Quality assurance

Multi-phase project management comprises detailed planning, support, monitoring and evaluation of all relief measures.

Needs assessment and project planning: Assessment of needs reported by local partners, followed by the planning and financing of support measures in Berlin.

Project approval and co-operation agreement: Support measures, with specific stipulations, are approved. A co-operation agreement is drawn up with the project partner organisation, specifying rights, duties and quality standards.

Project implementation and supervision: Regular progress reports submitted by partners. Review, appraisal and adjustments carried out by project officers in Berlin.

Evaluation and development: A final report analyses project implementation and outcomes. External experts regularly examine and evaluate projects.

Project monitoring: Project staff and the Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe controlling department constantly monitor the finance reports to ensure proper use of project funds and adherence to budget provisions.

External audits: Independent external auditors regularly assess projects, regional and project offices and partner organisations. As part of the annual audit, external German auditors conduct spotchecks on projects.

Public donors, including the German Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development and the European Union, also inspect the projects they (co-) finance.

We support our project partners and local staff through capacity building and training not only dealing with general issues relating to finance management and the financial administration of projects, but also exploring the guidelines of national and international donors. All aspects of this work are analysed, and the results published in auditor's reports.

In response to security risks, particularly in conflict regions, we provide a range of staff training. We specify rules of conduct and mandatory reporting procedures. In addition, HSS plans (Health, Safety and Security) are now in place in all offices. Security issues are the responsibility of one member of staff in each local office and a specialist based in our headquaters in Berlin.

In many countries, in which Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe operates, corruption, fraud and embezzlement are widespread. We do all we can to curtail the risk of corruption, embezzlement or misconduct, and comply with the following codes of conduct:

• the Diaconic Corporate Governance Code (DGK): this transfers the German corporate governance system to the diaconal context and incorporates standards and recommendations for good, responsible corporate governance;
• mandatory guidelines for the prevention of corruption: these apply to all employees (Code of Ethics and Anti-Corruption Guidelines);
• standards for project management and directives for the procurement and awarding of contracts with regulations to prevent corruption at the earliest stages;
• the joint statement of Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe and Caritas international;
• the code of conduct of the global network ACT Alliance compliance is a key element of the employment contract for staff posted overseas;
• the SCHR code of conduct; the ACT Alliance code of conduct for the prevention of the sexual abuse of dependents, abuse of power and corruption within humanitarian aid; the SPHERE Humanitarian Charter;
• Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe ‘Voluntary Commitment for More Transparency and Good Governance’, through which we are committed to compliance with specific principles and rules to ensure openness and transparency across all operational levels;
• the Evangelisches Werk für Diakonie und Entwicklung e. V. Child Protection Strategy and Conduct Guidelines as to how to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace.

Where irregularities occur and suspicions are raised, we respond immediately and consistently, with measures ranging from investigating cases of suspicion, conducting extraordinary audits, blocking payments or demanding repayment, as far as terminating contracts.