This website is managed by The International Programme of the Charity Commission

Training and Techncial Assistance

Training

One of the key ways in which we support the development of proportionate, effective regulation is to deliver high quality training to government bodies and civil society.

Our position within the Charity Commission, which has over 150 years’ experience of regulating charities within England and Wales, and the knowledge our team has gained through our extensive programme of international outreach means we are uniquely placed to provide an insight into the complex area of regulation of the NGO sector.

Our training centres on our four building blocks of effective regulation. Our experience of regulation of NGOs in the UK and overseas has taught us that effective regulation is not limited to action taken by the state, but consists of four essential components: the legal framework, regulation, government/sector dialogue and sector capacity. While all of our training is tailor made to the organisations and individuals with whom we are working, our programmes strive to engage across these four building blocks.

Key elements of our training to date has included:
  • The key functions of an effective regulator: registration, advice and guidance, monitoring and investigating of NGOs.
  • Developing effective mechanisms for consultation between governments and the NGO sector.
  • NGO sector and regulation review: providing officials with the tools and methodology to undertake a comprehensive review of their country’s NGO sector and regulatory environment, and identify the weaknesses within the system that need to be addressed.
  • Complying with international standards of NGO regulation such as FATF’s Special Recommendation VIII.
  • Advanced monitoring and investigation skills, including specialist analysis skills; identification of trends; tackling fraud, terrorist financing and money laundering; identifying fake NGOs; and improving compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Training of trainers: equipping key staff to provide ongoing training and technical assistance to their colleagues in the area of NGO regulation.
  • Evaluating and implementing the legal framework for NGOs, including training on identifying weaknesses in existing legislation, consultations with NGO sector and wider government, resource mobilisation and planning.
  • Financial accountability and good governance for both NGOs and government bodies.
  • Study visit to the Charity Commission in London. Gain an overview of the regulatory approach in the UK, and observe the most advanced regulatory practices at first hand.

Wherever possible we deliver this training in partnership with experts from civil society. This reflects our belief that improvement in the regulatory environment for NGOs requires more than action by the state and can only be achieved through government and civil society working in partnership.

Participants:

Participants in our training include officials from the government departments with responsibility for NGOs, and staff from both international and local NGOs. Ministers and senior civil servants also attend the study visits we host in the UK.

To date we have provided training in over 20 countries and been commissioned to lead training sessions for regional bodies such as the European Union, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), and the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG).

Feedback from previous participants:

“All materials are prepared comprehensively, such as registration forms, annual return forms, which provide us with much useful information.”

“The workshop was valuable to all participants. I was surprised by how engaging the subject actually was.”

“The speakers are excellent.”

Feedback from government officials from APEC countries following a seminar on Improving Regulation of the Non-Profit Organisation Sector.

“I would like to thank you for agreeing to my visit to the Charity Commission…for me, this visit was invaluable. With the task of putting together a monitoring and compliance framework for the New Zealand Charities Commission, the opportunity to tap into the expertise and experience of your staff was hugely valuable.”

From the General Manager of Registration and Compliance at the New Zealand Charities Commission following a visit to the Charity Commission in London.

Technical Assistance

In addition to providing training of your own staff, our team is able to offer the following specialist services:

  • Bespoke regulatory software such as an online register of NGOs.
  • Evaluation of the regulatory environment for NGOs.
  • Strategic review of the NGO regulators with recommendations to strengthen the delivery of effective regulation.

If you would like more information about the training and technical assistance we can provide, please call Jo Saunders on +44207 674 2419 or email internationalprogramme@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk