Accréditation Sans Frontières (ASF) was declared at the Préfecture de Police de Paris on 18 June 2020 as a humanitarian, non-profit association under the French law of 1 July 1901 (RNA W751257030; source: Journal officiel des associations).
ASF was created to make independent accreditation of health facilities accessible in emerging economies, fragile states and humanitarian settings, where it is often most needed and least available. It develops accreditation standards and carries out assessments.
ASF later became PHIG’s alliance partner. Accreditation is delivered by ASF; PHIG supports facilities in Georgia. More at france-asf.fr.
Accréditation Sans Frontières was founded to address a structural gap in international accreditation: existing international accreditation bodies operate primarily in high-income countries and require substantial resources to engage with. Facilities in low- and middle-income settings — including the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe — have historically had limited access to internationally credible accreditation pathways.
ASF’s model is designed for accessibility without compromising rigour. Its standards — which now cover hospitals, ambulatory clinics, long-term care facilities, primary health care, and fitness and wellness — are built on international benchmarks including ISO 9001, JCI, and WHO patient safety frameworks, adapted for the resource context of the regions ASF serves.
The organisation is legally registered in Paris under French law as a non-profit association, with affiliated offices in Geneva and Tbilisi. Its accreditation standards are publicly available at france-asf.fr. PHIG serves as ASF’s technical partner for all work in Georgia and the South Caucasus.
Professor, David Tvildiani Medical University | Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia | Founder, Accréditation Sans Frontières
