Certification Process

1. The candidate NGO applies for a Certificate: an application form is obtained from the District Committee. This includes an annex: the QuAM assessment form.

Certification Steps

2. The candidate NGO pays the prescribed fee. The District Committee may at the NGO's request, issue a letter to the candidate, certifying that the certification process has begun. The NGO fills the self-assessment part of the form, following the instructions given, and returns it to the District Committee with a copy of the receipt, showing payment of the certification fee.

3. The committee receives the form and publicizes the fact that the candidate NGO has applied for a certificate (such as on the sub-county notice board in the NGO area of operation), soliciting any comments within 1 month from the ‘public' (as described above).

4. The district Committee holds a meeting with the candidate NGO (as expeditiously as possible and normally no later than 1 month after receiving the NGO request), to review the self-assessment and to jointly assess the NGO, according to the standards listed on the form. Actual verification takes place. The relevant section of the form is filled and signed by representatives of both candidate NGO and Committee members (at the office of the candidate NGO).

5. The committee fills in the ‘comments after NGO meeting' section of the form.

6. The Committee members scrutinize any feedback from the public and may decide to seek additional information. The section ‘public comments received' of the form is then completed.

7. The committee sits to review all information and sends its recommendation to the National Council, normally within 2 months of the initial request. The Committee may provide recommendations for improvements, and what might be needed to obtain a Certificate.

8. The National Council may (1) approve the recommendation and issue the certificate (or provisional certificate), (2) seek additional information, where required or (3) reject the recommendation, giving its reasons for doing so. The Council normally issues a certificate within1 month of receiving the District recommendation.

9. The Candidate NGO is advised by the District committee of the National Council's decision. The NGO is encouraged to provide feedback on the fairness and other aspects of the Certification process to the district Committee and/or national Council. Where the NGO is dissatisfied with the decision of the Council, it may follow the conflict resolution procedure, as detailed in the implementation guidelines (a copy of which is available at the district committee office).