Viwango standards PRESENTED TO GLOBAL STANDARDS PARTNERS

Transcription

1 Viwango standards PRESENTED TO GLOBAL STANDARDS PARTNERS

2 BACKGROUND OF VIWANGO EST. Viwango is Swahili for Standards/Quality Viwango was established in 2011 based on a research in conjunction with various CSOs in Kenya, informed by the shrinking civic space Subsequently, this led to the development of eight (8) minimum standards for the operation of CSOs in provision of services to the Kenyan public.

3 THE VIWANGO STANDARDS 1. Legal & Statutory Requirements 2. Identity 3. Governance 4. Work Programming & Planning 5. Management Systems & Policies 6. Resource Mobilization 7. Partnerships & External Relations 8. Organizational Culture & Leadership 5/26/2016 Presentation to Global Standards Partners 03/31/15 4

4 VIWANGO FOUNDER MEMBERS Viwango was founded by 12 CSOs with shared Values geared towards accountability and transparency, they include Action Aid Aga Khan Foundation Allavida Constitution And Reform Education Consortium East Africa Association Of Grant Makers International Institute Of Rural Reconstruction

5 VIWANGO FOUNDER MEMBERS Kenya Community Development Foundation Ngo Co-ordination Board Oxfam GB Kenya Peace And Development Network Trust VSO Jitolee Poverty Eradication Network Academy For Educational Development These 12 Organization form the Viwango Board of Directors who support the Secretariat through 3 Committees; Executive, Finance & Programmes

6 SECRETARIAT We have a lean Secretariat made up of four pillars, supported by founder Member Organization Certification Quality Control and Compliance to the Certification Mechanism/Business Development Programmes- Assessments and reporting Finance Internal Financial Controls/Fundraising Administration

7 VIWANGO MISSION AND VISION VISION- Civil Society is Credible Contributing to the Transformation of Society MISSION- To improve the Performance of Civil Society organizations through the promotion and application of minimum standards and voluntary, independent certification

8 OUR GOALS Greater Credibility- To have Civil Society viewed as a credible partner in a vibrant society along side the Government and the Private Sector Broad Adoption of Standards-To have Viwango minimum standards for CSOs owned by Civil Society and accepted by other sectors of society Improved Civil Society Collaboration To encourage improved collaboration in the sector Viwango Credibility To build a strong and strategic Certification brand, with wide recognition, adoption and engagement across civil society, Government and private sector

9 LESSONS LEARNED Increased Recognition of Certification- CSO s in Kenya have recognised the importance of certification to increase credibility and donor recognition. Critical need to build CSO credibility- CSO s need to be viewed as credible partners by Government, Private Sector and their peers in Civil Society and the citizens at large. Need for Institutional Strengthening among CSO s- Organisations assessed need to strengthen their capacity in Governance, Management Systems and developing organisational policies.

10 LESSONS LEARNED Lack of Existing Minimum Standards CSO s in Kenya lack minimum standards or benchmark mechanisms to Non uniformity of industry minimum standards Each sector and donor have their own standards which are customised to project needs. Increased Recognition of Certification- CSO s in Kenya have recognised the importance of certification to increase credibility and donor recognition.

11 LESSONS LEARNED Need for CSO buy in with Governments- CSO s in Kenya are mostly regarded as anti-government and advocacy on matters of public interest is viewed as hostility by the Government. There is need to engage more with Government as partners and collaborators in execution of their objectives rather than as opposers of efforts being made.

12 HOW GLOBAL STANDARDS FIT INTO POLITICAL CONTEXT AND SDG 16 Kenya s Public Benefits Organizations (PBO) Act provides for PBOs operating in Kenya to belong to a self regulating mechanism, that has defined standards and codes of practice., thus creating opportunities for partnership with Viwango and Global Standards. Through rigorous and in depth assessments, CSO s are able to identify their gap areas and build capacity in those areas thus strengthening their institutions and promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies through the work that they do.

13 VIWANGO CERTIFICATION MECHANISM Viwango provides Voluntary Certification for CSOs using a Set of the Minimum Standards, Assessment Tool and Code of Practice 5/26/2016 Presentation to Global Standards Partners

14 VIWANGO CERTIFICATION MECHANISM Our Aim is to attest that the CSOs are professionally run, have sufficient management capacity, Sound Systems, policies,accountability structures and linkages 5/26/2016 Presentation to Global Standards Partners

15 THE VIWANGO CERTIFICATION PROCESS Presentation on Viwango Application for Assessment by CSO Voluntary Assessment Paper Based On-line Registration Independent Assessors Viwango Staff Certification Certification Council VIWANGO Board 03/31/15 5/26/2016 Presentation to Global Standards Partners 7

16 Levels of Certification of the VIWANGO Minimum score is Standards Certification CERTIFICATION LEVEL GOLD SILVER BRONZE MINIMUM SCORE /26/2016 Presentation to Global Standards Partners

17 STRENGTHS Developed and well researched product- Standards, Assessment Tool and Code of Practice Kenya Civil Society Driven A strong Board Demonstrated efficacy of the Assessment process 5/26/2016 Presentation to Global Standards Partners