SOKNO is a quality assurance system for organisations in Croatia . It is based on the pilot project and adaptation of the widely used system and guide PQASSO, developed by Charity Evaluation Services, UK .

Academy for Educational Development conducted initial research on quality systems, chose PQASSO as the system most appropriate for the Croatian context, organised and financed the whole pilot of adapting the British system into a Croatian context.

SOKNO is built on 12 quality areas with the purpose of improving the quality of services and internal management processes.

SOKNO implies permanent work on improving and monitoring of quality using the ways and dynamics best suited for each particular organisation. The process of ensuring quality is based on self-assessment of the organisation and common decision within the organisation regarding the best way of work, priorities and timeframe. The process begins with initial overall self-assessment by everybody participating in work and development of the organisation. Thereafter, priority areas are chosen, detailed self-assessment of the chosen areas is done and work on improving one or more areas can start. The process is similar for each next area.

The quality areas are:

• Area 1 Planning for quality
• Area 2 Governance
• Area 3 Management
• Area 4 User-centred services
• Area 5 Staff and volunteers
• Area 6 Training and development
• Area 7 Managing money
• Area 8 Managing resources
• Area 9 Managing activities
• Area 10 Networking and partnership
• Area 11 Monitoring and evaluation
• Area 12 Results

Centre for Peace, Nonviolence and Human Rights - Osijek is one of five organisations that have participated in the pilot project and adapted the system. You can contact us for information, purchasing the manual (200 kn), training and mentor support for introducing SOKNO to your organisation.