Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA)- Membership strategy

Transcription

1 Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA)- Membership strategy 1. Membership Goal The Affinity Group of National Associations (AGNA) was launched at the 2004 CIVICUS World Assembly. The aim of AGNA is to engage these national associations and groups to foster greater co-operation across national and regional boundaries and to increase their ability to pursue mutual interests. As a sub-network of CIVICUS' members, AGNA aims to amplify and strengthen national voices, to represent and support a diverse and global group of National Associations and other organisations that provide and give collective voice to civil society at the country level. This goes hand in hand with growth in the scale and scope of its membership. 2. Why join AGNA? AGNAs Membership is a solidarity-based membership. Its members join in solidarity with like-minded groups mainly as a show of support and desire to join a group that works towards responding to the following identified needs: The need for an international citizens coalition; The need to reverse the current understanding of capacity building characterised by a North to South flow of knowledge, information and experience sharing; The need to provide a support network for national network leaders; and The need to reduce the re-invention of the wheel and improvisation in the leadership of NGOs/NPOs. AGNA s current membership has reached 60 national associations with representatives from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Pacific. 1. Membership Eligibility Criteria At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of 2013, AGNA members decided to introduce three new categories of membership to allow the network to become broader and enriched from the experience and expertise of different types of civil society groups, organisations and individuals. The new membership structure and criteria is as follows: Full membership The organisation should: Support CIVICUS Mission, Vision and Values Be a CIVICUS voting member

2 Be a national association of NGOs/NPOs (umbrella or network) The association serves the general interests of the NGO/NPO community in that country. It is a membership organisation, an association, with its membership (other legal entities or organisations, not individuals) drawn from various sectors of the NGO/NPO community. The association can demonstrate that, in its decision making, advocacy and representation, it is able to act independently of the influence of any government. The primary purposes of the association include: to strengthen the capacity of NGOs/NPOs and provide space for them to function; to advocate on behalf of its members on general NGO/NPO and civil society-related issues; to provide services to its members and the wider community: to encourage peer support among national associations. Therefore, organisations that qualify as members of AGNA are those which serve the common general interests (representing all sectors) of all non-governmental and non-profit groups and are not those national organisations that are sector based, serving only one or a few particular fields of interest. To maintain your membership you should respect and observe the principles and fundamental freedoms as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Associate membership You should: Support CIVICUS Mission, Vision and Values Be a CIVICUS member Be a national organisation in a country that already has a full AGNA member Be a sub-national association of NGOs/NPOs (umbrella or network) Be a regional or sub-regional group of CSOs/NPOS (umbrella or network) The primary purposes of the associate member include: to strengthen the capacity of NGOs/NPOs and provide space for them to function; to advocate on behalf of its members on general NGO/NPO and civil society-related issues; to provide services to its members and the wider community. to encourage peer support among sub-national, national and regional associations For regional groups the main purpose of their association with AGNA includes: to strengthen the capacity of NGOs/NPOs at the regional level and provide space for them to function; to advocate on behalf of its members on general NGO/NPO and civil society-related issues; to provide services to its members and the wider community. to foster collaboration between the members of the region or sub-region to promote peer learning and collaboration between its members and other NGOs/NPOs from other region/sub-region

3 to encourage peer support among sub-national, national and regional associations To maintain your membership you should respect and observe the principles and fundamental freedoms as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Friends, allies and supporters of AGNA: Be a CIVICUS member or belong to an organisational member of CIVICUS Be a civil society organisation, not a network of umbrella body, with interest in learning from AGNA and contributing to AGNAs work. This category includes but is not limited to non-profit, nongovernmental, socially responsible and/or voluntary organisations and movements that take an interest in the affairs of civil society Be a public entity or a private foundation having provided core funding or project grants to AGNA To maintain your membership you should respect and observe the principles and fundamental freedoms as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). 4. Membership rights and benefits Full membership: Participate with voice and vote at the Annual General Meetings (AGM) Participate with voice and vote at the election of the Steering Committee every year Be a candidate for the Steering Committee Receive information about the activities of the group Participate in the activities and projects led by the group in collaboration with CIVICUS Secretariat Benefit from peer learning exchanges when funds are available and the subject of the exchange is related to the member's work Participate in the working groups Request activity and progress reports about the groups contribution to its mission, plans, programmes and other activities implemented by the group, including financial reports Associate membership: Participate with voice and without vote at the Annual General Meetings (AGM) Participate as an observer at the election of the Steering Committee every year Receive information about the activities of the group Participate in the activities and projects led by the group in collaboration with CIVICUS Secretariat Benefit from peer learning exchanges only when justified and approved by the Steering Committee or when there is no other full member more suitable or available Participate in the working groups Request activity and progress reports about the groups contribution to its mission, plans,

4 programmes and other activities implemented by the group, including financial reports Friends, allies and supporters of AGNA: Participate as an observer at the Annual General Meetings (AGM) Participate as an observer at the election of the Steering Committee every year Receive information about the activities of the group Advice and give technical support to the activities and projects led by the group Participate in the working groups 5. Membership responsibilities Full members and associate members: 1. Contribute to the achievement of AGNA's objectives and plans 2. Comply with CIVICUS membership requirements and renew their CIVICUS membership when about to expire 3. Follow the ethical principles and membership criteria of the group 4. Give visibility to the network nationally and internationally and contribute to promoting AGNA through your work and website. 5. Commit to working as a network and promote collaboration between peers 6. Assign a focal point at the organisation to serve as liaison with AGNA's Secretariat and the Steering Committee 7. Notify AGNA's Secretariat of any change in the designated representative and/or their contact information and that of the organisation. 8. Be responsive and timely in your communications with the Secretariat 9. Comply with your commitments within the group such as being part of a working group, a peer exchange or any other activity or programme Friends, allies and supporters of AGNA: 1. Contribute to the achievement of AGNA's objectives and plans 2. Comply with CIVICUS membership requirements and renew their CIVICUS membership when about to expire 3. Follow the ethical principles and membership criteria of the group 4. Give visibility to the network nationally and internationally and contribute to promoting AGNA through your work and website. Assign a focal point to serve as liaison with AGNA's Secretariat and the Steering Committee 5. Notify AGNA's Secretariat of any change in the designated representative and/or their contact

5 information and that of the organisation. 6. Be responsive and timely in your communications with the Secretariat 7. Comply with your commitments within the group such as being part of a working group or any other activity or programme 6. Application Requirements For those organisations interested in becoming an AGNA member the requirements are: 1. Fully meet the eligibility criteria for membership to the satisfaction of AGNA's Steering Committee 2. Complete the AGNA Membership application form. 3. Provide the Secretariat with the details of the organisation (number of members, scope of work, contact numbers, website, addresses, physical address, Facebook page, Skype contacts) and that of the main focal point for AGNA and a substitute/support person 4. Official documents detailing the mandate and scope of the organisation, such as the latest organisation s annual report, the approved statute of establishment, charter or constitution of the association, and any other official document that explains the organisation s purpose, aims and initiatives 5. Pay the annual membership fees determined by CIVICUS unless specifically given a fee waiver under the Fee Waiver provisions. For those donors or public institutions interested in becoming an AGNA friend, ally or supporter, the requirements are: 1. Fully meet the eligibility criteria for membership to the satisfaction of AGNA's Steering Committee 2. Complete the AGNA Membership application form. 3. Provide the Secretariat with the details of the organisation (number of members, scope of work, contact numbers, website, addresses, physical address, Facebook page, Skype contacts) and that of the main focal point for AGNA and a substitute/support person 7. Admission of Members The AGNA Coordinator will be the focal point for new applications and these will be shared with the Steering Committee for review and study. When the Steering Committee considers that the organisation, association or individual candidate fully comply with the membership criteria, the Coordinator will automatically notify the candidate about its new membership status. If an application is declined by the Steering Committee, the Coordinator will be informed about the reasons and communicate them accordingly to the candidate. In case of lack of information provided during the application process, the Coordinator will seek additional information from the candidate until all the requirements have been meet for submission to the Steering Committee.

6 8. Termination of Membership Membership will terminate in the following situations: a) Resignation: Membership will be terminated upon receipt of notice of resignation in writing addressed to the Steering Committee. b) Dissolution: Membership is terminated on the dissolution of a member organisation c) Expulsion: Membership will be terminated by a majority vote on a special resolution for expulsion at any meeting of the Steering Committee at which there is a quorum, following a recommendation that said membership be terminated for non-compliance with the membership criteria and the universal human rights principles of gender equality, non-discrimination and peace as laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. For further information about AGNA's membership, please contact the Coordinator at the CIVICUS Secretariat, Patricia Deniz: patricia.deniz@civicus.org