Code of Conduct for NGOs and CBOs Preamble Mandated to serve in the public interest, citizen organizations (NOs! have been active in a broad assortment o" "ields across the countr#, operating "or the $el"are and upli"t o" the marginalised groups and the attainment o" civil rights% &purred on b# voluntar# initiatives, these groups "unction regardless o" personal or parochial interests and see' to organise themselves on the basis o" a code o" conduct, regulating their relationships $ith each other, $ith the government, international development agencies as $ell as their o$n sta"" (volunteers and paid pro"essionals!% (t is $ithin such a mechanism o" sel")regulation that NOs intend to pursue their ob*ectives% a! +ith the aim o" establishing a *ust, responsible and emancipated societ#, $e see' to strengthen an enabling environment "or civil societ# institutions, public $el"are and citizen rights groups%
b! (t is our concerted vie$ that achieving a responsible, *ust and d#namic societ# calls "or a state s#stem that is responsible, democratic and sensitive to citizens, $el"are and development% -o ma'e such a s#stem a realit#, $e earnestl# $ish to engage in a meaning"ul and positive dialogue $ith the government at all levels% +e are eager to pave the $a# "or a genuine partnership bet$een NOs and state institutions based on mutual trust and respect and geared to$ards the common goal o" eradicating povert# and deprivations% c! (n line $ith our belie" that voluntar# citizen groups have vital roles to pla# in the development process, $e $ould li'e to see greater collaboration, in"ormation and resource sharing and unit# amongst these organisations% +e see' to promote transparenc# and accountabilit# $ithin the NO sector, encouraging mutual respect and understanding to put an end to narro$ di""erences and unhealth# competition% d! Our relationship $ith donor organisations should be built around our o$n priorities and ob*ectives% (t should be based on the principles o" e.ualit#, mutual respect, transparenc# and accountabilit#% October 25, 2014 Page 1 o" / Pakistan NGO Forum (ntroduction Not$ithstanding structural di""erences and divergence in activities, NOs operating in Pa'istan espouse common values% 0uest "or povert# alleviation, e.uit# and a positive change in public li"e is a uni"#ing strand that runs through their actions% +e believe that an organisation has to have an e""ective governing structure i" it is to produce good results% (t is all too important "or NOs to set up governing structures that are essentiall# based on accountabilit# and "oster democratic values% -o us, transparenc# is the essence o" our $or'% 1dditionall#, it is indispensable "or NOs to "rame a polic# o" "inancial administration% 2inancial resources should be organised in a $a# that "acilitates *usti"iable utilisation o" "unds% 1part "rom establishing accountabilit# at all levels, $e need a s#stem $hereb# $e can organise our resources in an e""ective and sustainable manner% uided b# the above mission, Pa'istan NOs 2orum believes in the "ollo$ing values3 4ommunit# 5evel &etting priorities in accordance $ith citizens, development and $el"are needs% Promoting participator# democrac# 6nsuring citizens, primac# in the development process at all levels% Promoting respect "or citizen rights, particularl# the rights o" $omen and children as enshrined in the countr#,s constitution% Ma'ing all possible e""orts "or e""ective in"ormation dissemination and service deliver# and meaning"ul development interventions% 2ostering greater collaboration and net$or'ing among organisations $or'ing to$ards common goals% Promoting the spirit o" initiative 1dopting methods that allo$ "or complete participation o" relevant people in all programmes underta'en 7evie$ing communit#)based development interventions and honing them in line $ith the needs o" the participating communities% 7ethin'ing organisational mission and ob*ectives on the basis o" citizens, needs and the demands thro$n up b# the changing times Organisational 5evel3 6nsuring accountabilit# and transparenc# 8aving clearl# de"ined mission and ob*ectives and living b# them (mplementing the governing s#stem vis)9)vis holding o" meetings and discharging o" responsibilities% 2raming policies that prevent direct or indirect con"lict o" interest bet$een the sta"" and the governing bod# members% :eeping the governing bod#, o""ice bearers and sta"" "rom ta'ing decisions that serve or might be perceived to serve their personal interests% 8aving the governing bod# structure in $ritten% Providing "or smooth lines o" communication bet$een the governing bod# and the sta"" ;isallo$ing board members to see' emplo#ment and "acilities in the organization< ma'ing mandator# "or them to resign "rom the board should the# be interested in the a"orementioned things% October 25, 2014 Page 2 o" / Ma'ing it obligator# on the governing structure to pass annual budgets, appointing an independent auditor and maintaining regular audit reports% 6nsuring that the governing structure has a good grasp o" organisational matters, that it puts together policies "or the organisation at all levels and accepts its governance responsibilities% Ma'ing sure that the organization members are ac.uainted $ith the programmes being underta'en as $ell as accounting and governing methods% 4riticall# revie$ing organisational culture and operational methods to promote a greater sense o" responsibilit#, innovativeness and respect "or diversit#% Putting in blac' and $hite all policies related to the organisational sta"" and volunteers and bring them in con"ormit# $ith relevant national legislation, 5abor 1ct etc to protect the rights o" all those associated $ith the organisation% -a'ing on appropriate procedures to ensure organisational discipline and e""ective settlement o" di""erences that ma# arise among those $or'ing "or the organisation% Providing "or transparent hiring and "iring rules and putting them in $riting 2ormulating policies "or pro"essional enhancement o" volunteers and sta""% ;evising e.uitable and impartial methods to assess sta"" capabilities e=perience education and sense o" responsibilit#% 1dopting policies that "acilitate higher levels o" communication and sharing o" ideas among those $or'ing "or the organisation at di""erent levels% Organizational and 2inancial 7esources 1dopting accredited accounting and auditing procedures including vouchers and veri"ication s#stem% Organising "inancial matters on proper lines 1ppointing trained people to loo' a"ter "inancial matters etting amounts e=ceeding 100,000 audited annuall# b# a chartered accountant 8aving an authorized o""icer and the e=ecutive bod# veri"# amounts less than 100,000 and 10,000 respectivel#% 1dopting a precise polic# guideline "or the emplo#ee loans and bene"its< putting the polic# in $ritten 2ormulating policies concerning e=ternal remuneration and bene"its to prevent dual receipt o" salaries etc% 1dopting cost)e""ective $a#s o" purchasing goods and hiring services and preventing such decisions to be in"luenced b# personal interest% -a'ing "irm and open action against the organization members "ound guilt# o" the"t or misappropriation% &ee'ing to harness diverse sources o" "unding rather than rel#ing on a single source% 4utting organisational costs do$n to the minimum possible level >tilising "unds "or the purposes the# have been obtained "or% ;ra"ting accounts in such a $a# that the# are accessible and intelligible to the members o" the organisation as $ell as communities% 2raming such principles at the organisational level that allo$ "or appropriate utilization o" organizational assets% 6nsuring proper supervision o" sta"" "unctioning and timing% 7evie$ing programme costs "rom time to time and allocating resources accordingl#% October 25, 2014 Page / o" /