Quality assurance in volunteering is primarily linked to the governance and operational practices of volunteering organisations. These practices must comply with both internal regulations - rooted in democratic principles – and external legal standards, as defined in  Law 45/2015 on Volunteering. 

This law outlines several key areas where quality is to be ensured:

• Volunteer rights and responsibilities: including the right to recognition, identification, and access to information.
• Training and support: Public administrations are required to support volunteer organisations in providing adequate training that aligns with the volunteer’s role and personal interests.
• Programmatic guarantees: Volunteering activities must be carried out within structured programmes that ensure the quality of services delivered to beneficiaries.

Sector-Specific Quality Tools

In addition to the legal framework, Spain has implemented various sector-specific tools to promote quality standards in volunteer management, especially within the Third Sector and international development:

• “Quality NGO” Standard (La Norma ONG Con Calidad) for social action NGOs: promoted by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration (Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones), this standard  aims to ensure that they meet transparency, governance, and accountability standards within Spain.
• Institute for NGO Quality (ICONG): this institute offers voluntary certification through the NGO Quality Standard, which is recognised by the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and Agenda 2030. It provides a formal framework for assessing performance and accountability in the Third Sector reinforcing the commitment to high standards within non-profit organisations.
• Humanitarian standards:
  • The Sphere Project (Proyecto Esfera) and Compas Qualité are internationally recognised tools for humanitarian action and are applied by Spanish organisations working in emergency or relief contexts.
  • The UNE 165011 Standard sets requirements for ethical management in non-profit organisations.
• NGDO Certification: Non-governmental organisations for development (NGDOs) undergo a specific qualification process designed by the Spain’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). This process assesses transparency, effectiveness, and ethical conduct

European-Level Quality Initiatives

At European level, Spain participates in efforts to promote common quality frameworks. For example, in  January 2023 Madrid hosted a meeting of delegations from six EU countries as part of the European Quality Standards in Validation of Apprenticeship through Volunteering project. The objective was to define and promote criteria for assessing the quality in verifying the learning outcomes of volunteers in Europe