2008 has already been a busy year for the NGO/charitable sector in the Gulf. January saw the publication of a new draft NGO law in Saudi Arabia. As well as introducing new rules for the governance of NGOs, both domestic and international, including Foundations, the law aims to establish a single National Commission for their oversight. We understand that the law is still under discussion but is seen as a progressive step in the Government's efforts to improve regulation in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile in Oman, the NGO regulator, the Ministry of Social Development, has taken steps to develop a new and forward looking strategy for the voluntary sector. The Ministry is hoping to establish a more enabling environment for its NGOs (still few in number) by working to raise public awareness of their role and contribution as well as facilitating better relations between both NGOs and (wider) Government and with the private sector. There is interest in further encouraging and developing Corporate Social Responsibility among businesses in Oman.
The Council of Europe adopted recommendations to member states on the legal status of NGOs in Europe. This establishes minimum best practice standards for legislation and regulations relating to the NGO sector. The recommendations can be found in full here
Three recent reports provide some interesting context on the NPO sector. Johns Hopkins University Centre for Civil Society has reported on initial findings on the implementation of the UN Handbook on Nonprofit Institutions. The report, entitled Measuring Civil Society and Volunteering, suggests that the sector is both larger and more diverse than previous reports have suggested. It can be found here
The BDO Not-for-Profit Fraud Survey 2008 gathered responses from 384 non-profit organisations in Australia and New Zealand. Amongst the findings were that 16% of non-profit organisations have been victims of financial crime in the last two years, the most common types of financial crime were cash theft and bribery, and the most successful method for detection of fraud was internal financial controls (36% were discovered this way). The full report can be found here
Meanwhile the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has produced a new report on terrorist financing, including but not limited to the non-profit sector. The report aims to provide a snapshot of the ways in which terrorists raise, move and use funds and the ways in which financial information and the implementation of the FATF’s international standards to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) are helping to hold those responsible to account. The report can be found here
Governance and Management of Non-profit Organisations (NPOs)/Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) - 21 July - 29 August 2008, India. This training programme is sponsored by Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation (ITEC), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The participants from the 156 countries as listed by ITEC, under SCAAP, will have training, accommodation and travelling expenses covered, and provision is made for some personal expenses. However, applicants from countries other than those listed by ITEC can join the training programme on payment of a fee of here
The International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law has just announced the availability of two new Research Fellowships (2-4 weeks in Washington, DC) to conduct research on the legal framework for civil society in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Fellows must be able to travel between August and September 2008. For more information, or to apply for the Research Fellowship, please visit the ICNL website or email. Applications must be received by May 30, 2008.
Finally, news of developments at the Charity Commission’s International Programme. Firstly, the Programme has secured funding from the UK Foreign Office’s Global Opportunities Fund which guarantees its future until 2011. However, that future will be under new leadership as James Shaw-Hamilton, Head of the International Programme since it began in 2004, has left the Programme to head the Humanitarian Forum. The Humanitarian Forum is a consortium of humanitarian organisations established to help create a conducive, unbiased and safe environment for the implementation of technically sound and principled humanitarian action. All those who have worked with James have appreciated his enthusiasm and dedication to creating a healthy NGO sector over the last three and a half years and will wish him all the best with his exciting new work. Phil Cooper has been appointed interim Head.