Announcements

Please check regularly for updates on the Accountability Charter and the processes related to its implementation.

Decisions taken by Accountability Charter Signatories at their Annual Meeting

In June 2007, International Non-Governmental Organisations Accountability Charter Signatories held their first annual meeting to discuss Charter developments since its launch in June 2006 and decide upon its future trajectory.

At the Signatories Meeting, participants agreed to endorse the proposal by the Charter Management Committee to create a legal vehicle for the Charter in the form of a company limited by guarantee registered in the United Kingdom. The purpose of this legal framework is to preserve the integrity of the Charter and prevent abuse by excluding free-riders and organisations that do not meet Charter requirements. All international secretariats (central coordinating bodies) are to become full voting members of the company, while affiliates and branches will be granted affiliate membership.

In addition to deciding to proceed with the registration of the Company of the International NGO Charter of Accountability, participants have also adopted a proposal to contribute to the costs of administering the Accountability Charter through annual fees. The endorsed fee structure will allow the Accountability Charter to become financially self-sustaining and will ensure that Charter signatories as owners and beneficiaries of the process contribute to its costs. Signatories’ fees range from 750$ and 3,750$ depending on their annual incomes.

At the meeting participants also confirmed their obligations to report annually on their goals, activities and performance. For the first cycle of reporting, signatories agreed to submit their regular annual reports in accordance to their own reporting schedules. Signatories have also discussed the development of credible reporting indicators and their engagement with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in setting-up an NGO-Sector Supplement to complement the GRI Sustainability Reporting guidelines. The first phase, which is based on the involvement of multiple stakeholders in a consensus building process, is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete.

Despite the fact that considerable progress has been made since the Charter’s launch in June 2006, signatories have committed to continue working on ensuring the consolidation of a structure and mechanisms to allow for credible reporting, monitoring and evaluating of compliance, as well as providing redress when necessary.