Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1244/2014Show full title

Article 32 U.K. Certification mechanism for hosting organisations

1. Hosting organisations aspiring for certification shall provide an objective and truthful self-assessment in accordance with the requirements referred to in point 1 of Annex III, assessing their existing policies and practices against the requirements of the standards and procedures regarding candidate volunteers and EU Aid Volunteers set out in this Regulation and in the Commission Delegated Regulation to be adopted on the basis of Article 9(2) of Regulation (EU) No 375/2014.

2. In the self-assessment, the hosting organisation shall disclose any gaps and areas of need for improvement that may require capacity building in order to reach a full level of compliance.

3. The hosting organisation shall provide with the self-assessment three references in accordance with the requirements set out in point 1 of Annex III to provide comprehensive information on all requirements of the standards and procedures regarding candidate volunteers and EU Aid Volunteers. The references shall be from a minimum of two of the following groups of stakeholders:

(a) A certified sending or hosting organisation with which the applicant hosting organisation has already had, or envisages to set up, a partnership for participation in the EU Aid Volunteers initiative;

(b) A humanitarian aid partner of the Commission with a framework (partnership) agreement in force, with whom the applicant hosting organisation has successfully worked on a humanitarian aid project;

(c) A relevant international organisation or not-for-profit organisation or public law body of a civilian character with which the applicant hosting organisation has successfully worked on a humanitarian aid project;

(d) An accreditation or auditing organisation that has certified the applicant hosting organisation in areas relevant for the EU Aid Volunteers initiative, in which case the relevant accreditation or auditing documents should also be provided.

4. The completed self-assessment shall be signed by the person empowered to represent and legally bind the hosting organisation and sent, together with the references referred to in paragraph 3, to the Commission.

5. Based on the self-assessment and the references, the Commission shall assess the application and may take one of the following decisions:

(a) To award certification in cases where the applicant hosting organisation is assessed as fully compliant with the requirements of the standards and procedures;

(b) Not to award certification in cases where the applicant hosting organisation does not fully comply with the requirements of the standards and procedures.

6. Within six months of receipt of the application, the Commission shall inform the applicant hosting organisation about the outcome of the certification, specifying also opportunities for capacity building support, if needed, with a view to re-submitting an application. In case there are any identified needs to be met based on a strategy for capacity building to be provided by the applicant hosting organisation, the latter shall be eligible and have priority for capacity building support.