1 / 14

The ACFID Code Of Conduct

The ACFID Code Of Conduct. “Revisiting CSO Governance and Accountability in South East Asia post Busan ” Cambodia December 13 th /14 th 2011. Overview. What is the Code? Why is it important? How does it work? Why was it developed? What have we learned? What are the challenges?

nina-york
Télécharger la présentation

The ACFID Code Of Conduct

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The ACFID Code Of Conduct “Revisiting CSO Governance and Accountability in South East Asia post Busan” Cambodia December 13th/14th 2011

  2. Overview • What is the Code? • Why is it important? • How does it work? • Why was it developed? • What have we learned? • What are the challenges? • How might others learn from us?

  3. What is ACFID? • Australian Council for International Development • Australian peak body for overseas aid and development organisation • Lobbying and advocacy • Promoting ethical conduct and good practice • Peer support, learning and networking

  4. What is the Code? • We are a ‘certification’ Code of Conduct • 123 signatories • Have compliance mechanisms • Code of ‘good’ practice – not ‘best’ • Has Principles and Obligations in every area of organisational activity • Linked to one government funding program

  5. Why is the Code important? • Provides a good practice standard for the sector • Acts to manage reputational risk for sector • Increases stakeholder confidence and trust • Keeps external regulatory mechanisms at bay • Set by the sector for the sector • Contributes to development effectiveness • Addresses some of the critique facing aid organisations • Assists to position the sector for greater government funding

  6. Why was it developed? • Developed in 1997 due to scandal in the sector • Originally emphasised only donor accountability • Completely revised in 2009/10 • All areas updated • Included development effectiveness • Emphasised broader stakeholder accountability – partners and local people

  7. Who runs it? • ACFID • Administers via Code Management Team • Education, promotion, development of Code • Code Committee (4 independent, 6 elected members) • Membership • Monitors adherence to Code • Complaints • Assists development of Code

  8. What does it cover? • Preamble - Values • B. Program Principles (Effective aid and development, Partners, Human rights, Advocacy, Emergency management) • C. Public Engagement (Marketing and reporting, Annual report, Fundraising) • D. Organisation (Structure, Integrity and ethics, Governance, Finances, Staff and volunteers, Complaints handling) • E. Compliance with this Code (Compliance, Assessment, Code complaints handling process)

  9. How do we assist members to implement? • Implementation Guidance – explanatory text, examples, resources, website links • Training – webinar, face to fact • Staff available to assist – especially new signatories

  10. What are the compliance mechanisms? • application (sight documents) • annual self assessment(feedback provided on selected areas) • annual and financial reporting (accountant reviews) • promotional material check during appeals • Independent complaints handling process • Research shows the effectiveness of self - regulation is dependent on the existence and nature of the compliance system (OWT, 2010)

  11. What happens if organisations breach the Code? • CSA – remedial actions on high risk areas, detail. • Independent complaints handling process • Remedies negotiated • Appeals process • Signatory status can be cancelled

  12. What are the challenges? • Small staff of 3 FTE – ACFID staff 15 • Desk based assessment only – are they really doing it? • Development effectiveness – applys to partners • 53% of our signatories distribute less than $1million – compliance burden • Review of the Code – when? • Research – is it making a difference?

  13. What have we learned? • Code valued and “owned” by agencies • Code highly valued by government • Code is promoted by all of ACFID staff • Compliance mechanisms work • Agencies need support – policy templates etc • Base our training around Code requirements • ACFID is making Code the “flagship benefit” of membership

  14. What learning might be useful for others? • Have good governance for your Code – independence is vital! • If developing a code, involve your members to the max! • Have some sort of compliance – otherwise value minimised. • Try to link to government funding programs • Charge appropriately

More Related