Accountability to communities lies at the heart of why Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse) joined the CHS Alliance, a global network committed to improving the quality, effectiveness and accountability of humanitarian and development action.
Putting people at the centre of our work
In the pastoral regions where VSF-Suisse operates, systems are often fragile and access to services is limited. In such contexts, what matters is not only what support is provided, but how it is delivered, and whether people can rely on it.
Joining the CHS Alliance reflects our clear commitment to ensure that people affected by crises and instability are at the centre of decision-making, and that their voices shape the way programmes are designed and implemented.
This means strengthening how we engage with communities, how we communicate, and how we listen.
What the Core Humanitarian Standard means in practice
The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS) provides a shared framework to guide this work.
At its core, the CHS describes what people affected by crises should be able to expect from organisations delivering aid. They should be informed and able to participate in decisions that affect them, have access to timely and effective support, and be treated with dignity and respect. They should also be able to safely provide feedback or raise concerns, and receive support that does not cause harm to people or the environment.
These commitments are not new to VSF-Suisse. They reflect principles we already strive to uphold across our programmes. However, the CHS provides a structured way to strengthen, measure and improve these practices over time.
A continuous commitment to improve how we work
Becoming a member of the CHS Alliance is not an endpoint, it is part of an ongoing process of learning and improvement, and of strengthening how we work with communities, partners and each other.
It provides access to tools, training opportunities and communities of practice that support more accountable and effective humanitarian and development action. It also reinforces transparency towards partners, donors and, most importantly, the communities we serve.
At VSF-Suisse, this commitment is already underway. A self-assessment conducted in 2025 is currently being analysed, drawing on feedback from staff, partners and communities. The results will inform a concrete improvement plan to further implement CHS principles into our work.
Ultimately, this is about ensuring that feedback is heard and acted upon, that safeguarding systems are effective in practice, and that programmes are continuously adapted based on evidence and local realities.
Because quality and accountability are not abstract concepts, they are what make our work meaningful, trusted and impactful.