Quality Standards & Transparency

Delivering relief under international standards.

Our work is based on the various projects which we individually develop with different partners on the ground. Cooperation with local communities, organisations and government offices and agencies is the key to the integrity and sustainability of each project. Local partners are involved in all project stages to strengthen learning and capacity.

Within our projects no one should feel patronized, overlooked or misunderstood. In our experience, it is a good decision in our working routine to limit our own sovereignty to the benefit of greater self-responsibility of local partners. We willingly face up to the challenges involved. Great results are the reward we receive for our effort and engagement.

We aim to provide relief and development in a way that upholds our values, and we hold ourselves to the highest standards of accountability, integrity, and transparency. This includes not only agreeing to and abiding by international standards and codes of conduct, but also our own organisational standards that ensure effectiveness, efficiency, and dignity to all involved in our work.

The humanitarian principles are the grounds for our operations and actions. The application of these principles for us is non-negotiable and indispensable. Furthermore, for all our projects, we apply the following quality standards and codes:

• The Code of Conduct of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
• The Sphere Standards as Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response
• ’12 Basic Rules of Humanitarian Aid’ by development organisations and ministries of the German coordination Humanitarian Aid

To the people we serve, our donors, staff and members: we are transparent.

Are donations spent in the development countries efficiently and according to the project targets? Are budgets followed closely? Is the reporting precise and transparent? Which measures are necessary to evaluate projects?

The country offices, our headquarters as well as our Execuive Director personally constantly deal with these and many other financial questions. Proper accounting is often a task which our partner organisations find overwhelming. Therefore, Vision Hope takes on responsibility for all accounting on a project level or country office level according to the strict guidelines of the donors. The local partner organisations receive advance payments and are required to account for them before they receive additional funds.

Evaluation and Reflection

Our financial reports are audited on the basis of the project budgets agreed on at the start of the project and the implemented project activities. All receipts and accounting are checked by the country office, the CEO and the treasurer of the board.

Internal and External Auditing

According to our bylaws, our accounting has to be checked by two competent internal auditors appointed by the board. In addition to this internal audit, the accounting is also checked by an independent external auditing company.