Guide
The due-diligence passport, explained for local partners
How the Charter for Change passport lets international NGOs share one assessment of a partner, and how to get ready for it.
The basics
What the passport is
By Richard Prouse · Updated
Local and national organisations are often assessed again and again by each international partner, with different forms asking similar questions. The Charter for Change (C4C) due-diligence passport is a practical way to share due-diligence results instead.
An international NGO that assesses a partner with the open C4C Due Diligence Passporting Tool can, with the partner’s consent or at its request, share the result with another INGO. The receiving INGO can accept it as it is, or follow up only on the areas it wants to examine more closely.
Seven C4C signatories developed the initiative. In 2024 they piloted the tool with 45 local and national NGOs in nine countries across Africa, Asia and Europe.
Before the assessment
Getting ready for your first passport assessment
- Gather your core documents by area: governance, finance and assets, human resources, safeguarding and security, data and IT.
- Check dates. Make sure statements, minutes and policies are recent, or note when they will be updated.
- Ask to see the result before you agree that it is shared, and keep your own copy.
- Agree who it may be shared with. Sharing happens with your consent.
Sources
- Charter for Change: Due diligence passporting, C4C initiative 2025 overview
- Humentum: Charter for Change Due Diligence Passporting Tool
Guidance changes. Always follow the current form and instructions from the organisation assessing you. Aidfolio is independent and not affiliated with the UN, Charter for Change or Humentum.
Common questions
What is a due-diligence passport?
A way for international NGOs to share one due-diligence assessment of a local or national partner, with the partner’s consent, instead of each running its own. It uses the open Charter for Change Due Diligence Passporting Tool.
Who completes the passport?
The international NGO that carries out the due diligence (the passporting organisation) completes the tool. You review the result, and it can then be shared with another INGO with your consent or at your request.
Does a receiving INGO have to accept it?
It can accept the assessment as it is, or do a limited follow-up on areas it wants to look at more closely, instead of a full new assessment.
Is the tool free?
Yes. Charter for Change describes the tool as open-source and available for use. It is available from Humentum in English, French and Spanish.
How can Aidfolio help?
Aidfolio’s free readiness check organises your answers by the passport’s capacity areas and gives you a spreadsheet your assessor can open, so the first assessment is quicker. Aidfolio is independent and not affiliated with Charter for Change or Humentum.