QuAM

Links to: reports, policies and application

The NGO Quality Assurance Certification Mechanism (QuAM)

NGOs in Uganda decided to stand up to be counted as self regulating by initiating and implementing a Quality Assurance Certification Mechanism called the QuAM, ‘Our Code of Honour’. The QuAM was participatorily developed by NGOs to promote self regulation, transparency and accountability through the adherence by NGOs to generally acceptable ethical standards and operational norms. The rationale behind QuAM is that the NGO sub-sector itself should be actively engaged in promoting certain set of values and norms as part of maintaining a public reputation for professionalism and high ethical standard. The basis for initiating the QuAM was that the NGO sub sector had been infiltrated by unscrupulous organizations that were degenerating the image of the NGOs in the country and different stakeholders including government and development partners were beginning to worry about the credibility of the sector.

The QuAM was launched by the Minister of State for Internal Affairs at the 2nd Uganda Social Forum, in September 2006. It has been well received by Local and international NGOs, Local Authorities, Members of Parliament and development partners. The QuAM has potential to rebuild Government-CSO trust and indeed positively impact on the NGO Act 2006. The successful establishment of such as system will also undoubtedly set a precedent in this region.

The QuAM is therefore a sign of maturity of the NGO sub-sector and aims at enhancing NGO legitimacy, credibility, accountability, autonomy and more importantly promoting learning and constant improvement. While obtaining the NGO Quality Assurance Certificate is not a legal requirement, once issued, the provisions of a Certificate will be binding on the certified NGO. The process of obtaining an NGO Quality Assurance Certificate will be facilitated by District Quality Assurance Certification Committees and the National NGO Quality Assurance Certification Council, representatives of which are appointed by NGOs themselves. The National Quality Assurance Certification Council oversees the QuAM and is established solely for that purpose. It will issue the Quality Assurance Certificates upon recommendation from the different District Committees.