Innovative Collaboration for Development (ICfD), an e-Learning course on social media tools for development, jointly implemented by UNITAR and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has been awarded the 2011 international Open ECBCheck Standards.

The initial phase for obtaining the certificate consisted of an extensive self-assessment based on the catalogue of quality criteria provided by the certifying body. The self-assessment report was later positively evaluated through a dual peer-review mechanism, which concurred on the outstanding level of the course, awarding the quality certificate.

The Open ECBCheck is an accreditation and quality improvement scheme for e-Learning programs. It supports capacity building organizations to assess the quality of their e-Learning programs through a blended system of peer reviews and evaluations by e-Learning and Quality experts. The Open ECBCheck is a participatory quality initiative supported by over 30 international organizations involved in the delivery of capacity-building activities, including eight United Nations agencies.

Innovative Collaboration for Development is the second UNITAR course to receive the Open ECBCheck quality certificate. It fulfilled all requirements set by the quality label, such as clarity of content, use of blended methodologies, learner-centered design and collaborative environment.