The CHS revision process: an opportunity to make the CHS a practical tool to help the aid sector take environmental and climatic issues into account more.
Context
The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) was created in 2014, based on the lessons learned from several quality and accountability initiatives in the aid sector. The drafting process required significant input from all stakeholders – aid organisations, governments, donors and communities – who explored the question of how to improve aid. The result was a harmonised framework of best practice for organisations in the form of 9 commitments broken down into key actions and organisational responsibilities.
Since it was launched, the CHS has been adopted by hundreds of organisations and has had a real impact on the way aid is delivered in the world. But the content of the Standard currently needs to be revised due to a number of parameters that have evolved in the last 7 years: the changing nature of crises, the changing needs and expectations of stakeholders, recognition of the sector’s limits, and the growing importance of certain topics (such as localisation, the environment and climate change). A revision process has therefore been launched in 2022 to improve the Core Humanitarian Standard, with a first consultation phase that focuses on the following:
- Foundations: reaffirm and validate core commitments and responsibilities;
- Content: strengthen core elements, identify gaps and duplications, take into account new developments and issues;
- Presentation: simplify the language used, make it more user-friendly and relevant to a wider group of operators.
This consultation is aimed at all stakeholders via a number of different initiatives (interviews, discussion forums, round tables and webinars) and is focused on certain priority issues, including taking into account the environment and climate change in humanitarian action. These cross-cutting themes have so far had a limited place in the Standard. However, the current revision is an opportunity to enable the Standard to become an operational tool for addressing these emerging challenges.
Objectives
As a co-author of the CHS, Groupe URD would like to invite all those who are interested in contributing to the consultation process to discuss how the CHS could help aid actors to meet environmental and climatic challenges.
The objectives of the session will be to:
- ask actors from the humanitarian and development sector what needs to be done to make the CHS an operational tool to help meet climatic and environmental challenges;
- identify ways in which climatic and environmental issues can be taken into account more in the CHS;
- propose concrete changes to the CHS so that climatic and environmental issues are taken into account more in projects.
Any other feedback that could be useful to the CHS revision process is welcome.
Format
The workshop will provide an opportunity to work together and draw up recommendations that will feed into the revision process.
It will take place on Zoom and will include both interactive activities with all the participants and small discussion groups.
Before the workshop
To facilitate discussions during the consultation, please consult the Core Humanitarian Standard before the workshop to identify the issues at stake in terms of integrating environmental and climatic perspectives.
Date: 06/12/22
Time: 1.00 to 3.00 pm
Languages: ENG