Updated Aug 27 Ngo Code Workshop Cw-1

7/30/2019 Updated Aug 27 Ngo Code Workshop Cw-1

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The Code of Good Practice for NGOsResponding to HIV/AIDS : Overview

August 27, 2012

Christina Wegs, MPH, MSWSenior Technical Advisor, Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health

CARE USA

USAID Pathways for Participation


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USAID Pathways for

Participation

OUR GOAL: Together, we aim to help createan empowered and effective civil society

that provides a

sustainable and significant impact

is

accountable to its constituencies

and

contributes to the national HIV/AIDS response.


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Development of the NGO Code of GoodPractice

2003-2004

Proliferation of NGOs and HIV/AIDS programs- concern aboutquality, accountability and fragmentation of NGO voice in theHIV response

Consultative Process led by Steering Committee: 16 NGOsincluding CARE, GNP+, Intl HIV/AIDS Alliance

160 original signatories- now 478

Built on experience of NGOs, human rights principles andpublic health principles; other Codes of Practice (e.g. 1994International Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct)


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Goal of the Code of Good Pracrtice forNGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS

To help create a united and accountableNGO response to HIV, dedicated to

continuous improvement, informed byevidence and the needs of affectedcommunities. (NGO Code, 2004)


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What is the Code?

A Shared Framework of Principles for good practice inour programming and advocacy. (NGO Code, 2004)

Working towards principles shapes HOWNGOs designand provide services, run their organizations, conduct

advocacy. and how they partner with and representPLHIV/affected communities in all aspects of HIV response.

Voluntary Code - NGOs endorse and commit to workingtowards principles over time, according to their capacity, theneeds in their context.

Does notreplace regulatory codes or evolving technicalstandards


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Good Practice Principles: Highlights ofOrganizational Principles

We commit to effective & transparent organisational practices

Foster meaningful involvement of PLHIV and affectedcommunities in all aspects of our organizations

Efficient and transparent financial management

Transparent governance- policies and procedures that guidehow we make decisions (select partners, make priorities)

Evaluate and improve our programs in response to communityneeds

Ensure Access and Equity in our servicesAddress and prevent discrimination/foster equity in our ownorganizations (S/D, gender-based discrimination)


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Good Practice Principles: Highlights ofProgramming (& Advocacy) Principles

We commit to providing high-quality, responsiveHIV/AIDS services to PLHIV and affected communities

Meaningful involvement of PLHIV/affected communities

Commit to evidence-based services to ensure effectiveness

Enable individuals to develop skills to protect themselves orothers from HIV infection

Provide/advocate for comprehensive services - preventiontailored to meet needs of different populations (harm reduction)

+ holistic treatment, care and support services

Monitor and respond to stigma and discrimination in ourservices + enable communities to understand & respond to S/D


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Putting Principles into Practice

The Code is a set of shared values that NGOs work towardsachieving collectively together- not all NGOs will implementactivities in every area covered by the code

some NGOs focus on services, other advocacy

NGOs must sign and fully endorse all aspects of the Code tobe an official signatory and use the Code on their websites etc.

But all NGOs and networks of NGOs welcome to refer to thePrinciples as they develop their own guiding principles

Toolkit with Self-Assessment Checklists (www.hivcode.org)
http://www.hivcode.org/http://www.hivcode.org/


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Putting Principles into Practice:International HIV/AIDS Alliance

Accreditation for Individual NGOs:

NGOs sign and endorse code

Alliance Charter and Good Practice Principles alignedwith Code

Clear Organizational and Programming Standards

Self-assessment, peer assessment multistepaccreditation process including site visits

Linking membersjoin international community ofaccredited NGOs- networking, joint advocacy, funding

SCDI becoming accredited- can share experienceswith us


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Developing and Adapting Codes ofPractice: What have we learned?

Many Codes of Practice have been/are being developedglobally

National/regional Codes of Conduct

Codes within organizations: Action Aid (which also signed

HIV/AIDS NGO Code)

National CSO partnership frameworks: DFID PartnershipAgreements (define they partner with CSO to achieve MDGs)

Within development sectors: Code of Conduct for International

Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement

Across all development sectors: International DevelopmentEffectiveness Framework (currently being adapted for Vietnam!)


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What have we learned?A Code of Good Practice

Is intended to ensure quality, transparency andaccountability accountability to Government, donors, tobeneficiaries and to the communities we serve

Is voluntary and peer-driven: self-regulation and mutual

accountability among NGOs

Helps foster internalization of and ownership of theprinciples and values that guide NGO work ( an NGOculture ) instead of principles imposed by donors

Quality = quality of NGOs relationships with beneficiariesand the extent to which they are truly responsiveto theneeds of beneficiaries and accountableto beneficiaries


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Code is voluntary- will NGOs want to sign on? Whatmotivates NGOs? (more credible to donors andgovernment, internal motivation for self-improvement andcommitment to quality and constituencies?)

How to adapt a Code to different contexts and realitieswhile staying true to the core values of a code? (political,legal, regulatory)

Dont focus only on upward accountability (Government,donors) but on true accountability to constituencies


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Importance of translating Principles into Practice (Whatgood practice looks like, clear process to get there overtime, tools to help NGOs to achieve standards)

Stay flexible how to make relevant and achievable forsmall CBOs/CSOs? (e.g. a small CSO wont havecomplicated HR or financial systems)

Avoid many multiple standards and assessment tools-how to harmonize and streamline tools and standards forNGOs and CSOs?


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Why develop a Code of GoodPractice?* A set of shared values can help NGOs/CSOs

collectively work towards becoming moretransparent, effective and accountable.

We want the role and contribution of civil society to be better

understood, valued and respected by the Vietnamese Peopleand Government. We want to improve our image & reputation.

We want to be an more effective and influential voice in policyand decision-making.

Many CSOs are committed to continuous improvement- wantto grow and learn, and be truly accountable to beneficiariesand communities.

True excitement about helping the young CSO sectorbecome stronger, helping create an NGO Culture


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Why develop a Code of GoodPractice?* Developing and achieving standards- especially for

good governance and financial management systems- will help ensure long-term viability of NGOs/CSOs

Transparent decision-making processes - decisions not just by

leaders but multiple stakeholders, guided by clearprocesses(organizations wont lose their way/ fall apart whenleaders go)

NGOs/CSOs want to achieve legitimacy and credibility with theGovernment, to be included in planning and decision-making and

to receive Government funding Thinking about long-term sustainability- prepare for reduction in

donor funding overall and HIV/AIDS funding in particular (newskills for changing donor priorities, credible to wide range ofsupporters including Vietnamese middle class) (Note not all

Pathways Lead Partners agree with this last point)


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Challenges and Opportunities

How to help HIV/AIDS NGOs/CSOs become viable andeffective for the long-term?

Many NGOs/CSOs have built their technical capacity overtime, and are developing organizational systems how dowe help them become stronger?

How do we help strengthen and maintain capacity overtime in organizations that have limited human resources?

How to help HIV/AIDS organizations prepare for reductionin HIV funding and build other competencies?


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Issues to consider: Specific Priorities

We need to better define meaningful participationof/representation of PLHIV and affected communities -(We all talk about thiswhat does that look like, how dowe really do it, are we holding each other trulyaccountable? How do we set standards for MIPA ingovernment, hold government accountable?)

Want a strong, effective and united voice for advocacy-as we grow, develop processes and feedback

mechanisms to develop a shared advocacy agenda,ensure true representation of multiple stakeholders,feedback mechanisms


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Addressing enabling legal environment- not just legalregistration but policies/laws that enable new ways ofworking- e.g. now GoV only recognizes NGO Directors, not aBoard of Directors

Need to align our principles with our OD and technicalcapacity-building plans to address priority gaps

Importance of investing in OD, leadership, team-building toenable all these changes in NGOs/CSOs

Need to focus on strengthening networks of NGOs/CBOs togrow together (and speak together)


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Need to strengthen partnership and coordinationbetween of NGOs/CBOs and the government

Do we need a partnership principle that outlines thedifferent partnerships NGOs/CBOs need to be effective,including partnership with government? When weoperationalize this principle can we concretely lay outmutual expectations for how that partnership andcoordination will work- like an SOP for NGOs/CBOs andPACs?

This is a critical concern of government- addressing thisearly might help build support for the Code, as well as helpwith our goal of increasing credibility/legitimacy ofNGOs/CBOs


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If this Code is created through a project, how can we helpit be sustained after the project ends?

Suggest we set priorities (vs. trying to do everything)

Try to gain as much momentum and buy-in as possible duringPathways so the Code is more likely to endure after the projectends

Focus not only on principles and skills that are relevant now,but which will help NGOs/CSOs be viable in the future (5, 10,

15 years,,,?) E.g. Norms for communication- how will we represent our constituencies,

what images can we use, how will we protect identity and confidentiality

H


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How to start:Recommendations Code must be voluntary, created by and owned by

NGO/CSOs wont work if it feels punative code andimposed by others: How do we improve ourselves?

External motivation alone not enough/ need internal motivation

Stakeholders emphasized the need to adapt the NGOCodefor Vietnam context

Simplify, focus on the priority areas where NGOs/CSOs inVietnam really want to become stronger in next 5 years

Draw from other Codes of Practice already being adapted forVietnam (parts of the Development Effectiveness Framework?)

Revise language, draw from in existing legal documents andCodes (e.g. the HIV/AIDS law, the HIV/AIDS Strategy)

H


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How to start:Recommendations Identify and engage with key Government agencies

Identify allies in Government, cultivate collaboration

Understand and respond to Government priority concerns(i.e. financial management, coordination of CSO serviceswith PACs)

Engage with larger community of CSOs and ofPLHIV/affected communities early in process if we reallywant a sharedset of principles

Start with Pathways partner NGOs/CSOs

Ongoing engagement vs. one-off consultation: ourpartners to help define principles, provide feedback onimplementation of the key practices we all commit to

H


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How to start:Recommendations

Dont duplicate efforts build on whats been done andcontribute ongoing dialogue and networks about CSO

Map out other CSO Standard Setting Efforts, build onaccepted principles and standards (e.g. Development

Effectiveness Framework) Contribute to multi-sectoral CSO networks (e.g. CSO

National Conferences)

Contribute to dialogue in our sector (e.g. HIV/AIDS

Technical Working Groups?)

H t t t


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How to start:Recommendations

In Pathways, clarify step-by-step step processes toachieve standards and develop practical tools to help usget there:

Ways of Working - What do principles actually looklike

in our daily work? How to apply at all levels?

Principles Practices- Tools to Assess CurrentPractice- Measure improvement over time

Our norms as a project

***Build on existing tools (Map out what we have alreadymeasured with OPI, new tools to fill gaps)

Simple, practical, easy to implement

Updated Aug 27 Ngo Code Workshop Cw-1

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