European Solidarity Corps Quality Label

In order to keep taking part to volunteering projects as partners in the European Solidarity Corps, South-Med organisations must hold a valid Quality Label or a valid accreditation at  the start of the project.

• If your organisation has an accreditation:

Your accreditation has already been or will be extended till the 31st of December 2021, unless SALTO EuroMed has a contrary opinion. After that, you will need to apply for a Quality Label.

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On the 10th of August 2018, the European Commission launched a new programme called European Solidarity Corps (ESC). The volunteering part of this programme replaces volunteering projects within KA1 of Erasmus+ Programme & the Quality Label replaces Erasmus+ accreditations.

1. WHY your organisation needs the Quality Label?

Any organisation from the South-Mediterranean region (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria & Tunisia) wishing to be involved into ESC Volunteering Projects as supporting or hosting organisation must receive the Quality Label.

Organisations holding a valid Erasmus+ accreditation, must apply to a Quality Label in order to take part to volunteering projects in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps.

Quality Label allows access to ESC Volunteering and ensures common quality standards. It does not automatically lead to a project grant though.

2. WHEN to apply?

Interested organisations can apply for Quality Label at any time. Ideally, accreditation will be carried out within 2-3 months after receipt of formally eligible Quality Label Application but this period can be longer.

PLEASE NOTE: Every year the European Commission publishes a new application form. If you complete your application, but do not send it by the end of December, it will not be possible to submit it in January the year after.

3. By WHO?

The process of awarding Quality Label in the EuroMed region is carried out by SALTO EuroMed.

4. HOW to apply?

1) Create an account in the EU Login System. If you already have the account in the EU Login you can go to the second step.

2) Register in the Organisation Registration System (ORS). Once the registration is completed, the organisation will obtain an Organisation ID number (OID). If you need help, please visit the ORS Guide. In case of serious problems with the system, please contact SALTO EuroMed.

3) Upload in ORS portal the following documents (with scans of original documents with signatures):

• The Legal Entity form in English. This form can be downloaded from the European Commission’s website. (hint: if your organisation is an association or foundation run as NGO then choose "private company", if your organisation is managed by government or authorities then choose "public entity").
• A certificate of registration (or its equivalent) clearly indicating the name of the organisation, the address of the head office, its registration number and a legal representative
• A VAT Extract if applicable

This official documents should have been issued recently and in any case no more than 6 months ago.

When you submit your application for Quality Label the above-mentioned documents will be verified by SALTO EuroMed.

4) Complete the Quality Label Application Form that you can find on the platform

The form is called ESC50 and can be filled in for two roles: Supporting and / or hosting.

• The application should be filled in English language or in French.
• Answer all the questions clearly and meaningfully. Remember the Award Criteria listed in the Programme Guide and in the section WHAT  to prepare below.
• Do not forget to attach to the application: the declaration of honour
• In case you are applying for a hosting: describe well the activities and attach a timetable.
• For hosting role: List ALL the Locations* you are going to host volunteers in [*Location is a venue that belongs to your institution and has no separate legal entity; the venue of a work camp is also a location]

5) Submit the Quality Label Application Form to Agence du Service Civique (FR02)

5. HOW does it go?

        1. Formal eligibility check

First the application will be assessed against the formal criteria. If the application form does not met the criteria, the organisation will receive an e-mail with description of ineligible/missing documents or elements of the Application.

 2. Quality Assessment

Assessors, appointed by SALTO EuroMed to proceed with the Quality Label (external experts or SALTO/National Agency officer) will assess the documents.

SALTO EuroMed will then come back to the applicant to:

• ask more details (additional information, suggested improvements, clarifications…)
• plan an interview

There can be various exchanges at this stage.

A visit can be carried out on the spot to meet with the organisation and if it is not done at this stage, a Monitoring visit of the Quality Label is also possible during the entire duration of the Quality Label.

  3. Final decision

When the assessors receive answers from the applicant, the information will be assessed and the applicant will receive official decision on granting Quality Label from SALTO EuroMed & the organisation will be listed on a database of Quality Label organisations and it will give the applicant access to the European Solidarity Corps Portal where they can advertise on volunteering activities.

6. WHAT to prepare?

If you are interested in obtaining a Quality Label, here are some information to check beforehand:

• Mission and principles of ESC
• European Solidarity Corps Programme Guide - parts related to volunteering projects:

1. General information about the ESC (the whole section)
2. Information about the Actions covered by this Guide (chapters called "Quality Label" and  "Volunteering")
3. Information about Quality and Support Measures (the whole section)
4. Information for applicants
5. Dissemination and exploitation of results.

• European Solidarity Corps Info Kit

HOW can a Quality Label end?

EXPIRATION

Quality Label expires with the end of European Solidarity Corps programme on 31 December 2027.

SUSPENTION AND WITHDRAWAL

In case the organisation does not comply with basic principles of the European Solidarity Corps volunteering and with other quality elements of volunteering projects, SALTO EuroMed will need to withdraw the Quality Label. In such a case only reaccreditation can allow an organisation to implement ESC volunteering projects again.