' International Standards seek to standardise fundraising ethics and practice. Similarly, the International Statement of Ethical Principles in Fundraising of the European Fundraising Association sets out universal principles and standards of practice for fundraising organisations. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
International Statement of Ethical Principles in Fundraising
European Fundraising Association
ICFO International Standards
International Committee of Fundraising Organizations
European Fundraising Award
European Fundraising Association
Health
CSOs engage in health sector related activities at international and national levels. At the international level, self-regulation has begun to address the increasingly important role CSOs play in health, particularly in developing countries. The Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS, for example, sets out the principles and practices required of organisations for successful responses to HIV. The NGO Code of Conduct for Health Systems Strengthening offers guiding principles for NGOs to ensure they respect and support the primacy of the government's responsibility for organizing health system delivery. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
The NGO Code of Conduct for Health Systems Strengthening
Health Alliance International
The Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS
NGO Code of Good Practice Secretariat at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
COA Eighth Edition Standards
Council on Accreditation
Humanitarian / emergency relief
CSOs operating in the humanitarian and emergency relief sectors were among the first to be engaged in the development and implementation of self-regulation at a global level. As a result self-regulation in this field is well-established with codes of conduct, accountability frameworks and certification schemes in existence. The Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organisations, for example, details ethical principles for organisations involved in humanitarian work. Other initiatives, such as the HAP 2007 Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management certify members against standards on beneficiary accountability. Groupe URD's Quality COMPAS seeks to enable organisations to more easily manage projects and maintain quality in this field. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
The Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN)
Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute
Synergie Qualité
Coordination SUD (National Coordination of International Solidarity NGOs)
Principles of Partnership
Global Humanitarian Platform
Minimum Standards for Education in Emergencies, Chronic Crises and Early Reconstruction
Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies
Impact Measurement and Accountability: The Good Enough Guide
The Emergency Capacity Building Project
Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response
The Sphere Project
HAP 2007 Standard in Humanitarian Accountability and Quality Management
Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International
Global Humanitarian Platform
Global Humanitarian Platform
Draft Revised Food Aid Charter: A Code of Good Conduct in Food Crisis Prevention and Management
Sahel and West Africa Club/OECD
COMPAS Qualité (Quality COMPAS) - Criteria and Tools for the Management and Piloting of Humanitarian Assistance
Groupe URD
Code of Good Practice in the Management and Support of Aid Personnel
People In Aid
Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief
International Committee of the Red Cross
ALNAP Network
Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance in Humanitarian Action
Accountability to Disaster-Affected Populations A Peer Review by the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response
Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response
Human rights
International self-regulation among CSOs offering legal and material assistance and performing research and advocacy in human rights is still largely in development. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
ISO 26000
ISO Central Secretariat
International Human Rights Fact Finding Guidlines
International Bar Association: Raoul Wallenberg Institute
Philanthropy
International, and national, philanthropic organisations are playing an increasing role in setting public policy priorities and building capacity of their grantees. Self-regulatory initiatives setting standards of practice are widespread at the national level, but have only recently begun to emerge at the international level. The Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy, for example, identify guiding principles for international funders on transparency, good governance and learning, among other issues. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy
Joint Working Group of the Council on Foundations and the European Foundation Centre
Research
The role of CSOs in policy, scientific, and applied research is often overlooked. Self-regulation has not yet developed in this important field. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
PASOS Project
Policy Association for an Open Society
International Human Rights Fact Finding Guidlines
International Bar Association: Raoul Wallenberg Institute
Social care and services
CSOs are engaged in social care and services delivery, as well as projects that have substantial social impacts, worldwide. Often, social care and services practice standards are set out in national level regulatory frameworks. However, self-regulation has begun to emerge in this important area. The COA Standards, addressing social care, are a certification scheme operating in several countries worldwide. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards
ISEAL Alliance
COA Eighth Edition Standards
Council on Accreditation
Other
There are a few international self-regulation initiatives which cover specific issues not included in the previous categories. The Montreux Initiative (MI), for example, is working towards building cooperation in removing unjustified obstacles for Islamic charities. If you are aware of any other initiatives, including those in development, please contact us so that we may update our database.
ISO 14000: Environmental Management Systems
International Organisation for Standardisation
ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Setting Social and Environmental Standards
ISEAL Alliance
Code of Conduct
Montreux Initiative (MI) aka Towards cooperation in removing unjustified obstacles for Islamic charities

