Present Brendan Gormley, Independent (Chair) Caroline Harper, Sightsavers (Vice-Chair) Clare Doube, Amnesty Markus Hesse, Independent (Treasurer) Miklos Marschall, Transparency Janet Dalziell, Greenpeace Rosa Inés Ospina Robledo, Independent In Attendance Karenina Schröder (Executive Officer) Merle Rutz (Coordinator, Minute taker) Kameliya Tomova (Programme Assistant) INGO Accountability Charter Board Meeting 28 January 2015 13.00 15.00 CET Minutes Apologies Bettie van Straaten, CIVICUS Emmanuel Isch, World Vision Janet Mawiyoo, Kenya Community Development Foundation All three above have provided written comments in advance. ACC 15/01 Welcome and Agree on Agenda / Executive Officer s Report All action points from the last Board meeting minutes are either completed or currently processed. Amnesty has identified the Head of Strategic Communication to assist with the Charter s communications strategy; Greenpeace and Transparency are still in the process of nominating a colleague to additionally support the Charter in this regard. ACC 15/02 Review 2014 & Outlook 2015 The Executive Officer s Report for this meeting is the Annual Report 2014. The Board s are encouraged to use this report for internal communication about the Charter in their organisations. The event overview for 2015 is to be found in Annex I. ACC 15/03 Relevance of the Core Humanitarian Standard for the Charter In December 2014, the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP), People in Aid and Sphere collectively adopted the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS). The Charter Board is fully supportive of this initiative, as it helps create greater convergence in the highly fragmented CSO accountability landscape. NGO Charter of Accountability Ltd www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org +49 30 20 62 46 97 12 Company Number: 6527022 Registered in England at Amnesty, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK Secretariat: Civil Society Centre www.icscentre.org Agricolastraße 26 10555 Berlin, Germany
The Board acknowledged that it would be helpful to align the Charter and Global Standard as a cross-sectoral code for the highest organisational level work with the CHS focused on humanitarian work. While noting the heterogeneity of Charter Member organisations and that some are not active in the humanitarian work, the Board mandated the Secretariat to explore inter-operability between the Charter and the CHS with the aim of mutually recognising overlapping reporting requirements. It is agreed that the Secretariat will be represented in the Reference Group developing implementation indicators for the CHS. ACC 15/04 Charter Strategy beyond 2015 In regard to the process, it was agreed that interviews will be conducted to seek reflection and advice from: Charter critics, media, individual donors, foundations, national CEOs and researchers who recently investigated the Charter. Board Members agreed to provide concrete suggestions with contact details. The Treasurer offered pro bono support in conducting the interviews. The Secretariat will then prepare a meeting in March for the Strategy Commission, to devise a clear proposal for the strategic direction beyond 2015, acknowledging the impact of potential funding for the Global Standard project. This will be discussed at the next Board meeting on 9 April and at the AGM on 10 April. Concerning the format, it was agreed that the strategy paper will be a succinct, communicative document, without a set end-date, but with robust regular reviews against pre-defined parameters and complemented by very concrete annual work plans. As to the framing, it was agreed that emphasis of the new strategy should lie on its mission, i.e. strengthening ICSO accountability. First thoughts on strategic positioning in light of significant changes in the Charter s environment were generally accepted. It was highlighted that it is important to keep the distinctive feature of being a code for internationally operating CSOs. A discussion on preference to using the term NGO or CSO was postponed to the Board meeting in April. The Board renewed its official mandate to the Strategy Commission, to devise a first outline. It acknowledged that its outcome will be closely tied to the donor s final decision on funding the Global Standard project. ACC 15/05 Charter Finances The Board accepted the financial overview for 01 January to 31 December 2014, which is in line with the agreed Budget 2014. It was noted that these figures are currently reviewed by the auditors and subject to change after their final report. There was slightly more income and less expenditures than expected and the year is closed with a deficit of -1.685 instead of the expected deficit of -10.266. This deficit is overall due to the Global Standard project for which the Board granted additional 50.000 in April 2014. Without the Global Standard project, the year would have been closed with a surplus of +45.063. The Board acknowledged that the actual static business model will need to be reviewed in the light of the new strategy for the INGO NGO Charter of Accountability Ltd www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org +49 30 20 62 46 97 12 Company Number: 6527022 Registered in England at Amnesty, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK Secretariat: Civil Society Centre www.icscentre.org Agricolastraße 26 10555 Berlin, Germany
Accountability Charter to ensure that finance, operations and processes fully support the execution of the organisation s strategy. The Treasurer explained that transferring the Charter reserves to the GLS bank, which is a German sustainable and social bank, will occur within the next months in synchronisation with the Civil Society Centre, when it also switches to GLS. It is noted that the Budget 2015 might need to be adjusted in case funding is secured for the Global Standard project. ACC 15/06 ACC 15/07 ACC 15/08 Analysis of Board Performance Evaluation The first self-evaluation of the Board s showed a shared feeling about strengths and weaknesses. Board s felt generally that good decisions on strategic direction were made based on solid information. They also felt to have a good grip on evaluation of progress and Charter finances. Board s were less satisfied with the Board s contribution to enhancing the Charter s visibility, attracting new Members and securing financial support/funding. To improve the contribution individual Board s can make it was agreed that the Board Chair will schedule annual bilateral conversations with each for individual feedback. Concrete suggestions for contributions of each Board are provided in Annex II. Improvements in regard to the Board working as a collective body will be discussed at the next meeting in April. Suggestions included a smaller governance body. It was acknowledged that the current Independent s have supported the Charter immensely. The Secretariat is overall satisfied with the Board s support and practical inputs when needed. In next year s Board evaluation, the Secretariat will additionally comment from its perspective. It was agreed to share the outcome with the AGM in April. Annual General Meeting On 10 April 2015 (9:30 to 16:00 UK time), the Charter s AGM will take place in London at the premises of Amnesty. AGM participants are invited to join the dinner on 09 April to meet the Board s. The Board accepted the time, location and agenda (incl. the envisaged agenda items where they are asked to present) for the AGM as outlined in the Board paper. Any Other Business The upcoming Board meetings in 2015 will take place on: o Thursday, 9 April 2015 (face-to-face, 11:00am 6:00pm, London) o Monday, 22 June 2015 (, 2 hours) o Wednesday, 21 October 2015 (, 2 hours) ENDS NGO Charter of Accountability Ltd www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org +49 30 20 62 46 97 12 Company Number: 6527022 Registered in England at Amnesty, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK Secretariat: Civil Society Centre www.icscentre.org Agricolastraße 26 10555 Berlin, Germany
Annex I: Charter Events in 2015 Month Day/s Event Comments / Topics January 28 1st Board Meeting February March April May June 4 Webinar I Global Standard Project - Where are we? What does it mean for the Charter going forward? 23 Strategy Commission Meeting 25 1st Panel Meeting (small) 9 2nd Board Meeting face-to-face Special focus on: Feedback Culture Location: Amnesty, London 10 AGM Location: Amnesty, London Topic: Charter Strategy tbc Webinar II How to best use the Charter at national level - The Charter is an optimal tool to ensure a globally consistent approach to accountability. How is it best used to fit national level NGO needs? 22 3rd Board Meeting 12 2nd Panel Meeting (small) Special focus on: Feedback Culture July August September October November December tbc Webinar III tbc Annual Workshop 21 4th Board Meeting 02-03 (tbc) 1st Global Standard Meeting face-to-face 19-20 3rd Panel Meeting (full) face-to-face tbc Webinar IV New Charter Strategy - What are our key collective objectives for the coming three years? Location: Amsterdam (tbc) Topic: Future formats of accountability How to adapt accountability in a more dynamic environment with instant technological connectivity Location: Tentatively India (aligned to Global Perspectives, 04-06 Nov) Location: London Special focus on self-image of the group and... (tbc) Culture Change - The Civil Society Centre feeds back from Culture Change project and results. NGO Charter of Accountability Ltd www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org +49 30 20 62 46 97 12 Company Number: 6527022 Registered in England at Amnesty, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK Secretariat: Civil Society Centre www.icscentre.org Agricolastraße 26 10555 Berlin, Germany
Annex II: Overview Board s INGO Accountability Charter (As of January 2015) Name Organisation Position Role in Board 1. Brendan Gormley 2. Caroline Harper 3. Janet Dalziell 4. Clare Doube 5. Markus Hesse 6. Emmanuel Isch 7. Miklos Marschall development consultant Sightsavers Greenpeace Amnesty direct impact consulting limited World Vision Transparency Independent Board Chair Responsibilities CEO / Member Acquisition / Focus areas for support in 2015 Charter Board functions more effectively / New Charter Members have been acquired CEO Vice Chair Strategy 2015+ Ambitious new strategy in place and well accepted by Members of Global Development of Strategy and Evaluation Managing Partner Partnership Leader for PAIR Group Deputy Managing Community of practice New format of accountability for work & organisations is developed and accepted Communication Members took responsibility and built Charter brand with comms staff & actions Treasurer Finance, Marketing Reporting and Vetting Positioning of accountability in the sector Sound Charter finances / Good marketing materials & strategies put in place Clear line of inter-operability between Charter and CHS is developed & accepted (Thanks also to WV staff support) Added value of Charter at national level has been clearly identified or created (Thanks Term of office March 2012 April 2011 April 2015 April 2011 April 2015 NGO Charter of Accountability Ltd www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org +49 30 20 62 46 97 12 Company Number: 6527022 Registered in England at Amnesty, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK Secretariat: Civil Society Centre www.icscentre.org Agricolastraße 26 10555 Berlin, Germany
also to help from TI-S staff) 8. Janet Naumi Mawiyoo 9. Rosa Inés Ospina 10. Bettie van Straaten Jeremy Hobbs Ben Anstey Kenya Community Development Foundation Rendir Cuentas CIVICUS Independent Amnesty CEO Global governance and practice Co- Global Standard, Communication Chief Financial Officer/ : Operations Independent Consultant Assistant Legal Counsel Senior Advisor Company Secretary Linking Charter to global CSO community, Member Acquisition Communication Legal advice The Global Standard project has profited from Viwango s experience / optimal alignment with the Charter is secured The new strategy is reflective of Global South expertise and needs / Global Standard is well aligned with Charter Global Standard developments are well connected to relevant global events Charter communication has been visibly advanced All housekeeping at the governance level are in good order April 2013 April 2015 Since April 2014 Since July 2014 NGO Charter of Accountability Ltd www.ingoaccountabilitycharter.org +49 30 20 62 46 97 12 Company Number: 6527022 Registered in England at Amnesty, 1 Easton Street, London WC1X 0DW, UK Secretariat: Civil Society Centre www.icscentre.org Agricolastraße 26 10555 Berlin, Germany