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Established in 2015 from the bringing together of two influential organisations – HAP International and People In Aid – the CHS Alliance was created to promote the new Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS).This landmark framework united long-standing efforts to ensure that aid responses are accountable to crisis affected populations, respecting people’s rights and dignity.

Ten years on, the Alliance network now includes over 250 members and over half of our members are local and national NGOs, a critical shift in shaping the sector for the future.

At a time when aid organisations are facing an uncertain future, with shrinking funding and changes to political priorities, the Alliance’s unified approach to deliver on a set of commitments to people affected by crises is more important than ever.

By recognising the importance of support that is closest to the communities we support, the Alliance is helping shift the power and build a more equitable, accountable and safer aid system.

Together our members form a powerful movement for change, demonstrating a collective commitment to accountability in responses all over the world.  Over the past 10 years we have seen a huge shift in organisations taking an increasingly community and survivor-centred approach to accountability and PSEAH. Over 250 organisations have now engaged in formal self-assessment or external audit. Through survivor-centred SEAH investigation training, establishment of the MDS and HRS and a review and re-launch of the Core Humanitarian Standard itself and related verification systems, we have seen continuous improvement and self-reflection from the sector.

Here in 2025, we know the job is not done – we are grappling with a roll-back on donor funding, serious under-resourcing and a threat to civil society space. But as a collective we are in a stronger place than ever before to demand and realise persistent improvement – to make aid accountable and safer.

As we look back at this decade of collaboration, we remain more committed than ever to listening to affected people and working collectively to ensure quality and accountability to those we serve.

A look back at milestones in the CHS Alliance’s timeline: 

2014: A common, people-centred standard

Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) was launched by HAP International, People In Aid, Sphere and Groupe URD.

2015: Formation and vision

2015: CHS Alliance was formally established in June through the merger of HAP International, and People In Aid. The CHS became the foundation of the new Alliance’s efforts.

2015- 2018: Establishing the CHS verification scheme

2015: The CHS verification scheme was introduced to provide a collective approach to measuring how organisations verify their efforts to meet the CHS, driving learning and improvement.
2015: Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI) was established to provide independent, third-party quality assurance for organisations applying the CHS.

2018-2021: Strengthening safeguarding

2018: Safeguarding summit in London. The UK government brought together 500 aid actors who committed to Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and donors recognised the CHS as a key framework for tackling this issue.
2019: The Misconduct Disclosure Scheme was launched by SCHR to address the specific problem of known sexual abusers moving between organisations undetected. It has been hosted by the CHS Alliance since 2021.
2020: The updated PSEAH Index was launched to support organisation’s efforts to measure their efforts on protection against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.
2021: SEAH harmonised reporting scheme piloted. Today the scheme has more than 90 participating organisations.

2021 – 2024: Systems strengthening for greater accountability

2021-  2022 Closing the Accountability Gap project for victims/survivors of SEAH, funded by the Netherlands, starts in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and the occupied Palestinian territories. This innovative approach moved the Alliance’s work to focus at country level work to harness peer learning.
2022-2024: CHS Alliance co-chaired the IASC Task Force 2 on Accountability to Affected People.
2023: CHS verification recommended as a solution to advancing accountability to affected people in an IASC donor review.
2024: LOCALED initiative developed – new approach to harness the collective efforts of members around a common framework at country level

2022–2024: Revising the Standard

2022: Recognising the evolving nature of crises and the needs of affected populations, the CHS Alliance started a two-year global consultation process to revise the CHS, with its partners Sphere and GroupeURD. This inclusive process engaged over 4,000 individuals from 90 countries, with affected communities at the centre.
2024: Strengthened CHS launched globally with a stronger emphasis on inclusion and accessibility.
2024: UK government recognises CHS certified organisations with access to streamlined application process for those applying for FCDO funding.

2025 and Beyond

2025: CHS Alliance surpasses 250 member organisations, working in more than 190 countries to make aid safer and more accountable. With half our members now local and national organisations, together we are a powerful network bringing decision making in aid closer to the communities we serve.