CODE-NGO’s membership commissions approved the network’s plans for capacity-building and internal reforms for FY2011-2012

The CODE-NGO membership commissions – the Commission on Institution and Capacity-Building (CICB) and the Commission on Internal Reform Initiatives (CIRI) – approved the Fiscal Year 2011-2012 plans of the network towards strengthening its members’ organizational capabilities and practice of accountability in its joint meeting held last June 28-29, 2011. The action steps of the network and its members for next year include promoting its standards for NGO workers’ welfare, strengthening the campaign for Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) certification among members and sustaining the Scholarship Fund Program to support the continuing education/training of network leaders and staff.  The CODE-NGO National Board subsequently approved the resolutions of the Commissions, in its meeting held last July 15, 2011. 

CODE-NGO’s membership commissions – the Commission on Institution and Capacity Building (CICB) and the Commission on Internal Reform Initiatives (CIRI) – held its joint meeting last June 28-29, 2011 to review the  initiatives of the network towards membership development for the past Fiscal Year (FY) 2010-11 and to approve its plans for FY2011-12.  The CICB recommends policies and oversees the implementation of strategic human resource and organizational development interventions of the network for its members, while the CIRI is mandated to ensure the observance of the Code of Conduct and the practice of good governance by the member networks and affiliate organizations of CODE-NGO.  

The Commissions reviewed the following key membership development initiatives done by CODE-NGO for the past year:

• Conduct of a series of resource-building/fund-raising seminars for member networks on the following topics – Having an Entrepreneurial Mindset in Social Development; Setting Up Earned Income Ventures; Partnering with Corporate Foundations; Tapping Migrant Philanthropy; Setting Up a Community Foundation and Engaging Local Funding Institutions to Support Networks.
• Scholarship Fund (2007 to 2011) – released a total grant of PhP527,418 which supported 56 scholars/NGO leaders and staff from within the network for the past 5 years, for various training activities.
• Performance Monitoring System to evaluate the effectiveness of CODE-NGO as a network – performance outcome and output indicators to assess the work of CODE-NGO in terms of membership strengthening, public policy advocacy and governance were drafted by the Secretariat and reviewed/revised by the Commissions.
• Workers’ Welfare Study – a random survey among CODE-NGO affiliate organizations conducted in January to May 2011, point that variables on “Organizational Culture” and “Personnel Empowerment” are high, which might indicate a good social environment in NGOs. This validates the initial hypothesis and other previous studies that NGO workers are motivated more by psychic benefits (work that has meaning, value, impact to others and to self) more than for tangible income. However, this does not give an NGO a reason for not providing just compensation and benefits for NGO workers. Of 76 respondents, 2 organizations were found to be giving less than 5-day Service Incentive Leaves and 1 organization was providing less than 60-days maternity leave. Around 30% of respondents do not provide mandatory SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-ibig benefits (although it could not be ascertained from the data whether these figures cover professional service contracts). Also, the NGO workers’ top 5 choices for other benefits, according to rank, include health insurance, various leaves, various bonuses, retirement or gratuity pay and allowances for children’s education.  
• PCNC certification targets – The 12 member networks of CODE-NGO re-affirmed it as a measure of NGO good governance.  However, it is recognized that there is a need to strengthen the campaign for PCNC certification among their respective member organizations.

Based on a review of these initiatives, the Commissions agreed on the following resolutions and recommendations:

1. That adherence to salaries and benefits for both regular and project-based staff as mandated by labor laws and the CODE-NGO Code of Conduct is non-negotiable; which includes SSS/Pag-ibig/PhilHealth coverage and leave benefits. A system by which to monitor non-compliant organizations will be set up by CIRI;
2. That better-than-minimum compensation and benefits for NGO workers shall be promoted, particularly including enrollment of staff in medical/life insurance, as part of our ideal standards for workers’ welfare. Such standards shall also be included in our negotiations for project funding with donors;
3. That CODE-NGO sustains the Scholarship Fund Program for another 3 years, starting with a new training needs analysis to be facilitated by the CICB, and supporting both a commonly-identified capacity building activity for all member networks, as well as the specific HRD/OD plan of respective networks;
4. That the Performance Monitoring System be used by CODE-NGO to evaluate its own performance as a network vis-a-vis its Strategic Plan for the past five years, and as an input to its  upcoming Strategic Planning process for the next five years FY2012-2017.  

The CODE-NGO National Board of Trustees subsequently approved the resolutions and recommendations of the CIRI and CICB in its meeting last July 15, 2011 – (by Roselle S. Rasay, CODE-NGO Program Specialist for Membership).