Apply for the Quality Label for Humanitarian Volunteering
If you want to apply for a project in the 2025 Call for Proposals, apply for the Quality Label by 24 September.
On Monday 24 June, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) organised an information webinar for those interested in the Quality Label for Humanitarian Aid Volunteering within the framework of the European Solidarity Corps. Applications for the Quality Label can be submitted at any time of the year, but organisations wishing to apply for a project in the 2025 call must apply for the Quality Label on the FTOP portal by 24 September at the latest.
About Humanitarian Aid Volunteering projects
The projects are aimed at providing humanitarian aid in third countries where humanitarian aid operations are ongoing. However, there must not be an open conflict or other humanitarian disaster in the territory concerned, to ensure the safety and security of volunteers. The projects are aimed at young people aged between 18 and 35 who are interested in contributing to society through short- or long-term volunteering activities aimed at improving the living conditions of vulnerable people. Other objectives of these projects are to facilitate the transition from short-term humanitarian intervention to long-term and inclusive development, to strengthen the capacity and resilience of disaster-affected communities and to improve disaster preparedness and risk reduction. Individuals wishing to participate in specific humanitarian projects can apply through the European Youth Portal. Organisations wishing to implement Humanitarian Aid Volunteering projects must hold the Quality Label for Humanitarian Aid Volunteering.
What is the Quality Label?
The Quality Label is a necessity for all organisations implementing projects, i.e. both supporting (from the EU or associated countries) and hosting (in third countries not associated to the programme, where humanitarian operations are taking place without open conflict). It certifies that the organisation holding it adheres to the principles and objectives of humanitarian volunteering within the European Solidarity Corps, as well as the objectives and priorities of the specific call.
Organisations can apply for one of two types of Quality Label: support and host. Applications are submitted directly to EACEA via the FTOP portal. Unlike the Quality Label for other European Solidarity Corps activities (Volunteering Projects, Volunteering Teams in High Priority Areas), the same organisation cannot apply for a Quality Label for both types.
How to successfully apply for a Quality Label
A successful application for a Quality Label must reflect several key aspects. First of all, it must be in line with the principles and objectives of European humanitarian aid as defined by the European Solidarity Corps, i.e.: neutrality, humanity, independence and impartiality, as well as the 'do no harm' principle. Furthermore, the organisation's demonstrable capacity to effectively and efficiently facilitate volunteering in humanitarian operations is required. It is important to stress that the Quality Label does not automatically lead to project funding per se, but serves as a basic criterion without which a successful application cannot be submitted.
As mentioned above, there are two types of Quality Label. The first one is awarded to organisations with a so-called support role, which are organisations from EU countries or third countries associated to the programme. They are responsible for preparing participants before departure, facilitating communication between volunteers and host organisations, as well as providing support to participants after their return from volunteering. The support role also includes the authority to submit project applications and coordinate the consortium. The second type, the guest role, is awarded to organisations in third countries not associated to the programme and certifies that the organisation is able to provide facilities for volunteers, develop a programme and on-site support for humanitarian operations, including crisis assistance and an emergency plan.
If an organisation with a Quality Label for a support role has a branch in a third country not affiliated to the programme, it can apply for a simplified procedure for host organisations, i.e. apply for a host role on behalf of its branches. These branches must fulfil all the requirements for the award of the host role Quality Label and must share legal personality with the main organisation. This procedure is specifically designed to facilitate administration and to ensure quality standards and safety of activities across branches in different countries. In doing so, the applicant supporting organisation remains fully responsible for the quality and safety of the activities of its host affiliates.
Timetable and other technical matters
Applications for the Quality Label for Humanitarian Aid Volunteering can be submitted at any time during the programme period, but organisations wishing to apply for a project in the 2025 call must apply for the Quality Label no later than 24 September on the FTOP portal. The outcome will be communicated to the organisation no later than 23 March 2025, before the deadline for the Humanitarian Aid Volunteering project application.
The Quality Label is valid until the end of the programme period, i.e. 2027, and does not need to be renewed every year. An organisation that receives the Quality Label can apply for more than one Humanitarian Aid Volunteering project during this period. Organisations planning to participate in the future, for example in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, can apply for the quality label now and only in a few years' time apply for a specific project on Ukrainian territory.
The three main criteria for the award of the quality label are admissibility (complete and timely submission of an application via the FTOP portal of a maximum of 40 pages), eligibility (both geographical and legal) and award (a relevant application that demonstrates structural, coordination and management capacity and is in line with the priorities and objectives of the European Solidarity Corps). The basis for a successful application for the Quality Label is the previous experience of the organisation. Thus, an organisation applying for a supporting role must demonstrate that it has already implemented successful development projects in third countries. As the safety and security of the volunteer is an absolute priority, the organisation (especially the host organisation, but also the supporting organisation) must have good emergency procedures in place and describe them thoroughly in its application for the Quality Label.
The recording and presentation of the information webinar can be found on the EACEA website. For more information on Humanitarian Aid Volunteering projects, please visit the CZELO website and the European Solidarity Corps Programme Guide.