The Recognition Practices Occupational Framework defines the emerging recognition professional practices — the people who design, facilitate, validate, connect, and celebrate recognition across organisations and communities.
It provides a shared reference for building the recognition function within organisations, just as human resources or quality assurance functions structure other forms of organisational practice.
The framework focuses on people and practice, complementing the AFNOR “Open Recognition” standard, which is centred on organisational systems. It describes the roles, competencies, ethics, and principles needed to make recognition open, participatory, and trustworthy.
Purpose
The RPOF helps organisations and practitioners:
- Move from isolated recognition initiatives to an embedded recognition culture.
- Clarify responsibilities and professional identities linked to recognition.
- Foster collaboration between educators, HR professionals, community leaders, and learners.
- Support training, certification, and peer development of recognition practitioners.
Key Roles
The framework identifies several interdependent roles, including:
- Recognition Facilitator – supports individuals and groups in articulating and evidencing their achievements and contributions.
- Recognition Designer – creates open recognition processes, tools, and pathways across contexts.
- Recognition Officer – coordinates recognition activities within an organisation and ensures quality, coherence, and transparency.
- Embedded Recognition Practitioner – operates within organisations or communities to validate and connect local recognitions with external ecosystems.
- Recognition Ecosystem Developer – builds bridges between recognition initiatives across sectors, territories, and technologies.
- and more…
Principles and Ethics
Recognition practices rest on shared values:
- Openness – everyone has the right and the power to recognise.
- Reciprocity – recognition is mutual and dialogical, not unilateral.
- Transparency – processes and criteria are visible and understandable.
- Equity – all forms of learning and contribution have equal dignity.
- Care – recognition strengthens trust, belonging, and social cohesion.
Implementation
Organisations can use the RPOF to:
- Map existing recognition practices and gaps.
- Define professional profiles and development pathways.
- Support capacity-building and peer learning.
- Connect with national and international recognition communities.
Get Involved
The Recognition Practices Occupational Framework is a living, evolving framework.
It grows through dialogue, reflection, and shared experience within the Open Recognition community.
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Together, we can build the foundations of a global ecosystem of recognition practitioners.