Q+A: What's the Good Practice Project?

05 Mar 2010
Written by: Thin Lei Win

PHNOM PENH (AlertNet) - Advocacy and aid groups in Cambodia have expressed concerns about a proposed law regulating non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Southeast Asian country.

The issue has raised a wider question about governance in the sector crowded with hundreds if not thousands of players.

Here are some questions and answers about a home-grown system aimed at self-regulation.

What is the Good Practice Project (GPP)?

Launched two years ago, the Good Practice Project (GPP) is an attempt by Cambodia's NGO community to clean its own house before the NGO and Associations Law comes into force. Under the GPP, NGOs undergo a voluntary certification system and agree to comply with a set of ethical principles (the Code of Ethical Principles and Minimum Standards for NGOs in Cambodia).

The NGOs must first be registered with relevant ministries and have been operating for three years at least.

Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC), a two-decade old umbrella group for over 100 local and international NGOs helped developed GPP.

Why is it needed?

Twelve years after the end of a brutal civil war, Cambodia now boasts thousands of NGOs and associations. Figures vary -- the government says there are over 3,000 while an NGO umbrella group says around 1,000 exist. There has been criticism over the conduct of some NGOs and the NGO community concedes there is a need for accountability.

What is the Code of Ethical Principles and Minimum Standards for NGOs in Cambodia?

This is a set of principles and minimum guidelines for NGOs on a host of issues ranging from mission and values and governance to accountability and transparency and human resources.

GPP team members say the idea is to guide NGOs to become more professional in their everyday practice as well as to inform public and interested parties about the principles they can expect NGOs to uphold.

The NGOs who wants to be certified by the GPP has to ensure they comply with the code. The first version of the code was drafted in 1995.

How does it work?

The NGOs who have decided to get the certification need to go through a series of steps including submitting a written application and documentation such as annual audit statements, annual reports and organizational statues.

Before they receive certification as Good Practice NGOs, GPP staff will review the documents and the NGOs' programmes through field visits. Once all the criteria have been fulfilled, they will receive a certification lasting three years.

What does it mean for organizations to be certified?

In theory, the certification will act as a stamp of approval of the NGO and an assurance to the general public as well as the government over the integrity of the individuals and organizations involved and the effectiveness of its programmes.

Increasingly, it will also become an asset with the donors. Already, the Australian government's aid agency Aus AID lists the certification as a requirement when calling for NGOs to send in proposals for aid projects.

How many have been certified under the GPP?

So far only 17 have been certified out of 51 applications. These include a wide range of NGOs such as the Non-Timber Forest Products Organisation, street children charity Mith Samlanh and Salvation Center Cambodia where Buddhist monks provide spiritual and practical support to HIV/AIDS patients.

Although the number may seem miniscule given the size of the NGO community in Cambodia, GPP said it had seen an increase in applications, possibly due to concerns over the impending NGO law.