STANDARDS PROJECT

MILESTONES

No.	Activity Description	Timeline
1	NGO Standards Commission first meeting; decide on roles and responsibilities and select chairperson. Proposes revision of Standards Code and assessment tool. Agree to serve as interim for period of eighteen months.	August – September 2006.
2	Secretariat revises Standards and assessments tools and submits to SC for final review & approval	Sept, Oct, Nov 2006.
3	Presentation of Standards and Assessment tool to NGOs in each region for review. Organize workshops to explain the process and get feedback as well as expression of interest in participation.	Nov, Dec 2006, January 2007.
4	Engage government agencies on NGO self regulation and provide information on process etc and gain their support. Develop common messages for use by commissioners in advocacy on standards and obtain major donor awareness of project.	Sept – Dec 2006 and ongoing - 2009.
5	Dissemination of final assessment tool to organizations for internal organizational assessment. Second Standard Commissioners meeting. Application process starts. NGOs give details of selected peer reviewer and standard commission will also appoint two other reviewers from NGO community.	January/Feb 2007 – ongoing - 2009.
6	Consolidation of inputs and proposed amendments for final revision of Standards. Final document widely disseminated.	February - March 2007
7	Communication strategy kicks in. Organize information forums, conference of NGOs, radio discussions, press conferences on benefits of standards; the users/consumers of the certification etc.	April 2007 and ongoing - 2009.
8	Visibility actions - launch media and publicity campaign on standards as well as increased awareness and expression of interest by larger NGO community.	April 2007 and ongoing.
9	Peer evaluators conduct first set of assessment and report back to standards commission.	February 2007 and ongoing - 2009.
10	Third SC meeting to review reports and start award of certificates. Secretariat establishes data base system and inputs information on participating NGOs (including organizational assessment, compliance, and duration of certification. An effective communication and information system on NGOs established and made available in the public domain	March/ April/May 2007 and ongoing.
11	Secretariat sets up and maintains website with information on Standards, the application process; participating NGOs etc	April 2007 and ongoing.
12	Assist and liaise with other partners for support in building capacity of organizations to meet standards.	May - August 2007
13	Secretariat publish Newsletter on Standards; Standards printed for wide distribution.. Organize learning and sharing events.	August – September 2007 and ongoing - 2009.