Process for Candidacy, Licensing, Provisional Membership, and Ordination
Membership Criteria and application process …Membership Criteria and application process 1....
Transcript of Membership Criteria and application process …Membership Criteria and application process 1....
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MembershipCriteriaandapplicationprocess
1. Introduction
NEAR(NetworkforEmpoweredAidResponse)isamovementofcivilsocietyorganizationswith
aboldambition–toreshapethetop-downhumanitariananddevelopmentsystemtoonethatis locally driven and owned, and is built around equitable, dignified and accountablepartnerships.
Wewanttoincreasegenuineaccountabilitytodonors,thepublic,andaffectedcommunitiesbypromotinggreatertransparencyincommunity,localandnationalresponsestohumanitariananddevelopmentchallenges.Andwewantpeopletobeattheheartofeveryresponsesothatdonorsatoneendandaffectedcommunitiesattheothercanseethequantityandqualityofwhatisdeliveredandreceived.Weenvisionclosingthegapbetweenthetraditionalaidsystemandthecommunitiesitaimstoserve.
Localispowerful.Itislocalorganisationsthatareoftenfirstatthesceneofcrisisandwhoseeffectivenessand speediness in respondingoften saves liveswithin the first fewdaysofanemergency.Localorganisationsareoftentheoneswhoareentrepreneursandinnovatorsinfindingsolutionstochallengesthattheyintimatelyunderstand.Wewanttobuildonthisandshapeasystemwherelocalcommunitiesareempoweredagentsofchangewiththecapacitytoaddressthechallengesthatimpacttheirowncommunities.
2. History
TheneedforNEARhasbeenlongoverduebutwasfirstaffirmedwhenAdesocommissionedastudyin2014todevelopamoresystemicunderstandingofthecurrentdemand,feasibilityandscopeofsuchanetwork.Thereportfindingsrevealedpositiveandwidespreadsupportforthecreationofthisnetwork.Aside-eventattheGlobalForumforImprovingHumanitarianActionheldinNewYorkinJune2015, over 20 leading organisationsworkingwith local communities officially endorsed thenetwork,reaffirmingtheneedforastrongerlocalvoiceinthehumanitariananddevelopmentsystem.Sinceon-goingconsultationswithlocalandnationalorganisationsinAfrica,Asia,MiddleEastandLatinAmericaprovidefurtherevidenceforthenetworkaswellasarepositoryofvoicesfromthecommunitiesinwhichtheyserve.ItisthesevoicesandissuesthatreaffirmthevitalneedforNEARandareshapingthenetwork’sstrategyandframework.
3. Ourvision
A world where local communities have the capacity, resources and agency to address thedevelopmentandhumanitarianchallengesthatimpactthem.
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4. OurmissionTowork towards restructuring theglobal response tohuman,economicandenvironmentalchallenges so that actions to address these are locally driven and owned, and promoteequitable,dignifiedandaccountablepartnerships.
5. Ourcorevalues5.1 Humanitybeyondidentity: Webring“humanitybacktohumanitarianism”byfocusingsolely
onthepeopleandmakingsurethathumanitariananddevelopmentresponsesgodirectlytothepeopleinneed;
5.2 Inclusiveness: Werecognisethepowerfulroleplayedbylocalcommunitiesintimesofcrisisandindevelopment.Wewanttoensurethatthemutedvoicesareheard,resourcesareshared,andpartnershipsareequitableanddignified;
5.3 Dignity: We believe local people can and should shape humanitarian and developmentresponseswiththeirownideas,values,lifestyles,preferences,needsabilitiesanddesires;
5.4 Credibilityandmutualaccountability:Wearedeterminedtoincreasegenuineaccountabilityto donors, the public and affected communities by making the delivery of local andinternationalhumanitariananddevelopmentresponsesmoretransparent;
5.5 Independence: While we depend on the support of our partners and donors, we areindependentofoutsideinfluences.Ourleadinglightisthevisionandmissionofthisnetwork.
6 DefinitionofNEARMemberorganisations
NEAR defines itsmember organisations as “local non-profit organizations”. These are civilsocietyorganisationsorcitizens’groupswhoarelocallyrooted,founded,andheadquarteredin a country that is not amember of the OECD-DAC (except for Chile, Korea,Mexico andTurkey); carrying out operations at the national, sub-national or community level and notaffiliatedtoanyinternationalNGO1.
7 GeneralCriteria7.1 Theorganizationmustbeanon-profitorganization;7.2 Mustbelocallyrootedinthecommunityandhaveaproventrackrecordofexcellentworking
relationswithorwithinthecommunity;7.3 The organization shall have a governance structure, constitution/statutewritten down in a
publiclyavailabledocumenttoguideitsoperationandberegisteredorrecognisedinitscountryoforigin;
7.4 WillingnessandabilitytocontributetotheworkoftheNetwork;7.5 TheorganizationmustagreetoabidebytherulesandproceduresoftheNetwork;7.6 Theorganizationmustagreetofollowtheobligationsofmembershipincludingcontributingto
the development and implementationofNEARpolicies andprogrammes aswell as sharingexpertiseandexperiencewithothermembersofthenetwork;
7.7 Not affiliated to terrorist organisation or involved in terrorist financing as dictated byInternationalConventionfortheSuppressionoftheFinancingofTerrorism(1999) (the“1999FinancingofTerrorismConvention”)ormoneylaunderingoranyothercriminalactivitiesunderinternationalornationallaw;
1 International NGOs are those based in an OECD-DAC member country and carrying out operations in one or more developing countries. Cited from Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) Report 2015.
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7.8 Local and national organizations with special mandates on vulnerable/risk groups (such asgenderequality,womenandhumanrights,supportingpeoplewithdisabilities)areencouragedtojoin.
8. Typesofmembership
NEAR is an inclusive network, which leaves no one behind. Taking into consideration thediversityamonglocalandnationalactorsandthedifferentcontextsinwhichcivilsocietyactorsoperatethefollowingfour(4)categoriesofmembershipapply;
8.1 FullMembership:anyorganizationwhichmeetstheNEARdefinitionoflocalorganization-civil
societyorganisationsorcitizens’groupswhoarelocallyrooted,founded,andheadquarteredinacountrythatisnotamemberoftheOECD-DAC(exceptforChile,Korea,MexicoandTurkey);carryingoutoperationsatnational,sub-nationalorcommunitylevelandNOTaffiliatedtoanyinternationalNGOandhaveaprovenrecordofexcellentworkingrelationswithorwithinthecommunity;whilemeetingthefulldiligenceprocess;
8.2 Observer Membership: open to any organisation meeting the NEAR definition of local
organizationBUTisunabletomeetthefullmembershipduediligenceprocess.TheorganizationmayapplyforFullMembershippriortoNEARbi-annualGeneralAssemblyforapproval;2
8.3 AssociateMembership:isopentoDiasporaorganizations,whodonotfullymeetthedefinition
ofNEAR local organization, are rooted in their communitiesoforiginBUTare foundedandheadquarteredinanOECD-DACmembercountry;
8.4 SignatoryMembership:anyorganization,network,andmovementofchangewhichdoesnot
fittheNEARdefinitionofa“localorganization”:whosupportthemissionandvisionofNEAR;publiclydemonstrateitscommitmenttothenetwork;maintainsaclosecontactwithNEARandsupportsthenetwork'sactivitiesatthelocal,regionalandinternationallevel.
9. Fullmembereligibility9.1 AnyorganizationwhichfullymeetsNEARdefinitionofNEARlocalorganization;committedto
changing the humanitarian/development aid architecture that NEAR is advocating; andcommittedtothemission,visionandvaluesofthenetwork;
9.2 Haveatleasttwoyearsproventrackrecordofoperationactivitiesinthehumanitarianandordevelopmentsector;
9.3 Mustprovideauditedfinancialstatementsfor2consecutiveyears;9.4 Mustmeettherequirementsforfinancialaccountabilityunderthelawinthecountrywhereit
hasitsheadquarters;9.5 Is actively working towards improving accountability practices towards people and
communitiesaffectedbydisaster,conflictandpoverty;9.6 Willingtopaymembershipfees.
2NEARthroughitsorganizationaldevelopmentstrategyprovidessupporttowillingmembersviaworkshops,onlinetrainings,andpeer-topeernetworkinginclusiveofagraduationstructurebasedontheadaptedharmonizedduediligenceprocess.AnysupportcanberequesttoNEAR
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10. Entitlementsoffullmembers: InadditiontothebenefitsreceivedbyallNEARmembers,fullmembers:
• havefullvotingrightsandarevestedwiththecollectivepowertopromulgaterules,policiesandobjectives;
• NominateandelectothersandbenominatedtotheLC;• EntitledtoattendtheGeneralAssembly;• ParticipateinNEARactivitiesandhelpdriveadvocacyprioritiesandpoliciesthrough
participationinthenetworksworkinggroupsandvariouslocal,regionalandinternationaladvocacyfora;
• AccesstoallthesupportandresourcesthatNEARprovides, includingitsonlinelearningplatform,reportsandnewsletter;
• EntitledtouseoftheNEARdesignation-“Member”andNEARlogo,toenhancetheirprofileinthehumanitariananddevelopmentsector.
11. ObserverMembereligibility11.1 Anylocalnotforprofit(CBOandCSO)whichdoesnotmeettheduediligenceprocessforNEAR
fullmembership.311.2 Willingtopaymembershipfees.12 Entitlementofobservermembers
• EntitledtoattendandparticipateatNEARGeneralAssembly;4• AbletoparticipateinNEARcommitteesandworkinggroups;• Entitledtoparticipateinallnetwork'sactivities;• AccesstoallthesupportandresourcesthatNEARprovides, includingitsonlinelearning
platform,reportsandnewsletter;• EntitledtouseoftheNEARdesignation-“Member”andNEARlogo,toenhancetheirprofile
inthehumanitariananddevelopmentsector.13 AssociateMembereligibility13.1 Anydiasporaorganizationwhosupportthemission,visionandvaluesofNEAR.14 Entitlementofassociatemembership
• Canparticipateincommitteesandworkinggroups;• Canparticipateinnetwork’sactivities;• AccesstoallthesupportandresourcesthatNEARprovides, includingitsonlinelearning
platform,reportsandnewsletter;• EntitledtousetheNEARdesignation-“Member”andNEARlogo,toenhancetheirprofile
inthehumanitariananddevelopmentsector.15. SignatoryMember15.1 AnyorganizationwhichdoesnotmeettheaboveNEARcategoriesBUTsubscribestotheNEAR
missionandvisionqualifies.
3Butwouldliketotakeapathwaytofullmembershipthroughcoachingandmentoring;4Butlacktheabilitytovoteorproposeresolutions.
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15.2. A commitment from the very top of the organisation and submission of the organization’sprofiletothenetworkisarequirement.
16. EntitlementofSignatorymembership
• AccesstoallthesupportandresourcesthatNEARprovides, includingitsonlinelearningplatform,reportsandnewsletter.
17 MembershipFees17.1 Payment of membership fee is considered a gesture of commitment and may contribute
significantlytothesustainabilityofthenetwork.17.2 Anannualmembershipfeebasedondifferentmembershipcategorieswillbebasedonannual
incomeofpotentialmembers.518 ApplicationProcess
AmembershipapplicationformshouldbecompletedandsenttotheNEARSecretariatalongwiththefollowingdocuments:
18.1 Statutes/constitution/StatutesofIncorporation/ArticlesofAssociationorsimilardocument;18.2 StaffCodeofConductthatincludestheprohibitionofsexualexploitationandabusebystaff
includingpermanentandtemporarystaff,volunteers,andconsultants;18.3 Proofofnon-governmentalandnon-profit legalstatusorproofof least2 to3yearsproven
trackrecordofoperationactivitiesinthehumanitarian/developmentsector(forfullmemberapplicationsonly);
18.4 Twomostrecentannualreportsandauditedfinancialstatements,includingsourcesofincomeandcurrentdonors;
18.5 NamesofBoardofDirectors,Trusteesorequivalent;18.6 Confirmation,viatheapplicationprocess,thattheorganisationorentitycommitstotheNEAR
vision,missionandvalues;18.7 Atleasttwo(2)references,oneofwhichisfromanexistingNEARmember,regional/country-
basednetworks,donors,partners,NGO/Not-For-ProfitCoordinationBodyetc.,andtheothershouldbefromthecommunityserved.
19 Approvalprocess19.1 Secretariat
Ø Secretariat reviews the application against the eligibility criteria and verifies that alldocumentsaresubmitted,includingreferencesbytheapplicant;
Ø Thesecretariatmayrequestadditionalinformationfromapplicant;19.2 TheLeadershipCouncil
Ø ThesecretariatwillprovidefullinformationwithrecommendationandjustificationtotheLeadershipCouncilforapprovalofthemember’sapplication;
Ø TheLeadershipCouncilwilldeliberateandprovidethedecisionforapprovalornottothesecretariat.
Ø TheLeadershipCouncilwillreviewandapproveapplicationsquarterly.
5Membershipfeesamounts,andcommencementwillbedeterminedatthefirstGeneralAssembly
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19.3 Theapplicant
Ø The organisation applying for membership will get a response within threemonths ofapplyingformembershipunlessthereareissuesraisedbythemembersortheLC;
Ø Once the membership has been approved by the LC the secretariat will inform theapplicantandsendmemberpackageandwillrequestmembershipfeepayment;
Ø Onreceiptofthemembershipfeetheorganisationwillbecomeamember;Ø Theorganisationwillprovidetheir logotobeusedatthediscretionofNEARforvarious
communicationmaterials.20. MembershipRenewal
Themembershipwillberenewedonannualbasisonreceiptofthemembershipfee.621 Suspensionofmembership
ThemembershipofNEARwillbesuspendedif:21.1 Organisationisinviolationofmembershipcriteriaorrulesandregulations;21.2 Failuretopaymembershipfee;21.3 Theorganisationwillbegiventhechancetojustifyand/orrectifythemistakeandwillbeasked
toprovidejustification;21.4 Theleadershipcouncilwilltakethedecisionafterreviewingtheevidence.22. RighttoAppeal22.1 Incaseofrejectionordeferredapplicationtheapplyingorganisationhasarighttoappealthe
decisiononcewithjustificationtotheLC;22.2 Anappealscommitteewillexaminethefactsandwillprovidearesponsewithassistancefrom
thesecretariat.Theirresponseisfinal.
6AppliestoFULLandOBSERVERmembersonly
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JOINUS–ClosingtheGap! NEARwelcomesapplicationsformembershipfromlocalandnationalNon-GovernmentalOrganizations(NGOs)worldwide,includingcoalitions,networksandindividualorganisations.Byjoiningournetwork,youwillhavetheopportunitytobepartofaglobalmovementoflocalorganizationswithaboldambition–toreshapethetop-downhumanitariananddevelopmentsystemtoonethat’slocallydrivenandowned,builtaroundequitable,dignifiedandaccountablepartnerships.Togetherourcombinedknowledgeandexperiencewillhavearealimpactonclosingthegapbetweentheaidsystemandthecommunitiesitaimstoserve.MEMBERSHIPCOMMITMENTAsamemberofNEARyouarecommittedto:
• SupportingthemissionandvisionofNEARnetwork,• Sharingrelevantinformationrelatedtohumanitariananddevelopmentissueswiththenetwork,• Contributingtoouractivities,• ParticipatingintheGeneralAssemblywherepossible,• PromotingtheactivitiesofNEARinyourcountryandwithyourpartners,• ContributingtoNEAR’ssustainabilitybypayingannualmembershipfees.
HOWTOBECOMEAMEMBERPlease complete the Application Form here along with the relevant supporting documentation listed in theApplicationChecklist.Ifyoucannotuploadthedocumentsonline,[email protected]:orbypostto: MembershipCoordinator
NEAR P.OBOX70331-00400
NairobiKenya
ApplicationChecklist NotesApplicationDetailsForm–completedandsigned Y/NStatutes,constitution,StatutesorArticlesofIncorporation,ArticlesofAssociationorsimilardocument
Y/N
StaffCodeofConduct Y/NProofofNGOlegalstatusORactivitiyreportofatleast2to3yearsofoperationactivitiesinthehumanitarian/developmentsector
Y/N
2mostrecentannualreportsandauditedfinancialstatements,includingsourcesofincomeandcurrentdonors
Y/N
NamesofBoardofDirectors,Trusteesorequivalent Y/NConfirmation,viatheapplicationprocess,thattheorganisationorentitycommitstotheNEARvision,missionandvalues
Y/N
Tworeferences,oneofwhichisfromanexistingNEARmember Y/NNote:ApplicationforFullmembership.Pleasemakesureyouhaveuploaded/emailedorpostedallthedocumentslistedinthechecklist.Foranyqueriesonmembership,[email protected]