Individual member to HQAI’s General Assembly

Background

HQAI’s objective is to improve the Quality and Accountability of organisations working in the humanitarian and development ecosystem through the provision and promotion of meaningful and adapted independent quality assurance. Its services are intended to build capacity in the sector and provide consistent measurable data in the delivery of quality action, thus improving principled, accountable, efficient provision of aid to vulnerable and at-risk populations.

HQAI has developed robust tools to measure efficiently where an organisation stands in relation to the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) on Quality and Accountability. HQAI is committed to the nine fundamental principles of the CHS and implements them as far as they are applicable to its own staff management, auditing and capability building activities.

To all its stakeholders, HQAI is an accountable, open and trustworthy partner, which applies the internationally recognised ground rules of auditing that are impartiality, competence, responsibility, openness, confidentiality and responsiveness to complaints. Our policies, procedures and tools for independent quality assurance follow relevant ISO standards requirements. HQAI’s CHS certification scheme is accredited against ISO/IEC 17065:2012.

The General Assembly is the supreme power of HQAI and exercises the general oversight of the Association. It is composed of the members of HQAI.

What we offer

This is a key opportunity to invest your skills, experience and time in a gratifying pro-bono role to strengthen accountability in the aid sector. In addition to the defined tasks of our General Assembly, we offer participation in formal and ad hoc working groups where there will be the chance to make specific contributions to positive change in the sector. HQAI’s GA is collegial and participatory, offering members an opportunity to collaborate with a diverse set of experienced colleagues from across the humanitarian, private, and governmental sectors for the benefit of crisis affected people.

Scope

This is a non-paid role as member of the General Assembly, offering the potential to support a unique quality assurance mission for the humanitarian and development ecosystem. In doing so, you can support the HQAI in achieving its objective to improve the quality and accountability of the sector. Read here about HQAIs current strategy.

The General Assembly (GA)

The formal powers and responsibilities of the General Assembly as per its Articles of Association are to:

• approve and amend the Articles of Association;
• approve the strategy and the annual budget;
• appoint and revoke the appointment of any person serving on the Board of Directors;
• appoint and revoke the appointment of any person serving on the Advisory and Complaint Board;
• approve the appointment of new members of HQAI.

Additionally, there are multiple opportunities to participate in working groups on different topics.

Timing and duration

The proposed new membership is planned to start in Q2 CY 2025, pending election by the General Assembly. There is currently no time limit to the length of GA membership.

Qualifications and skills

The members of the General Assembly shall be well experienced (minimum five years) and qualified and recognised professionals in their respective fields. Collectively they should represent the following expertise:

• A geographical and gender balance;
• Expertise in data gathering, business management, humanitarian response, development and quality assurance;
• The ability to facilitate contact and cooperation with the different stakeholders of HQAI, including but not limited to senior UN and government officials, NGOs, donors, and representatives of vulnerable and at- risk people;
• A deep interest into the subject of core humanitarian standards
• Comfortable to work in English

Applicants from the Global South with leadership / coordination experience are particularly welcomed.