The Core Humanitarian Standard in plain words
What the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) is, its nine commitments in simple language, and how a small NGO can start using it in daily work.
Short answer
The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) is a global standard with nine commitments that describe what people affected by crisis can expect from aid organisations. It covers relevant aid, timely help, no harm, participation, complaints, coordination, learning, skilled staff and responsible use of resources. Organisations use it to improve quality and to be held accountable.
Key points
- The CHS has nine commitments, each written from the point of view of affected people.
- It is a measurable standard, not only a set of values.
- Start with a self-check against the nine commitments, then pick three gaps to fix.
- You do not need to be a large organisation to use it.
- Complaints and feedback, and learning, are the commitments most often weak.
What is the Core Humanitarian Standard?
The Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) sets out nine commitments to people affected by crisis. The CHS Alliance says the commitments are meant to make sure that organisations support people and communities in ways that respect their rights and dignity, and that promote their primary role in finding solutions to the crises they face.
The CHS was launched in 2014. It was revised in 2022 and 2023 after a global consultation that involved more than 4,000 contributors, including 500 community representatives, in 90 countries. The current version is called CHS 2024.
Think of it as a promise written from the community's side. Each commitment starts with "Communities and people affected by crisis can expect..." That wording matters. It tells staff what good aid looks like to the person receiving it.
What are the nine commitments?
Here is a plain-words version. Use the official text for any formal work.
| # | In plain words | Ask your team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Help is appropriate and relevant | Did we ask people what they need? |
| 2 | Help arrives when needed, and is effective | Are we on time, and does it work? |
| 3 | People are not harmed by our work | Could our work cause a risk? |
| 4 | People can take part in decisions | Who decided this, and who was left out? |
| 5 | People can complain and be heard | Is there a safe, working channel? |
| 6 | Aid is coordinated and complementary | Do we know who else is working here? |
| 7 | We learn and improve | What changed because of feedback? |
| 8 | Staff are supported to do their work well | Do staff have skills, support and a code of conduct? |
| 9 | Resources are managed responsibly | Can we show money was used as planned? |
The numbering and wording are our summary of the standard. Check the CHS Alliance website for the exact text of each commitment.
Why does the CHS matter for a small NGO?
The CHS Alliance describes the standard as a framework that can be used to enable people and communities to hold those who support them to account, to improve the quality and accountability of organisations, to assess and verify performance, and to promote collective efforts. Several of these uses help a small organisation directly:
- Donors and partners increasingly ask for evidence of quality and accountability. A CHS self-assessment gives you a clear way to show your approach.
- Staff get a shared language for good practice, which helps new and field staff.
- Communities get a basis for asking questions about your work.
In Myanmar, where many local groups work with limited funds, the CHS is useful because it focuses on practice rather than paperwork. A group with no large policy library can still ask whether people were consulted, whether a complaint can be made safely, and whether lessons were used.
How to start: a five-step self-check
- Gather a small group. Include programme, finance, HR and a field officer.
- Read the nine commitments together. Use plain language and, if needed, translate into Burmese for discussion.
- Score each commitment simply: Not yet, Partly, Yes. Write one example of evidence for every "Yes".
- Ask people you serve. Even five short conversations will test your scores. Their view overrides yours.
- Choose three gaps. Make an action plan with an owner and a date for each. Review in six months.
Do not try to fix everything at once. A short, honest plan will do more than a long one nobody follows.
Where do organisations usually struggle?
Common weak points are easy to predict:
- Commitment 5 (complaints): a box or hotline exists, but people do not know about it, or do not trust it. See our guide on complaints and feedback mechanisms.
- Commitment 7 (learning): feedback is collected but nothing changes. Record one decision changed by feedback each quarter.
- Commitment 4 (participation): consultation happens once, at design stage, and not again.
- Commitment 8 (staff): codes of conduct are signed but never explained.
The same ideas run through protection work. Our article on accountability to affected populations shows how to turn them into daily routines.
How does the CHS relate to Sphere?
The Sphere Handbook includes the Humanitarian Charter, the Protection Principles, the Core Humanitarian Standard and minimum standards in four technical areas: water supply, sanitation and hygiene; food security and nutrition; shelter and settlement; and health. In other words, the CHS is the foundation chapter that applies to every sector, and the technical chapters add sector detail. Read our introduction to Sphere for more.
How EMPO can help
EMPO is a trusted, Myanmar-based training and consultancy provider and one of the country's leading names in practical NGO training, with 1,200+ people trained and 15 partner organisations. We offer training on Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), SPHERE and related topics, online over Zoom or in person in Yangon and across Myanmar, in English and Burmese. See our training services or contact us to plan a CHS self-check workshop for your team.
Sources
- The CHS: Nine commitments to people affected by crises (CHS 2024) — CHS Alliance, 2024
- Handbook — Sphere
Questions people ask
Is the CHS only for humanitarian organisations?
No. The CHS says it is relevant to all who individually or collectively work to support people and communities affected by crisis and vulnerability. Development and community organisations can use it too.
Is the CHS the same as Sphere?
No, but they are linked. The Sphere Handbook includes the CHS as one of its foundation chapters. The CHS sets out how an organisation should behave. Sphere adds technical minimum standards for sectors such as water, food, shelter and health.
Do we need external verification?
Not to begin. A self-assessment is a good first step. The CHS can also be used to assess and verify performance, but that is a later decision for your leadership.