Get support

DRA South Sudan Joint Response partners during their CHS self-assessment training in Juba in January 2026

Accountability in the humanitarian sector has traditionally been top-down, with local partners often expected to meet standards without the necessary resources.  Dutch Relief Alliance (DRA) is transforming this dynamic by shifting from expectations to active partnership.

Why This Matters  

This initiative is being embraced by CHS Alliance (CHSA) as an exciting project to build an accountable aid sector, with local and national organisations leading the way.  

By supporting more than 20 partners through the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) self-assessment, DRA is not just checking boxes; they are helping their partners build stronger, more accountable institutions.  

Moving Beyond Compliance 

While the process faces challenges, such as limited resources and staff turnover, the benefits are clear. For local partners, CHS verification serves as a “passport” for donors and a significant step toward legitimacy and influence in the sector.

As Kayi Joseph, Country Coodinator for the DRA’s Joint Response in South Sudan, notes: “Localisation only becomes real when local and national organisations are not simply included in processes designed by others but participate and are supported to lead their own quality and accountability journeys”.  

The Way Forward 

Six months into this four-country programme – Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan – the results demonstrate that this model of collaborative verification works. By fostering a culture of genuine self-improvement rather than administrative compliance, DRA is helping to bring local partners into the drive for a locally grounded accountability ecosystem.  

Omolola Adewunmi, CHSA’s Quality Assurance Manager, says, “I am thrilled to see this initiative garner such positive results. Self-assessment is a step towards bringing partners into the accountability ecosystem: sharing expertise, building credibility and enabling participation.  

Partner organisations are now in the midst of completing their improvement plans, and the project will continue to support partner staff for the coming year.  

But this may just be the start: “CHS Alliance believes this collaborative approach is a blueprint for other alliances and donors to follow in our collective effort to make aid more accountable, effective and safer.” Adewunmi says.  

Get Involved 

Find out more about CHS verification and how your organisation can support local partners on their journey toward accountability.