Since 2019, HQAI has been mandated by the European Commission's humanitarian aid department (DG ECHO) to conduct ex-ante assessments of organisations applying for humanitarian partnership agreements. This service — often called the "ECHO Bridge Audit" — is one of the most significant developments in donor-level quality assurance in recent years.
What Is an Ex-Ante Assessment?
Before awarding a humanitarian framework partnership agreement, DG ECHO requires that applicant organisations meet a defined set of standards covering operational, financial, and accountability capacities. An ex-ante assessment is the independent evaluation that confirms whether those standards are met.
HQAI conducts these assessments against DG ECHO's own framework — not the CHS directly — though there is significant overlap. The assessment covers organisational governance, financial management systems, procurement procedures, humanitarian principles, and accountability to affected populations.
How It Differs from CHS Certification
The ECHO assessment and CHS Certification are complementary but distinct. The ECHO assessment is specifically designed to meet DG ECHO's due diligence requirements and is a mandatory prerequisite for certain ECHO partnership categories. CHS Certification is a broader, sector-wide quality standard that any humanitarian organisation can pursue regardless of their relationship with ECHO.
Crucially, organisations that hold a valid CHS Certification receive a significant reduction in the scope of the ECHO ex-ante assessment — a "passporting" benefit that reflects the rigour of the CHS audit process. This creates a direct incentive for organisations to pursue CHS Certification: it reduces the administrative burden of donor compliance.
Who Conducts the Assessment
HQAI assigns a dedicated team of auditors with specific expertise in ECHO's framework requirements. Our assessors must complete additional ECHO-specific training before conducting these assessments. Field visits are mandatory: unlike some desk-based due diligence processes, HQAI's ECHO assessments include on-the-ground verification in at least one operational context.
The Result
At the end of the process, HQAI submits a confidential assessment report to DG ECHO. The organisation assessed receives a copy with the findings and any recommendations. The assessment result informs — but does not automatically determine — DG ECHO's partnership decision.
For organisations applying for ECHO funding, understanding this process is essential. If you are preparing for an ECHO ex-ante assessment, contact HQAI for a pre-assessment orientation call.