NGO Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice (Commonwealth Foundation): Part II: Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice: 15. Implementing the guidelines: A plan of action

NGO Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice (Commonwealth Foundation)

(introduction...)

Part I: NGOs: what they are and what they do

1. The rationale and purpose of this report

(introduction...)

1.1 The origins and scope of this report

1.2 An overview of the report

1.3 The purpose of this report

1.4 The importance of NGOs

1.5 The global dimension

1.6 The local dimension

1.7 NGOs, government and civil society

2. The historical context

(introduction...)

2.1 Care and welfare

2.2 Change and development

2.3 The historical evolution of NGO/government relationships

2.4 Welfare pluralism

2.5 The emergence of alternatives

2.6 New concerns

3. NGOs defined

(introduction...)

3.1 Diverse current ways of defining NGOs

3.2 Defining ''NGO'' for the purposes of this report.

3.3 Is ''NGO'' the right term?

4. NGO activities described

(introduction...)

4.1 The spectrum of NGO activities

4.2 Who and what

4.3 How

4.4 The diversity of NGO activities

5. A typology of NGOs

(introduction...)

5.1 Why a typology is needed

5.2 Component 1: A descriptive typology

5.3 Organisational terms

5.4 Main forms of control

5.5 Location between government and civil society

5.6 Level of operation

5.7 Legal forms

5.8 Links with parent and subsidiary bodies

5.9 Links between NGOs

5.10 Component 2: An organisational typology

5.11 Organisations in civil society which engage in NGO-type activities

5.12 Fraudulent NGOs

6. The governance and operation of NGOs

(introduction...)

6.1 The accountability of NGOs

6.2 Improving NGO governance and operations

6.3 Management

6.4 Human resource development (HRD) and training

6.5 Reviewing, monitoring and evaluating

6.6 Information

6.7 Networking and alliance-building

7. The legal and institutional frameworks within which NGOs operate

(introduction...)

7.1 Freedom to associate

7.2 The political dimension

7.3 The law

7.4 Regulation

7.5 Collective, external and self-regulation

8. The framework of relationships within which NGOs operate

(introduction...)

8.1 A complex pattern of relationships

8.2 Relationships with government: key issues

8.3 Relationships with government: ways forward

8.4 Relationships with funders: key issues

8.5 Relationships with funders: ways forward

8.6 Other strategies to strengthen relationships

9. The international dimension

(introduction...)

9.1 Forms of international linkage

9.2 Funding links

9.3 Operational links

9.4 Partnerships

10. Conclusion and introduction to the guidelines

Part II: Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice

11. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of Governments

12. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of NGOs

13. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of funders

14. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of ''North'' and international agencies

15. Implementing the guidelines: A plan of action

Part III: References

Annex 1: The process of research and consultation

Annex 2: List of those submitting information, consulted, or responding

Annexes

Annex 1: The process of research and consultation

Annex 2: List of those submitting information, consulted or responding

15. Implementing the guidelines: A plan of action

Guideline 15: Fund-raising

15/1 Standards:

Organisations raising funds from the general public should ensure that the messages they convey accurately describe:

- the work and purposes of the recipient organisations;
- the nature of the problem or need being addressed;
- the contributions made by others, including the people themselves.

In particular, fund-raising practices should avoid:

- the use of messages and images that might be construed as racist, elitist, sexist or paternalistic;
- projecting messages and images of dependency and helplessness or backwardness.

15/2 Monitoring:

Through collaborative arrangements, funders and/or NGO network/umbrella organisations and/or recipient organisations should monitor and review the practices of fund-raising organisations to ensure that agreed fund-raising standards are maintained.

15/3 Organisations established by funders:

While funders (including private sector organisations) may from time to time establish organisations for particular purposes, having similarities with NGOs as defined in Guideline 1, neither funders not the organisations themselves should present such organisations as true NGOs. Funders should, before establishing such organisations or taking over existing NGOs to fulfil the desired purposes, consider, in consultation with relevant NGOs, if existing NGOs could carry out the desired functions or if the organisations could be established and operated as independent bodies fulfilling all the defining characteristics of true NGOs.

Guideline 16: Operational Policies

16/1 Partnership:

The policies and operations of northern NGOs and international agencies operating in countries other than their own should be underpinned by a policy and practice of partnership with organisations in the country of operation, and especially with relevant NGOs, based on mutual trust and respect.

16/2 Consultation:

In formulating their policies, they should consult with relevant NGOs and NGO networks and with other relevant agencies in the country of operation, about:

- overall policies, strategies;
- operational and management practices;
- the potential and limitations of working with local NGOs;
- actual or proposed agreements with other bodies, including governments.

16/3 Research:

As well as consulting NGOs and others in the process of developing their policies, they should also inform the development of such policies through undertaking appropriate research, including taking account of local research and the prior experience of local NGOs in the country concerned.

16/4 Communication:

They should be transparent by communicating their mission, objectives, policies, operational practices, methods, and activities, and management and decision-making procedures to all relevant parties, including NGOs and NGO networks in the country concerned.

Guideline 17: Conduct

In carrying out their operations and in communicating information about their work, North and international agencies operating in countries other than their own should:

- respect the laws of the countries in which they operate;
- respect the cultures and traditions of the peoples and communities in which they operate;
- at all times act to foster and promote the capacities and abilities of local NGOs, including by participating in relevant NGO umbrellas and networks, and avoiding actions which might cause rivalry or competition with or among local NGOs;
- avoid acting in paternalistic, sexist, racist or elitist ways.