Applying for FCDO grant funding: simplified application process with Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative CHS Certification, February 2025
Updated 12 February 2025
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The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has simplified its due diligence assessment process for organisations applying for international development grants.
The new approach will reduce paperwork for organisations that have already proven they meet high international standards set by Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS).
Organisations certified under the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) can now benefit from a streamlined application process when seeking FCDO grant funding. This certification, verified through independent audits by the Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative (HQAI), demonstrates that organisations meet rigorous quality and accountability standards for humanitarian and development work.
The new approach will reduce duplicate information gathering while maintaining FCDO’s robust assessment standards. While certified organisations will still undergo FCDO’s due diligence checks, they can now use their existing HQAI audit reports to fulfil large parts of our requirements.
The changes will:
- reduce the administrative burden for certified organisations
- maintain comprehensive due diligence standards
- help drive greater quality and accountability in the humanitarian and development sector, through wider adoption of best practices
- increase efficiency in grant processing
We hope this change will encourage more organisations to seek CHS certification, helping to raise standards across the international humanitarian and development sectors.
The streamlined process is available immediately for organisations with valid HQAI certification. For all other organisations there will be no change, and the assessment process will continue to follow FCDO’s standard due diligence procedures.
FCDO will evaluate this new approach as it explores opportunities to further reduce bureaucracy in grant administration, whilst driving continual improvement in the management and delivery programmes across the portfolio.
For questions or enquires, email duediligencehub@fcdo.gov.uk
- HQAI: Humanitarian Quality Assurance Initiative
- CHS: Core Humanitarian Standard