What is IOA?

The International Ombuds Association (IOA) is the professional association committed to championing Organizational Ombuds worldwide. Our members help organizational stakeholders raise patterns and concerns, navigate conflict, and manage change to support highly effective and healthy organizations. IOA sets the standard for excellence by establishing Standards of Practice, a Code of Ethics, and certifying Organizational Ombuds Practitioners (CO-OP®).
We Champion Organizational Ombuds Worldwide through:
- Advocacy
- Standards of Practice
- Code of Ethics
- Training
- Certification
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We Advance the Profession of Organizational Ombuds with:
- Professional Development
- Technical Assistance
- Program Support
- Resources
- Mentoring
- Community
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Discover the World of Ombudsing
Unlike many professions, the journey to becoming an organizational ombuds, ombudsperson, or ombudsman does not follow a clearly identified path. The global ombuds community is filled with professionals who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Most of the ombuds in the IOA network have a diverse range of academic credentials and professional experiences. Review the information below to learn more about the process of becoming an ombuds.