CAF Database

FIRST PART: PUBLIC ACCESS

Everyone who is interested can consult the CAF database and the Good Practices that have been uploaded here. With the database, we are committed to reaching our target of 2010 registered CAF users by 2010.

The use of CAF in Europe

Results

The CAF database contains information such as good practices, allowing other organisations interested in sharing experiences and international bench learning, to identify possible partner organisations. There are two levels of information and search facilities:

identification: the name of the organisation, the sector in which the organisation is working (e.g. local government, education, health), as well as the country.
details on good practices related to specific CAF sub criteria

You can start looking into it straight away by using the search formula provided below.

Search for CAF users

Search for Good Practices

SECOND PART: REGISTRATION

In order to offer the search function to those interested and to reach the target of 2010 CAF users by 2010, we offer here the possibility for CAF users to register their organisation in the European CAF network. Furthermore, we offer specific advantages to the individual CAF user, as mentioned below.

Registering on the CAF database and becoming part of the European CAF network is only possible if your organisation has already used the CAF or is planning to do so. If your organisation has done so, we invite you to register.

Why register?

You will become part of the CAF Community and keep abreast of relevant actions/ events;
Bench learning: you can participate in the exchange of experiences between CAF users all over Europe , learn from each other's strengths and help each other in implementing improvements. To that end, the website
1. allows you to upload your own good practices
2. provides information / search facilities on good practices;
You can benefit from the online management tool for self-assessment (e-Tool) put at your disposal to facilitate self-assessment with the CAF and the consensus process;
You allow the CAF RC to gain a realistic view of the use of the CAF in Europe and to reach our target of 2010 registered CAF users by 2010.

Steps and options

Registration Form: Register the basic details of your organisation and request access to the users' database (link to registration form)
After a check by the CAF RC, users will be given access and can enter details of their organisation.
Organisations applying the CAF can use the e-Tool to facilitate the consensus process.

Additionally they may, only if they wish so, enter their CAF scores.

You can describe/upload the good practices in your organisation
You can give feedback on the use of CAF in your organisation (benefits, difficulties, needs formulated)

A common European quality management instrument for the public sector

developed by the public sector.

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) is a result of the co-operation among the EU Ministers responsible for Public Administration. A pilot version was presented in May 2000 and revised versions were launched in 2002 and 2006. A CAF Resource Centre (CAF RC) was created at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) in Maastricht following the decision of the Directors General in charge of public service. It works in close cooperation with the network of CAF national correspondents.

The CAF is an easy-to-use, free tool to assist public-sector organisations across Europe in using quality management techniques to improve their performance. The CAF is a total quality management (TQM) tool which is inspired by the major Total Quality models in general, and by the Excellence Model of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) in particular. It is especially designed for public-sector organisations, taking into account their characteristics.

The model is based on the premise that excellent results in organisational performance, citizens/customers, people and society are achieved through leadership driving strategy and planning, people, partnerships, resources and processes. It looks at the organisation from different angles at the same time; a holistic approach to organisation performance analysis.

Structure

The CAF has four main purposes:

To introduce public administrations to the principles of TQM and gradually guide them, through the use and understanding of self-assessment, from the current “Plan-Do” sequence of activities to a full fledged “Plan-Do-Check-Act (PCDA)” cycle;
To facilitate the self-assessment of a public organisation in order to arrive at a diagnosis and improvement actions;
To act as a bridge across the various models used in quality management;
To facilitate bench learning between public-sector organisations.

Highly appreciated in the CAF implementation is the involvement of staff. CAF is a joint project for management and staff and very often CAF is the first occasion in which management and staff meet to discuss the state of affairs of the organisation and the options for the future in order to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

The use of CAF in Europe

Over the past 10 years, nearly 2000 public sector organisations all over Europe have used the model and the number of CAF Users is still growing.

In 2009, the CAF External Feedback has been created to further support organisations in using the CAF most effectively in their future quality management journey. This procedure carried out by peers and experts in TQM aims at providing external feedback on the introduction of total quality management with the help of CAF, not only relating to the self-assessment process, but also regarding the path organisations have chosen to attain excellence in the long run.

This website provides all the available information at European level. We invite you to discover it and to contact us if you need further information.

Quality Development in the Field of Justice Patrick Staes and Nick Thijs Published: 2008	CAF - Movie Caf Resource Centre Published: 2007
CAF - pour un service public de qualité Editors: Elisabeth Dearing, Patrick Staes, Thomas Prorok Published: 2006	CAF works - better service for the citizens by using CAF Editors: Elisabeth Dearing, Patrick Staes, Thomas Prorok Published: 2006
CAF - wirkt – mehr Service und Leistungsqualität für alle Editors: Elisabeth Dearing, Patrick Staes, Thomas Prorok Published: 2006	Quality Management Tools in CEE Candidate Countries: Current Practice, Needs and Expectations Christian Engel Published: 2003

Patrick Staes (BE) Seconded National Expert Fields of Specialisation: Public management; quality in the public sector; Common Assessment Framework (CAF); consulting services.	Nick Thijs (BE) Lecturer Fields of Specialisation: Public management reform; comparative public administration; public sector quality management; quality models and techniques (Common Assessment Framework – CAF); consultancy services.
Ann Stoffels (BE) Programme Organiser

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In fulfilling its core mission to provide relevant and high quality services to develop the capacities of public officials dealing with EU affairs, EIPA works along three lines: Learning & Development, Consultancy and Research.