All member organisations are obligated to maintain mutual standards and the national and international guidelines for quality assurance in emergency aid. These norms and agreements are acknowledged by the foreign ministry, the European Union and the United Nations.

The following standards are individually applicable.

* "Code of behaviour for the international movement of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent and nongovernmental relief organisations for catastrophe aid",
* "Twelve basic Rules of the German Catastrophe Aid Abroad" and the "Criteria for Personal Engagement for Humanitarian Aid" of the coordinating committee for humanitarian aid,
* "Sphere Project",
* the WHO "Guidelines for Drug Donations", among others,
* the FAKT "Guidelines for Device Donations", among others,
* the VENRO "Sustainability of Humanitarian Aid",
* the "NGDO Charter", Basic Principles of Development and Humanitarian Aid NGOs in the European Union.

Maintenance of these standards for all projects financed from donations sent to Germany's Relief Coalition is monitored by external controllers. One percent of the donations are made available for this purpose.

The Sphere Project:The Sphere Project was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.Sphere is based on two core beliefs:

* first, that all possible steps should be taken to alleviate human suffering arising out of calamity and conflict, and * second, that those affected by disaster have a right to life with dignity and therefore a right to assistance. Sphere is three things: a handbook, a broad process of collaboration and an expression of commitment to quality and accountability. The project has developed several tools, the key one being the handbook.