NGO Another Way (Stichting Bakens Verzet), 1018 AM Amsterdam, Netherlands.

 

Edition 01: 06 November, 2009

 

01. E-course : Diploma in Integrated Development (Dip. Int. Dev.)

 

 

Quarter 1.

 

 

SECTION B : SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS.

 

 

Value : 06 points out of 18.

Work foreseen: 186 hours out of 504.

 

The points are awarded only after passing the consolidated exam for Section B : Solutions to the problems.

 


 

Third block : Solutions to the problems.

 

Value : 01 point our of 18.

Work foreseen: 36 hours out of 504.

 

[16.00 Hours] Section 1 : Anthropological analysis of the three levels of project structures. (Value 0.5 point)

[16.00 Hours] Section 2 : Division of responsibilities amongst the three levels of structures. (Value 0,5 point)

[04.00 Hours] Exam block 3.

 

The point is awarded only after passing the consolidated exam for Section B : Solutions to the problems.

 


 

[16.00 Hours] Section 2 : Division of des responsibilities amongst the three levels of structures. (Value 0,5 point)

 

Division of responsibilities. [14.00 Hours]

 

01. The chain of  responsibilities. 

02. Illustration of the division of  responsibilities. 

03. Tank commissions. 

04. Well commissions. 

05. Central committee. 

06. Permanent cooperative for the management of the project structures. 

07. Cooperative for project execution. 

 

[02.00 Hours] Report on Section 2 of Block 3.

 


 

Third  block : Exam. [ 4 hours per attempt]

 


 

Division of responsibilities. [14.00 Hours]

 

07. Cooperative for project execution.  (At least 2 hours)

 

Section  06. The permanent cooperative for the management of the project structures of the Block 3 of the course covered  the responsibilities of the Permanent Cooperative for the Management of the Project Structures.

 

It was seen that at a given point of time, the management of each structure created  passes to the Management Cooperative. At what moment, exactly, does the transfer of  responsibility take place ? Who makes the decision ? Who is responsible for the structures created but not yet operative ?

 

Read the 05.08 Statutes of the NGO responsible for project execution carefully.

 

Article 3 provides : «The association is created for the period of execution of the project which shall not exceed ten years.”

The time for the execution of  each individual integrated development project is usually two years.

1. Opinion.

On one page explain in two paragraphs why you think a period of ten years and not  two years is given as the duration of the cooperative for Project Execution. What would happen if project execution was under way at the expiry of the ten year period ? What would happen if project execution had still not started  at the expiry of the ten year period ?

 

Look again at the following slide showing :

 

Initial formalities.

 

Article 10  of the statutes of the NGO responsible for project execution  provides that the board of directors of the Execution Cooperative nominate the project coordinator.

According to article 15:

«The project coordinator  is appointed for the duration of the project and is responsible  for  the execution of the project until transfer of the structures created to the management cooperative [name of the Cooperative].”

 The project coordinator records the status of inventories, accounts, and budget documents submitted to the Board of Directors.

The project coordinator opens and operates all executive bank accounts including current accounts  in the name of the project during the execution phase.

The project coordinator answers to the Board of Directors and informs the Audit Commission of his or her activities, payments and receipts.”

Articles 24  and 25 state:

“Article 24 “Sums withdrawn from the capital account are paid at the request of the project Coordinator into executive accounts of the project operated under the responsibility of the coordinator.

Article 25 : Withdrawals or payments greater than [amount] from the executive accounts of the project must be co-signed by the Coordinator and the Chairman of the Board of Directors.. Withdrawals or payments greater than [amount] are subject to specific authorisation of the Board of Directors.”

The project coordinator (or the coordination group) answers to the Board of the Cooperative for the execution of the project. The Board of Directors may be considered the «Parliament » for the execution of the project. The Coordinator (of the coordination group) is the «Government in charge of project execution ». The coordinator is independent, subject to certain limitations concerning payment of expenses.

 

2. Opinion.

 

On one page make an  analysis of the  advantages deriving from the separation of powers between the « Parliament » and the  «Government ». Which possible disadvantages do you think the separation of powers could have ? Why ?  

 

Look at the following slide showing the structures for  the audit of integrated development projects. The drawing is subject to modification in accordance with preferences eventually expressed by donors.

 

Proposed structures for the audit of project execution.

 

Article 10  of the statutes of the NGO responsible for project execution  provides that the Board of the Cooperative for Project Execution nominate

 

« an on-going auditing commission and , subject to the contents of these statutes, [define] its powers and tasks » 

 

Articles 17-20  are about the powers of the Commission for the on-going auditing commission :

 

“Article 17 : The activities of the Association are placed under the control of an independent auditing commission. The auditing commission may include, by way of example, a former national auditor general (chairperson) ; accountants of the signatories, a representative of the regional association of NGOs , a representative of the National Federation of NGOs of the host country; a representative of the [Rural Development Ministry],  a representative of the [Ministry of Finance].

The members of the auditing commission are elected by the Board of Directors in principle for the full period of project execution, subject however to annual review and confirmation by the Board.

Article 18 : The Board of Directors may only discharge the Auditing Commission on presentation and acceptation of  the annual report and balance sheet of the Association  for the year in question and of the final project accounts.

Article 19 : Payment, if required, of the members of the Auditing Commission is the responsibility of the signatories on an equal share basis.

Article 20 : The auditing commission answers exclusively to the Board of Directors. It has full rights of inspection without notice of all the activities relating to the execution of the project and of all accounts and documents of the Association.

 

3. Opinion.

 

On one page explain how the coordinator answers to the commission for the on-going audit of the accounts, and how you would see the commission operate. Do you think that the separation of powers provided in the Statutes is adequate ? If applicable, which improvements would you like to see brought to the statutes ?

 

4. Opinion.

 

You are chairperson of the commission for the on-going audit of the accounts of an integrated development project. On one page explain your relationship with the project coordinator,  with the Board of teh Cooperative, and with the independent audit. Which checks would you carry out, and how often ?

 

The statutes of  permanent cooperative for the management of the project structures  and of the Cooperative for Project Execution, have been designed to combat corruption, bearing in mind the social control exercised at the tank- and  well-commission levels.

 

The issue of corruption is dealt with in detail in  section 6: Corruption of the fifth block  How the structures described in the third block respond to some specific problems.

 

5. Opinion.

 

On one page make a summary of measures taken to prevent corruption. Do you think they are sufficient? Do you think they can be improved ? In that case, how ?

 

    Once you have finished your exercises,  proceed with the preparation of your Report on Section 2 of Block 3.

 



 Third block :  Section 2 : Division of responsibilities.

 Third block : Solutions to the problems.


Main index of the course for the Diploma in Integrated Development  (Dip. Int. Dev.)

 List of key words.

 List of references.

  Course chart.

 Technical aspects.


 Courses available.

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