The Code of Good Practice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS : Overview

August 27, 2012 Christina Wegs, MPH, MSW Senior Technical Advisor, Sexual Reproductive and Maternal Health CARE USA USAID Pathways for Participation

USAID Pathways for Participation

OUR GOAL: Together, we aim to help create an empowered and effective civil society that provides a sustainable and significant impact is accountable to its constituencies and contributes to the national HIV/AIDS response.

Development of the NGO Code of Good Practice

2003-2004 Proliferation of NGOs and HIV/AIDS programs- concern about quality, accountability and fragmentation of NGO voice in the HIV response Consultative Process led by Steering Committee: 16 NGOs including CARE, GNP+, Intl HIV/AIDS Alliance 160 original signatories- now 478 Built on experience of NGOs, human rights principles and public health principles; other Codes of Practice (e.g. 1994 International Red Cross/Red Crescent Code of Conduct)

Goal of the Code of Good Pracrtice for NGOs Responding to HIV/AIDS

To help create a united and accountable NGO response to HIV, dedicated to continuous improvement, informed by evidence and the needs of affected communities. (NGO Code, 2004)

What is the Code?

A Shared Framework of Principles for good practice in our programming and advocacy. (NGO Code, 2004) Working towards principles shapes HOW NGOs design and provide services, run their organizations, conduct advocacy. and how they partner with and represent PLHIV/affected communities in all aspects of HIV response. Voluntary Code - NGOs endorse and commit to working towards principles over time, according to their capacity, the needs in their context. Does not replace regulatory codes or evolving technical standards

Five Core Guiding Principles of the Code:

Advocate for the meaningful involvement of PLHIV and affected communities in all aspects of the HIV response Protect and promote human rights in our work. Apply public health principles within our work. Address underlying causes of vulnerability to HIV infection, as well as the impacts of HIV/AIDS. Commit to evidence-based programs and services

Good Practice Principles: Highlights of Organizational Principles

We commit to effective & transparent organisational practices
Foster meaningful involvement of PLHIV and affected communities in all aspects of our organizations Efficient and transparent financial management Transparent governance- policies and procedures that guide how we make decisions (select partners, make priorities) Evaluate and improve our programs in response to community needs Ensure Access and Equity in our services Address and prevent discrimination/foster equity in our own organizations (S/D, gender-based discrimination)

Good Practice Principles: Highlights of Programming (& Advocacy) Principles

We commit to providing high-quality, responsive HIV/AIDS services to PLHIV and affected communities
Meaningful involvement of PLHIV/affected communities Commit to evidence-based services to ensure effectiveness Enable individuals to develop skills to protect themselves or others from HIV infection Provide/advocate for comprehensive services - prevention tailored to meet needs of different populations (harm reduction) + holistic treatment, care and support services Monitor and respond to stigma and discrimination in our services + enable communities to understand & respond to S/D

Putting Principles into Practice

The Code is a set of shared values that NGOs work towards achieving collectively together- not all NGOs will implement activities in every area covered by the code some NGOs focus on services, other advocacy NGOs must sign and fully endorse all aspects of the Code to be an official signatory and use the Code on their websites etc. But all NGOs and networks of NGOs welcome to refer to the Principles as they develop their own guiding principles Toolkit with Self-Assessment Checklists (www.hivcode.org)

Putting Principles into Practice: International HIV/AIDS Alliance

Accreditation for Individual NGOs:
NGOs sign and endorse code Alliance Charter and Good Practice Principles aligned with Code Clear Organizational and Programming Standards Self-assessment, peer assessment multistep accreditation process including site visits Linking members join international community of accredited NGOs- networking, joint advocacy, funding SCDI becoming accredited- can share experiences with us

Developing and Adapting Codes of Practice: What have we learned?

Many Codes of Practice have been/are being developed globally
National/regional Codes of Conduct Codes within organizations: Action Aid (which also signed HIV/AIDS NGO Code) National CSO partnership frameworks: DFID Partnership Agreements (define they partner with CSO to achieve MDGs) Within development sectors: Code of Conduct for International Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement Across all development sectors: International Development Effectiveness Framework (currently being adapted for Vietnam!)

What have we learned? A Code of Good Practice

Is intended to ensure quality, transparency and accountability accountability to Government, donors, to beneficiaries and to the communities we serve Is voluntary and peer-driven: self-regulation and mutual accountability among NGOs Helps foster internalization of and ownership of the principles and values that guide NGO work ( an NGO culture ) instead of principles imposed by donors Quality = quality of NGOs relationships with beneficiaries and the extent to which they are truly responsive to the needs of beneficiaries and accountable to beneficiaries

Developing and Adapting Codes of Practice: What have we learned?

Code is voluntary- will NGOs want to sign on? What motivates NGOs? (more credible to donors and government, internal motivation for self-improvement and commitment to quality and constituencies?) How to adapt a Code to different contexts and realities while staying true to the core values of a code? (political, legal, regulatory) Dont focus only on upward accountability (Government, donors) but on true accountability to constituencies

Developing and Adapting Codes of Practice: What have we learned?

Importance of translating Principles into Practice (What good practice looks like, clear process to get there over time, tools to help NGOs to achieve standards) Stay flexible how to make relevant and achievable for small CBOs/CSOs? (e.g. a small CSO wont have complicated HR or financial systems) Avoid many multiple standards and assessment toolshow to harmonize and streamline tools and standards for NGOs and CSOs?

Stakeholder Perspectives: Consultations AUG

17- 24, validated at meeting AUG 27-28

Potential value of developing a shared set of guiding principles and values Opportunities and Challenges (incl. What makes sense for Vietnam) Key priorities of different stakeholders Recommendations about the best way forward
Stakeholders for this initial consultation

Pathways NGO and CBO partners: CCRD, LIFE, SCDI, PHAD, COHED, Bright Futures, SPN+ Pathways team members at USAID, RTI and CARE Others: HAA, UNAIDS, I-See, CARE staff working with CSO Strengthening in other sectors

Why develop a Code of Good Practice?*

A set of shared values can help NGOs/CSOs collectively work towards becoming more transparent, effective and accountable.
We want the role and contribution of civil society to be better understood, valued and respected by the Vietnamese People and Government. We want to improve our image & reputation. We want to be an more effective and influential voice in policy and decision-making. Many CSOs are committed to continuous improvement- want to grow and learn, and be truly accountable to beneficiaries and communities. True excitement about helping the young CSO sector become stronger, helping create an NGO Culture

Why develop a Code of Good Practice?*

Developing and achieving standards- especially for good governance and financial management systems - will help ensure long-term viability of NGOs/CSOs

Transparent decision-making processes - decisions not just by leaders but multiple stakeholders, guided by clear processes(organizations wont lose their way/ fall apart when leaders go) NGOs/CSOs want to achieve legitimacy and credibility with the Government, to be included in planning and decision-making and to receive Government funding Thinking about long-term sustainability- prepare for reduction in donor funding overall and HIV/AIDS funding in particular (new skills for changing donor priorities, credible to wide range of supporters including Vietnamese middle class) (Note not all Pathways Lead Partners agree with this last point)

Challenges and Opportunities

How to help HIV/AIDS NGOs/CSOs become viable and effective for the long-term?

Many NGOs/CSOs have built their technical capacity over time, and are developing organizational systems how do we help them become stronger? How do we help strengthen and maintain capacity over time in organizations that have limited human resources? How to help HIV/AIDS organizations prepare for reduction in HIV funding and build other competencies?

Challenges and Opportunities

Some NGOs/CSOs = project-based vs. mission-driven

Many started as technical transfer for Government and Donor Some still are project-based - lack clear identity and purpose Not all NGOs/CSOs see themselves as responsible for representing/responding to beneficiaries or protecting rights of beneficiaries. Many CBOs that started as technical transfer are becoming stronger/want to be stronger- we need to pay special attention in how to nurture them However.Not all CBOs have the human or technical resources to grow, some community-based networks of may not want to become an organized CBO

Issues to consider: Specific Priorities

We need to better define meaningful participation of/representation of PLHIV and affected communities (We all talk about thiswhat does that look like, how do we really do it, are we holding each other truly accountable? How do we set standards for MIPA in government, hold government accountable?) Want a strong, effective and united voice for advocacyas we grow, develop processes and feedback mechanisms to develop a shared advocacy agenda, ensure true representation of multiple stakeholders, feedback mechanisms

Issues to consider: Specific Priorities

Addressing enabling legal environment- not just legal registration but policies/laws that enable new ways of working- e.g. now GoV only recognizes NGO Directors, not a Board of Directors Need to align our principles with our OD and technical capacity-building plans to address priority gaps Importance of investing in OD, leadership, team-building to enable all these changes in NGOs/CSOs Need to focus on strengthening networks of NGOs/CBOs to grow together (and speak together)

Issues to consider: Specific Priorities

Need to strengthen partnership and coordination between of NGOs/CBOs and the government

Do we need a partnership principle that outlines the different partnerships NGOs/CBOs need to be effective, including partnership with government? When we operationalize this principle can we concretely lay out mutual expectations for how that partnership and coordination will work- like an SOP for NGOs/CBOs and PACs? This is a critical concern of government- addressing this early might help build support for the Code, as well as help with our goal of increasing credibility/legitimacy of NGOs/CBOs

Issues to consider: Specific Priorities

If this Code is created through a project, how can we help it be sustained after the project ends?

Suggest we set priorities (vs. trying to do everything) Try to gain as much momentum and buy-in as possible during Pathways so the Code is more likely to endure after the project ends

Focus not only on principles and skills that are relevant now, but which will help NGOs/CSOs be viable in the future (5, 10, 15 years,,,?)

E.g. Norms for communication- how will we represent our constituencies, what images can we use, how will we protect identity and confidentiality

How to start: Recommendations

Code must be voluntary, created by and owned by NGO/CSOs wont work if it feels punative code and imposed by others: How do we improve ourselves?

External motivation alone not enough/ need internal motivation

Stakeholders emphasized the need to adapt the NGO Code for Vietnam context

Simplify, focus on the priority areas where NGOs/CSOs in Vietnam really want to become stronger in next 5 years Draw from other Codes of Practice already being adapted for Vietnam (parts of the Development Effectiveness Framework?) Revise language, draw from in existing legal documents and Codes (e.g. the HIV/AIDS law, the HIV/AIDS Strategy)

How to start: Recommendations

Identify and engage with key Government agencies

Identify allies in Government, cultivate collaboration Understand and respond to Government priority concerns (i.e. financial management, coordination of CSO services with PACs)

Engage with larger community of CSOs and of PLHIV/affected communities early in process if we really want a shared set of principles

Start with Pathways partner NGOs/CSOs Ongoing engagement vs. one-off consultation: our partners to help define principles, provide feedback on implementation of the key practices we all commit to

How to start: Recommendations

Dont duplicate efforts build on whats been done and contribute ongoing dialogue and networks about CSO

Map out other CSO Standard Setting Efforts, build on accepted principles and standards (e.g. Development Effectiveness Framework) Contribute to multi-sectoral CSO networks (e.g. CSO National Conferences) Contribute to dialogue in our sector (e.g. HIV/AIDS Technical Working Groups?)

How to start: Recommendations

In Pathways, clarify step-by-step step processes to achieve standards and develop practical tools to help us get there:

Ways of Working - What do principles actually look like in our daily work? How to apply at all levels? Principles Practices- Tools to Assess Current Practice- Measure improvement over time Our norms as a project ***Build on existing tools (Map out what we have already measured with OPI, new tools to fill gaps) Simple, practical, easy to implement