regional forum on cso governance cso accountability: a global snapshot and push factors december 13,...
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REGIONAL FORUM ON CSO GOVERNANCE
CSO ACCOUNTABILITY: A GLOBAL SNAPSHOT AND PUSH FACTORS
December 13, 2011
Borithy LUNExecutive Director
Vision: A strong and capable civil society, cooperating and responsive to Cambodia’s development challenges
Host of the 2nd Global Assembly for CSO Development Effectiveness – Siem Reap 28-30 June 2011
MISSION
VISION
CCC Vision 2015
Goal 3: Influence DPs
Goal 4: High quality services
Goal 2: Enhance Effective Cooperation
Goal 1: Strengthen Collective Voice
Integrity
Cooperation
Responsiveness
Quality
Goal 5: Greatest impacts with a few resources
What is Good Governance?
Good governance means the effective management of resources in a manner that is open, transparent, accountable, equitable and responsive to people's needs
Orock Thomas Eyong Promoting Good Governance in the Management of NGO
April 2001
What is accountability?
The processes through which an organization makes a commitment to respond to and balance the needs of its stakeholders in its decision-making processes and activities, and delivers against this commitment
From the One World Trust GlobalAccountability Framework & Reports
Why be Accountable? Normative
Instrumental
Internal
External
Live up to Mission and Values
Ethical demand by staff and board of Governance
Preventive against scandals and negative publicity
Social contract and quality assurance
Fiduciary custodian of public resources /funds
Model the “talk” instead of walk the talk
Downwards as well as upwards
Consistently groomed for statutory obligation
How are NGOs responding to the accountability challenge?
Organizational and sector initiatives
Self-regulation as a preventative and protective tool
Civil society space and role in governance
Search for integrity and establishing ‘good’ performance as a sector
How are NGOs responding to theaccountability and governance
challenges?Initiatives Sector Level Organization Level
Certifications X XPeer reviews X XInformation services X XStandard Operations Procedures (SOP)
X
Reporting frameworks XConflict of Interests X XComplaint Mechanisms XTransparency Policies X XCode of ethics/conduct X XPartnership principles X X
What makes a “strong and effective” self-regulation initiative?
Quality design and structure of the initiative, in particular to the following aspects:
The authority of the scheme to grant and withdraw accreditation
The level of stringency of the system
The imposition of /adherence to high standards
Strong verification mechanisms
Key operational issues1. There is no one size fits all approach
2. Social, political and regulatory context
3. Detailed standards need to be balanced with wide participation
Key operational issues
3. Important to prevent self-regulation from becoming a tiresome tick box exercise rather than a tool for improving performance
4. Weak compliance mechanisms undermine overall mandate of scheme
5. Leadership/ownership in organizations and sector are essential for reform
CSO self-regulation: key political factors
Self-regulation is an accountable and responsible tool for improving performance and good governance NOT a tool to control.
The relationship of self-regulation with formal regulationat state level, and their complementariness needs to be better understood
Self regulation is a behavior change tool, it can aid organizations to be naturally transparent and accountable over time. Legal framework will legally punish organizations for poor governance.