IPPF – a global federation
IPPF is a global federation of national Member Associations united by a shared vision, a common set of
core values, and a determination to improve people’s lives and advance human rights. Each Association
develops its own strategy to address the needs in its country and, given the diversity of the Federation,
these strategies inevitably look different in each country where IPPF is present.
Despite these differences in strategy and implementation, there are some essential principles that each
Member Association of IPPF is expected to uphold. These principles are set by IPPF’s highest governing
body, its Governing Council.
Starting point
Today it is more important than ever that a large organization aiming to improve individual lives and
to advance people’s rights can show how it upholds the values and principles it stands for. This is why
IPPF introduced an accreditation system in 2003, and also why this system was revised and improved
in 2009 and 2015.
IPPF’s commitment
In IPPF, we want our clients and partners to trust us. We also need to ensure that those donors and partners who provide support have continued confidence in us. We have therefore made a commitment in IPPF to uphold and work in line with 10 principles of membership. We believe these principles make us stronger, more effective and more able to respond to the needs of the people we serve. They make us accountable and they bond us together into a global movement.
What is accreditation?
At its simplest level, IPPF’s accreditation system is a formalized peer review that aims to ensure that all the Federation’s Member Associations meet and comply with 49 essential membership standards. By upholding these standards, each Member Association is able to demonstrate its commitment, as well as be able to show how it adheres to these commitments – these 10 principles of membership to IPPF. This is checked and verified through an accreditation review process which takes place every five years.
The process
The first stage in the process is a self-assessment. Each Association is asked to assess how well it meets the
membership standards by replying to a number of questions and providing documentary evidence. This assessment is analyzed by a review team consisting of staff from the IPPF Secretariat and a volunteer from another Member Association, first during a desk review and then during an on-site visit to the Association. This review will take into account documentary evidence as well as information from dialogue, discussions and meetings with Member Association volunteers and staff and external partners of the Association. Once this final assessment is completed, the review team will work with the Association to agree on areas in need of improvement. Together, they will also agree on ways to share the Association’s strong points with other IPPF Member Associations. This sharing of good practice makes the whole Federation a stronger organization.