Partner Capacity Assessments for Humanitarian NGOs - Fit for purpose?

This study, which was commissioned by the IASC Humanitarian Financing? Task Team, is a mapping of a variety of partner capacity assessments (PCA) tools and methodologies currently applied by different funders, including multilaterals, bilaterals and INGOs1 in order to vet the suitability of prospective NGOs to receive and manage humanitarian funds in different contexts. The study is intended to contribute to policy discussions amongst funders and NGOs alike, leading to the establishment of recognized minimum good practices for partner capacity assessments applicable in different humanitarian contexts. Such good practices would be those which are able to strike a pragmatic balance between the need for due diligence, risk management and accountability and the transformative capacities of NGOs to make a long-term difference— especially national NGOs—in their own country settings.