Self-Certification Standards Compliance
Since 1994, all InterAction member organizations have agreed to comply with InterAction's Private Voluntary Organization (PVO) Standards.
Intended to ensure and strengthen public confidence in the integrity, quality and effectiveness of member organizations and their programs, the standards were created when the overseas work of U.S. NGOs was dramatically increasing in scope and significance. Defining the governance, financial, operational, programmatic and ethical code of conduct for InterAction and its members, these high and wide-ranging standards set InterAction members apart from many other charitable organizations.
Prior to 2006, member organizations certified compliance with the standards using a single-page form signed by the organization’s CEO.
PVO Standards Compliance Through Self-Certification Plus
The Self-Certification Plus (SCP) process was created to provide member organizations a mechanism for a rigorous self-assessment and validation of compliance with InterAction’s PVO Standards. The process encourages organizational learning, advances best practices and helps to ensure that InterAction members meet the highest standards of the international nonprofit community. Additionally, the compliance process furthers public trust and confidence in InterAction members and the larger InterAction coalition.
Since 2006 it has been mandatory for InterAction and its members to complete the SCP process every two years. Each organization examines the indicators for compliance of each standard and suggested sources of evidence of compliance against its own internal documents, policies and practice, and completes the Self-Certification Plus Compliance Form by the end of the compliance year. Organizations that do not comply face suspension of their membership.
Associate members must adhere to sectionns 1.0 - 6.5 of the InterAction PVO Standards and must complete the Associate Member Self-Certification-Plus Compliance Form on the same schedule as regular members.
Self-Certification Plus Process Schedule
The next SCP process for InterAction and its members will be due by December 31, 2014.
If you are interested in learning more about any of these initiatives, please contact Barbara Wallace or Taina Alexander.
