About the International Association of Facilitators
IAF is a registered as a non-profit corporation in the State of Minnesota in the United States and has a volunteer board of directors – their passion and commitment help drive our success forward.
IAF has members in more than 65 countries. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in facilitation and how it helps people collaborate more effectively.
Our members include:
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Practitioners who are new to facilitation as well as those with years of experience
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Professionals from government, business, non-profit, education, community, and international development
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In-house practitioners and independent consultants
Our story
IAF was founded in 1994 to provide a home for a growing profession. What began as a small group of practitioners has grown into a global network that connects facilitators across regions, cultures, and sectors. For three decades we have championed the power of facilitation and helped shape its standards and practices.
Our mission & vision
We envision a world where professional facilitation helps groups, organisations, and communities tackle their challenges. Our mission is to grow the community of practice for everyone who facilitates and to promote the value of facilitation worldwide.
Our standards
IAF is committed to upholding the professionalism and integrity of facilitation worldwide. Our work is guided by two key frameworks:
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IAF Core Competencies: defining the skills, knowledge, and behaviours that characterise effective facilitation.
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IAF Statement of Values and Code of Ethics: (see below.)
Our Statement of Values and Code of Ethics
The IAF Statement of Values and Code of Ethics and the IAF Core Competencies are foundational tools that emerged from our commitment to effective and powerful facilitation.
IAF adopted its Statement of Values and Code of Ethics in June 2004, after extensive consultation and discussion with our members worldwide.
IAF drew on the significant experience and expertise of its members to discuss and distil the key attributes of credible and effective facilitation. The outcomes of these global discussions were the IAF’s Statement of Values & Code of Ethics and the IAF Core Competencies framework.
The IAF Core Competencies
The IAF Core Competencies describe the skills and behaviours that define effective facilitation, including how facilitators:
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Create collaborative client relationships
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Plan appropriate group processes
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Create and sustain a participatory environment
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Guide the group toward useful outcomes
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Build and maintain professional knowledge
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Model a positive professional attitude
These competencies are the global benchmark for our profession.
A letter from our executive director:
For over 30 years, IAF has promoted facilitation worldwide, fueled by the passion of our members in over 70 countries.
I was honoured to join IAF as Executive Director in 2024 and have been an IAF Certified™ Professional Facilitator since 2015. I’ve seen how facilitation drives meaningful change.
Whether you’re experienced or new to facilitation, IAF provides resources and opportunities to help you grow your career. Our certification programs uphold the highest standards in the profession.
I look forward to continuing to grow the IAF and facilitation’s positive impact globally.
Warm regards,
Kathrina