Welcome to our first newsletter of 2011. The New Year has been a busy time for us as our work in the Gulf States, Pakistan and Indonesia gathers pace, and I’m sure many of you will be meeting with members of the team as they travel to deliver training and develop our projects in these countries.
The end of 2010 was also a busy time, and this newsletter contains details of some of the exciting developments underway in the field of NGO regulation in Pakistan, Indonesia and the UAE and our partnership with the Afghan Government. Particular thanks also to Ms. Makiya Al Hajiri, CEO, Dubai International Humanitarian City, for her article about the steps her organisation is taking to assist the humanitarian community in the region and serve as a global logistics hub for humanitarian efforts.
The International Programme has recently delivered training to the Afghan Government’s NGO Department. At the end of September Robin MacGregor, the Programme’s Regional Manager for the Gulf and Middle East, led a three day programme of training at the International Humanitarian City (IHC) in Dubai for eight senior members of the NGO Department from the Ministry of Economy, and one member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The group was joined by representatives from the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, who facilitated the officials’ visit to the UAE. The training focussed on international best practice in NGO regulation, and included exercises and methods for registration of NGOs, monitoring, evaluation, investigations and preventing abuse. A follow-up programme of support with the Afghan Government is planned for 2011. For more details about our work in Afghanistan, please contact Robin MacGregor on robin.macgregor@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk
In November the Government of Pakistan held a national consultation workshop to discuss progress that has been made in improving the regulation of NGOs as a result of the collaboration between the Government of Pakistan and the International Programme. The workshop was attended by over 70 delegates from NGOs and government agencies from across the country. Delegates were of the view that there had been a great deal of improvement in the systems of NGO regulation, and that NGOs had recognised this and were now working in closer partnership with the Government to deliver benefits to the people of Pakistan. The new guidance leaflets that had been developed by the Government were considered and identified as a key resource for continuing to improve these systems and as a tool that NGOs will be able to use to assist them when they have difficulties. These leaflets cover topics such as good financial management, writing project proposals, avoiding abuse and the use of IT. Following on from the disastrous flooding in Pakistan a further leaflet on responding to disasters is being devised. The Government of Pakistan and the International Programme will continue their collaboration in 2011. For further information about our work in Pakistan, please contact Phil Cooper on phil.cooper@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk
The International Programme is soon to start implementing a major new project with Kementerian Sosial (Kemensos), the Indonesian Ministry of Social Welfare. Over the next two-and-a-half years, the International Programme will bring together Kemensos staff and specialists from across the Charity Commission to design and implement a comprehensive new regulatory system for Indonesian Social Welfare NGOs. The Programme will also facilitate a programme of consultation with the NGO sector and provide training to 750 staff in the new procedures. This is a major and exciting new project supported by the Canadian Department for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the IMF. For more details about this work, please contact Ben Evans on ben.evans@charitycommission.gsi.gov.uk or check our website for updates.
Making the most of its geographical and strategic advantages, International Humanitarian City (IHC), Dubai, brings together United Nations agencies, local, regional and international Non-Profit Organisations, commercial companies and other stakeholders to serve as a unique global humanitarian hub.
An independent free zone authority mandated by the Government of Dubai, IHC was established in March 2007 under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. We are honoured to have UN Messenger of Peace Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein as our Chairperson.
In addition to being an increasingly prominent logistics hub, IHC is making all efforts to create a truly dynamic and socially responsible humanitarian community in the UAE and the region. As part of our broader vision, IHC encourages humanitarian skill development and in the last two years, we have both hosted and supported a number of specialized trainings and workshops for humanitarian professionals.
The UAE, by virtue of its location, infrastructure and unique facilities, is recognized by humanitarian organizations as an ideal response hub to reach out to not just the Middle East, but Africa and Asia.
This quality also makes it a great location to become a knowledge and training hub, since it attracts knowledgeable, experienced experts in the field as well local/regional professionals who would otherwise have to travel days to get such training opportunities.
We are extremely pleased to build on our efforts through our tie up with the Charity Commission’s International Programme and their support. We are in the process of drawing up and executing a suitable calendar of training sessions, in close collaboration with the Government, regional and international organizations based here in UAE as well as the NGO sector of the region.
I am confident that in the coming years, the UAE will be well renowned for its leadership in humanitarian endeavours.
Ms. Makiya Al Hajiri, CEO, International Humanitarian City.
For more information about the IHC, please see its website: http://www.ihc.ae/
A pdf of this newsletter is available to download here
This newsletter and the associated website www.NGOregnet.org are produced by the Charity Commission's International Programme. The Programme is supporting the development of a healthy, accountable and independent NGO sector worldwide by facilitating the exchange of good ideas for NGO regulation nationally, regionally and internationally