The following is a brief summary of the issues identified as relevant to the development of a code of conduct for Albanian NGOs at the February 10, 2000 meeting of organizations interested in the issue.  The summary addresses in a general fashion the issues that should be anticipated by any group of NGOs interested in adopting a code of conduct.

I.                    Identification of Adopting Group

Among the first issues that will arise in any Code of Conduct project is the identification and selection of the group that will be responsible for drafting, adopting, promoting, and enforcing a code.  In order for a code to have the full support of those governed by it, the process of developing and adopting the code must be highly participatory.  The responsible group must therefore have the ability to work with many NGOs of differing interests to build consensus.  It must have credibility within both the NGO and the donor communities.  It must have the commitment to developing a code, and the resources, or the means of finding resources, to do so.  It can be either a conventional umbrella group, or a network of groups or NGOs, or even a subsectoral group of NGOs, whichever is most suitable to the task.

 

II.                 Donor Outreach

At the meeting on February 10, 2000, several participants emphasized the need to involve the donor community in any effort to develop an NGO Code of Conduct.  There are several benefits anticipated from donor outreach.  Donor support would convey to NGOs that donors expect high ethical and management standards from their grantees, and would encourage NGOs to adopt high standards to improve their funding prospects.  In addition, one frequent concern of NGOs with respect to codes of conduct is that they impose additional obligations beyond the multiple, inconsistent requirements already imposed by donors.  It is possible that through close coordination with donors, the requirements of a code and the requirements of various donors to some extent might be harmonized, offering additional benefits to NGOs.

III.               Education and Training

Education and training regarding codes of conduct would help increase awareness among NGOs, particularly those from non-urban areas, about the benefits to be obtained from codes of conduct.  Education and training could be handled through a series of workshops or roundtables, and might also require the development of written materials, e.g., handbooks, or articles for publication.

IV.              The Standards to be Included in a Code

Once a drafting group is convened, the group will need to consider the actual standards to be included in a code.  There are a number of appropriate models that a group might consider, and ICNL has distributed a letter listing some of them.

Note that if Albanian models of ethical codes exist, for example, from business or government organizations, these may also serve as good examples for an NGO code of conduct.

V.                 NGO Participation and Support

 

 

As noted above, in order for a voluntary code of conduct to succeed, those subject to it must agree to it, support it, and comply with it.  The process of developing a code must therefore be highly participatory, in order to ensure that it represents the views of the NGOs to be governed by its provisions.  A key issue for the group developing the code will be how best to obtain participation of a significant number of interested NGOs.

VI.              Improving NGO Internal Governance and Management

If a code is adopted, it can be anticipated that many NGOs will not at the outset be in compliance with its provisions.  The drafting group will therefore need to consider in its implementation plans efforts to assist NGOs in improving their internal governance rules, management, financial and accounting practices, etc.

VII.            Compliance Mechanisms

The adopting group will need to consider how compliance with a code of conduct will be obtained.  A code is most effective if there is a meaningful way to ensure that organizations comply with it, such as certification or complaint procedures.  Unfortunately, such procedures often increase the expense involved in implementing a code.  Less costly alternatives include simple voluntary agreements by member organizations to comply, and self-certification procedures, under which member organizations review and certify their own compliance on an annual basis.

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