10 audited partners in Burkina Faso
Ten Organisations in Burkina Faso Are Now Benchmarked Against the Core Humanitarian Standard
As part of the ECHO-funded LOCAL project, implemented by Danish Refugee Council (DRC), International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA), Secrétariat Permanent des ONG (SPONG), and HQAI, ten national organisations in Burkina Faso have successfully completed independent audits against the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS).
Strengthening Local Aid Through Accountability, Learning, and Recognition
The role of national organisations in responding to vulnerable people in situations of crises is widely recognised. A central challenge to moving the localisation agenda forward is effectively managing the tension between funders’ need for compliance/risk management and their commitment to locally-led response.
The CHS provides a globally recognised framework to ensure that aid is effective, accountable, and centred on the rights and needs of affected people.
Through HQAI’s audits, humanitarian and development actors receive an independent, evidence-based assessment of how far they apply the CHS in practice. As such, HQAI CHS audits do more than assess conformity, they offer a concrete and tested solution to provide external recognition of capacity for national organisations:
- Strengthening accountability to affected populations, by promoting respectful, inclusive, and participatory approaches.
- Fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement, encouraging adaptive, responsive aid delivery.
- By auditing management systems, they help organisations improve coherence, mitigate risks, and deliver aid more efficiently.
- Leveling the playing field: They provide external recognition of capacity and areas for improvement, empowering national organisations in partnership and funding discussions with back donors and intermediaries.
- Reduced duplication: HQAI CHS audit evidence can meet 50-100% of various funder due diligence and partner capacity assessments; using them saves time and resources.
The CHS audit enabled us to reaffirm our local proximity, our strong roots in the communities and that our actions were truly adapted to the expectations and wishes of the people. It has also enabled us to see where we can improve as an organisation. We hope that this will help to strengthen our collaboration with local, national and international players.
Abdoulaye OUEDRAOGO, General Coordinator of the NGO APIL, July 2025
Local Organisations Leading the Way
The following organisations in Burkina Faso have completed HQAI CHS benchmarking audits:
- A2N Association Nodde Nooto
- AMMIE Association Appui Moral, Matériel et Intellectuel à l’Enfant (pending report signature)
- APIL Action pour la Promotion des Initiatives Locales (pending report signature)
- ATAD Alliance Technique d’Assistance au Développement
- AVAD Association Vision Action Développement
- CREDO Christian Relief and Development Organisation
- IPBF Initiative Panenetugri pour le Bien-Etre de la Femme (pending report signature)
- ODE Office de Développement des Eglises Evangéliques
- SOLIDEV Solidatiré Développement Inclusif
- TIN TUA
The HQAI audit is an exciting exercise. Admittedly, at the start we were a little apprehensive (whether we would be up to the job, what the results might be, etc.) about taking part in this exercise. But it's worth pointing out that at the end of the process, we came out stronger and more confident. This audit strengthens AVAD's institutional base, as it is proof of our ongoing efforts to provide appropriate assistance that respects our beneficiaries. It also confirms our capacity to manage humanitarian projects. We dare to believe that this evaluation will further strengthen the confidence of our traditional partners and open the doors to new partners. Many thanks to HQAI for this wonderful adventure.
Boukary BAMOGO, Coordonnateur Général, AVAD NGO, July 2025 Boukary BAMOGO, Coordonnateur Général, AVAD NGO, July 2025
Benchmarking: A Stepping Stone to Greater Recognition
With their benchmarking audits now complete, these organisations are well-positioned to progress towards Independent Verification or Certification against the CHS — a pathway that offers even stronger external validation and can unlock greater access to direct, quality funding. This progression reinforces their long-term commitment to quality, accountability, and impact.
Deep Dive
The LOCAL Project: Reducing Burdens, Increasing Access
Led by DRC, with HQAI, ICVA, and SPONG as partners, the LOCAL project pilots a quality assurance system from which to reduce compliance burdens, streamline due diligence processes, enhance LNAs capacities and increase access to funding.
Read more here.
The wider impact
HQAI CHS audits provide local and national organisations with the tools to:
- Demonstrate capacity and manage risk
- Reduce duplication in assessments
- Engage on more equal footing with donors and partners
This work directly responds to sector-wide calls for more efficient, principled, and locally-led humanitarian action.
We have seen audited organisations access new funding — and we are confident that A2N, AMMIE, APIL, ATAD, AVAD, CREDO, IPBF, ODE, SOLIDEV and TIN TUA will continue to leverage this recognition as a springboard for further growth and impact.
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