The Joint Standards Initiative (JSI)
Terms of Reference for JSI Advisory Group on Standards and Organisations
1. INTRODUCTION
Three of the largest quality and accountability initiatives in humanitarian assistance (HAP International, People In
Aid and Sphere) are actively collaborating to contribute towards a transformation of the standards architecture, to
support aid-workers and their agencies to improve humanitarian action to the people we assist.
The JSI Advisory Group will consider the integration of the three Standards as well as considering the optimal
organisational structure for managing a Joint Standard for the sector.
2. OBJECTIVE OF THE JSI ADVISORY GROUP
Two consultations will take place upon the establishment of the Advisory Group, to inform and shape their
discussions. Firstly, a survey of humanitarian aid workers, beneficiaries and others, on the use and applicability of
the Standards (see the separate Stakeholder Consultation Concept Note) and secondly, based in part on the
results of the consultation, a piece of expert input on organisational development options. The Advisory Group will
have direct involvement in signing off the questions and approach to be used, as well as contributing to the
consultations.
The specific objectives of the JSI Advisory Group are two-fold:
2.1 Joint Standard
Objective 1: To ensure that the Consultation with Stakeholders of the JSI provides an accurate, evidence-based
and relevant analysis of humanitarian stakeholders’ needs for humanitarian standards, including recommendations
for form and content.
The Advisory Group will present final recommendations to the boards of the three organisations by April 2013.
The recommendations will meet the challenge of contributing to humanitarian standards that:
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Are clear and simple
Are widely understood
Are consistently applied
Contain core, common and immutable elements that must be adhered to by all respondents,
Can be tailored to the operational context
Result in a measurable improvement in humanitarian response
Following the completion of the consultation with stakeholders, an option appraisal will take place on organisational
structure informed by the consultation.
The process for developing a potential joint standard will follow a number of distinct phases:
Phase 1: Consultation with Stakeholders and analysis of the findings
Phase 2: Options developed for a joint standard, based on the analysis of the findings from the Consultation with
Stakeholders. Recommendations prepared by the Advisory Group for consideration by individual Boards.
Phase 3: Decision making on which option to adopt, by individual Boards and presented at the Humanitarian
Standards Forum
Phase 4: Drafting a joint standard
Phase 5: Launching a joint standard
Phases 1-3 will be undertaken by the Advisory Group and Phases 4 & 5 will take place beyond the remit of the
group.
2.2 Optimal Organisational Structure
Objective 2: Develop options for an optimal organisational structure based on the needs that have emerged from
the Stakeholder Consultation
Should the Consultation point to the need for organisational change involving the three initiatives, a study will be
commissioned with external consultancy support on organisational design/development, managed by the JSI
Coordinator. Pro-bono options would be actively sought.
3. METHODOLOGY
Once JSI Advisory Group members have been identified, a Chair person will be appointed by the JSI Steering
Group, from amongst the Independent members, to avoid any perception of partiality.
The JSI Coordinator will facilitate the JSI Advisory Group, i.e. ensure meetings take place and are effective,
minutes are circulated, agreed actions are taken..
Up to 4 full day meetings are proposed for the duration of the JSI Advisory Group, with around 10 days additional
work in-between. Where possible meetings will be face-to-face, but virtual working via Skype and conference calls
is anticipated.
As necessary the group will consult with other standards organizations, quality and accountability initiatives
(including the francophone initiatives such as URD/Quality Compass), draw in expertise and other stakeholders as
necessary, including the private sector, UN (e.g. IASC, Cluster system reps), networks (ICVA, InterAction, SCHR),
consult with staff, members of each initiative and the wider humanitarian community and be informed by relevant
learning, evaluations and research.
Quorum will be established by a minimum of 6 people attending any meeting, either in person or via remote
participation.
4. OUTPUTS
Discussions to date have considered a number of practical options such as; co-location, a single handbook, joint
planning etc. The Advisory Group will need to carefully consider these and any other reasonable ideas to meet the
overall objective of greater coherence leading to improved humanitarian action.
The JSI Advisory Group will report to the JSI Steering Group on a regular basis throughout the JSI process.
A comprehensive report will be developed by the Advisory Group which concisely captures: the Advisory Group
deliberations and findings, a range of considered options for a Joint Standard, a number of potential optimal
organisational structures and conclude with a clear recommendation for the preferred approach.
Initial findings and recommendations will be presented to the 3 respective Boards for sign off.
Final findings and recommendations will be presented to the Humanitarian Standards Forum.
5. COMPOSITION
A number of considerations are being taken into account in the composition of the JSI Advisory Group to ensure
objectivity, credibility, expertise and fair representation:
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A balance between ‘internal’ and ‘external’ experts to ensure the credibility of the Advisory Group to a wider
audience.
Diversity considerations, to ensure adequate representation from the global South, gender balance and large
federated agencies as well as national level organisations and partners, reflecting both humanitarian as well as
development constituencies.
Creative thinkers with strong experience of the sector as well as a thorough understanding of the respective
standards and organisations.
A limit on the number of people on the Advisory Group, to encourage focus, strong team dynamic and
effectiveness.
Two Board members will be appointed from each of the three initiatives with appropriate skills for the remit of the
Advisory group and ensuring they are not employees of the same organisation on the Advisory Group.
Independents, including a representative from the UN, a donor representative and two individuals who represent an
external perspective, with knowledge and expertise on the sector, wider thinking on quality & accountability,
change management and merger from the public or private sector.
The three current Directors of HAP, Sphere and People In Aid will be available to attend the meetings in an
advisory capacity if requested.
Individuals selected to be on the JSI Advisory Group will need to commit to attend all the meetings in order to take
up their places. Their involvement in the JSI Advisory Group will be as representatives of their wider constituencies.
The total number of people on the JSI Advisory Group will therefore be maximum 12 people as follows:
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Facilitator (JSI Coordinator) – see the separate JD for JSI Coordinator which includes the role of facilitating
the Advisory Group
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Board Members x 6 – each organisation will propose two suitable candidates to represent their Boards, (they
may or may not include the Chair of each initiative)
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Independent experts x 2, one of whom will be nominated and agreed upon by majority vote by the Steering
Group to Chair the WG
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UN Humanitarian Representative will participate as an ambassador to the UN system, and recognising the
central role that the UN agencies have played and continue to play in the establishment and use of the
standards
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Donor representative
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SCHR linkage person who links not the SCHR itself, but to the SCHR certification review
Advisory/called in as required
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Chair of the JSI Steering Group in an advisory capacity
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Directors of each Initiative x 3 in an advisory capacity
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Resource persons i.e. private sector Management Consultant.
6. COST
It is anticipated that a management consultancy firm would offer support through their Corporate Social
Responsibility programme for this piece of work. Suitable organisations are being approached and will be brought
into the Advisory Group by the Facilitator as and when required. Institutional donor funding is being sought for the
overall JSI as well as costs related to the JSI Advisory Group.