NGO Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice (Commonwealth Foundation): Part II: Guidelines for Good Policy and Practice: 12. Guidelines for good policy and practice on the part of NGOs

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

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

Guideline 12: Funding policies

12/1 Partnership:

Funders' policies and actions should be underpinned by a policy and philosophy of partnership, both with those who supply their funds, and those NGOs to which they are made available.

12/2 Consultation:

Funders need to honour responsibilities and be accountable to their funding sources. In formulating their policies, they should, nevertheless, consult with relevant NGOs and NGO networks, with other funders, and where appropriate with governments about:

- overall funding policies, strategies and priorities;
- the social, legal and economic environments in which NGOs are operating;
- the needs of NGOs, their capacities, potential and limitations;
- criteria and practices for funding, including procedures, conditions, agreements and time-scales for the disbursement of funds;
- management, reporting, accountability and evaluation arrangements.

12/3 Research:

As well as consulting NGOs and others in the process of developing their policies, funders should also inform the development of such policies through undertaking appropriate research.

12/4 Communication:

Funders should be transparent by:

- communicating their mission, objectives, policies, activities, geographical scope, decision-making, fund- raising and grant-giving methods and procedures and criteria both to their sources of funds and to potential
NGO recipients;

- producing and disseminating reports on their income and expenditure;

- engaging in regular dialogue with NGOs.