The Ghana NGO/CSO Standards Project

This project came about as a result of a dialogue among 3 stakeholders in Ghana’s development: local – indigenous NGOs, international NGOs and donors working together as a team to address issues of mutual concern in their development relationship; ranging from equitable partnership, mutual accountability, credibility of local NGOs/CSOs, commitment to local capacity development etc. Two key issues were identified as being critical for effective development practice in Ghana: 1) a policy and regulatory framework for NGOs and CSOs and 2) the image of NGOs. Consequently the team is working with other stakeholders for the development of an appropriate bill. Secondly it is working towards the self-regulation of NGOs/CSOs as a critical path to safeguard civil society from over regulation by the state and making the sector an incontrovertible partner to government.

This project is coming at a time when there is increasing public and state mistrust of NGOs and CSOs as evidenced by recent pronouncements of public officials and media publications of the ‘misdeeds’ of NGOs.

The Standards Project therefore seeks to establish minimum standards determined by the community itself and which enshrine the principles of good and ethical practice.

The project has as its sponsors: POSDEV (secretariat of the team), Care International, GAPVOD, CDD, Action Aid, OICI and the DG team of USAID. Work on this initiative started effectively in October of 2004 with the active involvement of CRS for this specific activity.

The standards themselves seek to:

Demonstrate that NGO/CSO community is able and disposed to voluntary self regulation,

Promote organizational and institutional learning within organizations

Ensure transparency, accountability and good governance in the operation of NGOs/CSOs by voluntary self-regulation,

Enable the NGO/CSO sector remain relevant and responsive to the needs of the Ghanaian people,

Assist NGOs/CSOs in remaining compliant with the provisions and dictates of their own Constitution under which they are registered,

Improve the quality and sustenance of services provided by NGOs/CSOs to the Ghanaian public,

Improve the relationships and linkages between NGOs/CSOs and various stakeholders including the Government of Ghana and the private sector, and to encourage the development of mutually-beneficial strategic partnerships.

2. Why Standards for Excellence and not a Code of Conduct?

We define standards as a shared set of norms, rules of behaviour, practice and principles that standardize conduct, action and behaviour.

Standards are measurable whilst a code does not lend itself to vigorous measurement nor does it enforce compliance.

The standards themselves are a self verification and quality control mechanism which if in place will reduce the need for stringent laws which may stifle the freedoms of NGOs. The standards will complement and assist in the effectiveness of existing laws. Subscription to the standards is totally voluntary.

The draft standards have been developed by an independent legal consulting firm based in Accra. In developing these they had consultations with a wide range of stakeholders including government, private sector and state agencies that work with NGOs. The standards also draw on a wide range of codes of conduct, standards, and quality control systems across Africa and world wide.

3. Who is the target of the Standards Project?

All NGOs and CSO working in Ghana. These are non-governmental, non-partisan, voluntary, and independent organizations or associations formed for the promotion of public benefit and national development, and registered under the laws of the Republic of Ghana. For the purposes of the Standards Project, the term NGO/CSO also includes Trusts and Non-Profit Organizations.

These include but are not limited to international, national, community based organizations as well as non-profit research, service-providing and advocacy organizations.

4. Will the Standards be relevant for small NGOs and CBOs?

All NGOs, even small CBOs, should still have certain operational standards. Systems for a small CBO may be different from a large national or international NGO but there should still be standards that demonstrate good resource management, accountability and transparency. For example, a CBO might use a handwritten ledger book to keep its accounts while a large NGO uses a complicated computerized financial system. Both organizations are accountable to donors/members and beneficiaries and should have a system to share their accounts and reports with their stakeholders (whether it be a yearly community meeting for the small CBO or a printed annual report for the large NGO). Thus, the standard of financial accountability to funders and beneficiaries is the same for both types of organizations, even if the methods differ.

5. What happens to the NGOs/CSOs/CBOs that are unable to qualify for the quality seal?

Having standards for good governance, good financial management, accountability and transparency helps build capacity by providing a goal for organizations to reach. This project itself is not intended to build capacity for individual organizations but helps to provide a benchmark for organizations working towards their institutional development and sustainability. In effect it will address the issue of professionalism in the NGOs/CSOs sector.

Quite a large amount of resources have been invested in building the capacity of NGOs in Ghana and so it is anticipated that quite a number of organizations will actually qualify for the seal.

The standards also should provide a guideline for capacity building organizations as to what levels of capacity are necessary for organizational sustainability and effectiveness.

6. Will organizations that do not meet the standards be “black-listed?”

No, quite the contrary. This project is not intended to punish organizations that do not meet the standards, but is rather intended to showcase organizations that excel. Only organizations that meet the standards will be published; there will be no list created for those organizations that do not meet the standards. There are many reasons an organization may not immediately meet the standards, but our hope is that most organizations will aspire to meet these standards of operation.

7. Who are you and why are you doing this?

The Ghana Country Team for this initiative comprises Care International (CARE), Opportunities Industrialization Centres International (OICI), The Democracy and Governance Department of the USAID Mission in Ghana, The Ghana Association of Private and Voluntary Organizations in Development (GAPVOD) and the Pan African Organization for Sustainable Development (POSDEV), ActionAid Ghana (AAG) and Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD). The team is driven by the need to address the policy and regulatory framework for NGOs/CSOs in Ghana; to build the image of NGOs as regards accountability and transparency in the sector; to build mutually accountable relationships between local NGOs, international NGOs and donors and to enhance mutual trust and confidence for a more effective contribution to Ghana’s development.

8. Is this a new network or coalition?

No, this is not a network or coalition. It is an initiative that all NGOs, networks and coalitions in Ghana should embrace. NGOs that qualify for the seal/certificate will not be members of any network or coalition, they will merely be recognized by an independent body as having excellent standards of operation. Organizations that receive the quality seal/assessment can then independently form networks or coalitions if they so desire, although that is not the purpose of the project.

9. If GAPVOD is the national platform, why are they not doing this as the Secretariat?

GAPVOD is one of the organizations involved in the Ghana Country Team. However, to best capitalize on others’ experience, the team is also made up of international NGOs and an international donor. We are also in the process of inviting additional donors to join the country team. Our vision is that in the future, GAPVOD, as the national platform, will permanently house the Standards Project as well as the Quality Standards Commission.

POSDEV was elected as the Secretariat for the team because of the organizations’ past involvement in the ALPI and its capacity to manage the activities of the GCT.

10. What is the Standards Quality Commission/Board (SQC/B) and its role?

This commission or board is made up entirely of peers, thus, making it a self-regulating commission. It comprises NGO managers from international, national and local NGOs/CSOs who have long and tested experience in non-profit management in Ghana. Their role will be to appoint peer reviewers who will conduct reviews of organizations; they will then review the reports and make decisions on the award of the quality seal to organizations. They will also arbitrate on disputes regarding the reports coming out.

The number and tenure of office for the board members is to be decided by the members themselves at an upcoming commissioners’ meeting in August 2006.

11. Are there government officials on the commission?

No. A different Commission is envisaged under the government’s proposed NGO/Trust Bill. Under the proposed law, a commission made up of government appointees and civil society nominees will regulate NGOs and Trusts. Among the roles of this government commission is proposed the registration and deregistration of NGOs, and general oversight and regulation of the sector.

12. What does the government say about this project?

Initial conversations with government officials have been very positive. As the government continues to work with the NGO/Civil society community on its proposed NGO/Trust bill, it is critical for the NGO/CSO community to show that the sector and government are working towards the same goal of having a transparent and accountable civil society and NGO sector.

13. How do the Ghana Standards fit into the wider international context?

The Ghana initiative becomes more relevant and is justified, given the global commitment to excellence, transparency and accountability which have motivated international NGOs like ActionAid International, Amnesty International, CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Consumers International, Greenpeace International, Oxfam International, the International Save the Children Alliance, Survival International, International Federation Terre des Hommes, Transparency International and World YWCA to endorse an international, cross-sectoral code of conduct for NGOs on June 6, 2006.

This initiative follows the global Code of Conduct on NGOs developed by the World Association of NGOs.

The Standards provides an equitable basis on which all stakeholders can embrace this initiative as an opportunity to promote the NGO/CSO professionalism. Also, the standards provide an equal starting ground on which all stakeholders can start forging equitable and mutually beneficial relationships for a more effective impact of development work.

15. Are these standards the ones that donors want satisfied? Will these standards guarantee that donors will partner with Local NGOs?

This project does not intend to bring funding to organizations. While participating in this project and complying with standards may bring more funding to organizations that are identified as transparent and well-managed organizations, satisfying donors is not the main purpose of this project. Instead, the project aims to self-regulate and professionalize the NGO sector in Ghana. Major donors have been informed about the project and will continue to be updated throughout the process.

The standards have been developed following several examples of “good practice” and internationally established/recognized principles of management and operations. As such, many of these standards are similar to the ones donors expect. However, because this project is for NGOs operating in Ghana, they, rather than international donors, should determine how they will self-regulate and be judged by their peers, the general public, international, national as well as local governments.

16. Will there be a whistle-blowing function for the Standards Quality Commission/Board (SQC/B)? Will the SQC/B be a place to report “fake” NGOs?

No. The Standards Commission/Board is not a whistleblowing entity and is not mandated to identify NGOs that are not operating according to its principles. Since the new whistle-blowing law in Ghana has just been passed, the standards will have a component on safe guarding whistle blowers.

17. Is the Standards Quality Commission/Board (SQC/B) an NGO watchdog?

No, it is preventing the need for one by creating a space for all NGOs to demonstrate their transparent operations, intentions, and activities.

The Ghana NGO/CSO Standards Project

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Contents