Defining and Managing Quality in a Global Organisation – The Balancing Act between Ensuring Minimum Standards and Enabling Local Adaptation”

SOS Children’s Villages is a global organisation consisting of over 130 member associations offering prevention and alternative care services in a wide range of different contexts. To ensure adherence to international frameworks and to have a frame for global monitoring and evaluation, the organisation has developed an internal quality policy that applies in different socioeconomic, political, legal and cultural contexts. While this globally shared understanding of quality is essential, it is at the same time crucial to leave sufficient space for the national or local layer to adapt the work to prevailing local realities. There can be a tension between the global requirements of the organisation and the flexibility that is needed locally to ensure high quality interventions in the best interests of children. This workshop will introduce SOS Children’s Villages response to this challenge including specific methods and tools applied. Participants will be invited to reflect on the topic and to share their experience.