HAP 2010 Standard
The HAP Standard is a practical and measurable tool that represents a broad consensus of what matters most in humanitarian action. The Standard helps organisations design, implement, assess, improve and recognise accountable programmes. Being accountable to crisis-affected communities helps organisations to develop quality programmes that meet those people’s needs, and reduces the possibility of mistakes, abuse and corruption.
The 2010 edition of the HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management (pdf, 777 Kb) is the result of an extensive review process that involved wide consultation with different stakeholders, including crisis-affected communities, aid workers and donors. Over 1,900 people in 56 countries contributed to the review process and the preparation of the 2010 edition, bringing to the process authentic experiences from different perspectives. The ISO/IEC Directives Part 2, Rules for the Structure and Drafting of International Standards, guided the drafting process for the 2010 HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management. Editors from the Plain English Campaign reviewed several drafts of the 2010 Standard and their comments were included in the final version. The HAP Board, authorised by the HAP General Assembly, approved the 2010 edition on 20 October 2010.
Major differences between the 2007 and 2010 editions
The 2010 edition presents all the content of the 2007 edition in a more logical order, in line with The ISO/IEC Directives Part 2, and using more accessible language. The order of the benchmarks has changed, and minor adjustments have been made to the wording of some benchmarks. In response to feedback from the review consultations, a few specific requirements in the 2010 edition include content that was not already part of the 2007 edition.
A separate section for organisations working with partners has been included under each benchmark. The 2010 edition is also more explicit on its application to multi-mandate agencies (relief, development and advocacy programmes), and stronger on elements of financial accountability and protection from exploitation and abuse by aid workers.
For more information download the Summary of changes from the 2007 edition (pdf, 264 Kb)
The 2010 HAP Standard and other quality and accountability initiatives
The HAP Standard is intended to complement other standards that relate to accountability to people affected by different types of crises, as well as issue-specific standards and guidelines on quality management systems, human rights, and protection from abuse and corruption. In particular, the HAP Standard is intended to complement the work by People In Aid, the Sphere Project, the Emergency Capacity Building Project, Groupe URD, ALNAP and national self-regulatory schemes that focus on accountability and quality in the non-profit sector.
Additional information
For detailed information about the 2010 HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management and its application go to the Frequently Asked Questions page and the Transition to the 2010 Standard page.
The following documents are also available:
Translations
The 2010 HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management is available in the following languages:
- Bangla (pdf, 372Kb)
- English (pdf, 777 Kb)
- French (pdf, 907 Kb)
- Haitian Creole (pdf, 383 Kb)
- Japanese (pdf, 793 Kb)
- Myanmar (pdf, 18.1Mb)
- Nepali (18.9Mb)
- Portuguese (pdf, 895 Kb)
- Sinhalese (pdf 26.94 Mb)
- Spanish (pdf, 876 Kb)
- Tamil (pdf, 21.52 Mb)
- Urdu (pdf, 5.8 Mb)
