Governance
CW4WAfghan is a federally registered charity (Canada Revenue Agency #887718203RR0001). CW4WAfghan is also registered with Industry Canada as a non-profit corporation under number 415380-4 and is licensed to operate under the Alberta Government Charities Act (#309874).
Originally founded in 1998, CW4WAfghan was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in May 2003 and as a registered charity in February 2009. CW4WAfghan is governed by an elected Board of Directors comprised of not less than three persons elected to fill the Officer positions, and no more than six additional persons, being Directors at large, as per the organization’s CRA approved by-laws. The officers of CW4WAfghan are the National President, the National Vice President, the National Secretary and the National Treasurer. Directors and officers are nominated and elected at the annual general meetings by voting members.
Annual Reports
Annual Report 2015
Finances
CW4WAfghan’s budgeting allows for sufficient funds to be available each year to sustain our long-term commitments with our project partners. Accordingly, we have held an investment of a minimum of $250,000 as reserve funds to sustain our projects for a 12-month period beyond the current fiscal year.
Policies
CW4WAfghan has a comprehensive system of policies and procedures in place that guide our organization’s program implementation, performance measurement, financial accountability and human resource management, among others. CW4WAfghan maintains our legal status with the Afghan government as well as being a registered charity in good standing with Canada Revenue Agency. Our Canadian records are audited annually in Canada, as well all reports and legal requirements adhered to, as set out by the regulations of the Canada Revenue Agency that govern charities. Together, our policies aim to ensure:
- Review and approval processes for projects, such as assessing proposals and competitive RFPs, budgets, required narrative and financial reporting.
- Site visits to ensure operations are in keeping with reports from the field.
- A performance measurement system that routinely collects relevant data from funded services.
- Application of policies, guidelines for projects implemented by partners.
- Enforcement of a procurement of goods and services policy.
- Use of binding contracts.
- Implementation of travel directive policy.
- Application of a zero-tolerance anti-corruption policy.
Below we summarize our key policies.
The purpose of CW4WAfghan’s Code of Conduct is to set out the core values that we wish for the CW4WAfghan work place to reflect. Demonstrating these values helps ensure we are fulfilling our mission as an organization and that all CW4WAfghan representatives uphold the highest standards of ethical behaviour.
The Code of Conduct outlines how misconduct may be reported including any concerns related to: abuse, exploitation, discrimination, harassment, fraud or other criminal or corrupt practices. In addition, CW4WAfghan has a policy to prevent Sexual Exploitation.
CW4WAfghan adopted its first Green Policy in its country office in Kabul in 2013. As an organization working towards human development objectives in Afghanistan, CW4WAfghan members realize that development without sustainable management of environmental resources is untenable. The impact of environmental degradation puts at risk the future we hope that Afghan children will inherit: one where the health and welfare of Afghans will be protected and promoted. CW4WAfghan has started by assessing its own practices and policies, and their impact on the environment.
CW4WAfghan has partnered with the Green Club of Afghanistan to make its Green Policy a public document in the hopes that other organizations, agencies and companies operating in Afghanistan will also adopt similar policies. CW4WAfghan plans to continually improve its policy, to adopt greener technologies such as solar power, and to network within the NGO community to share best practices. While a modest first action, it is an important starting point and we hope it might be a policy and regular practice others may adopt.
Afghanistan, and its capital city in particular, are facing an environmental crisis that puts millions of lives at risk, and significantly lowers the quality of life of Afghans. Despite the gravity of this crisis—which is estimated to claim far more lives than the current conflict—little is being done. The problems are manifold. Smog is now observed year-round in Kabul. Particulate emissions from vehicles, burning of wood and coal, of tires (that also contain human carcinogens), of diesel, of plastics and Styrofoam, and used motor oil have reached dangerously high levels. The United Nations Environmental Program has found that most fuels used in Afghanistan do not comply with international standards. As a result adverse health effects are widespread such as stroke, lung cancer, brain damage, and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. A 2009 study by the Afghan Ministry of Public Health found that 80% of Kabul residents had lead in their blood. Lead has a seriously deleterious effect on the brain development of children, often leading to learning disabilities. A recent study of pollution in Kabul noted, “the international community and the government should realize that the worst enemy of Afghanistan is air pollution,” further noting that air pollutants are “killing many citizens every day” (Atiq Sediqi, 2010).
CW4WAfghan is committed to taking action for the environment and to changing its own practices, and strongly urges the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to adopt policies and legislation that will begin to address a crisis that greatly undermines Afghanistan’s prospects for peace and development.
Take Action:
Mark your calendars: Please consider EARTH DAY APRIL 21 or the UN’s ENVIRONMENT DAY JUNE 5th as your DAY OF ACTION to help improve the environment in Afghanistan. Share with others who may help. DONATE to Green Club of Afghanistan to further their good work. Thank you.
For more information, contact CountryDirector@cw4wafghan.ca
Going Green in Afghanistan:
View our CW4WAfghan Green Policy
Our policies provide project implementation guidelines, contracts and reporting templates, and clear expectations related to financial accountability to ensure the efficient management of projects that are implemented or co-implemented by other organizations. All expenditure documentation is reviewed and verified.
CW4WAfghan representatives in Canada and in Afghanistan abide by security protocols outlined in our organizational security manual which is aimed at reducing risk in the field.
Anti-Corruption, Anti-Financial Crimes and Anti-Money Laundering Policy
As part of our governance and other best practices for the operations, CW4WAfghan has established policies and procedures to reduce risks related to financial crimes and applies an Anti-Financial Crimes Policy that addresses issues such as the prevention of money laundering, anti-corruption, and anti-terrorism and sets out responsibilities, communication strategies, factors and procedures to mitigate possible financial crimes.
Other CW4WAfghan Policies include:
- Accounting Policies and Procedures
- Anti-Corruption, Anti Financial Crimes and Anti-Money Laundering Policy
- Child Protection Policy
- Communication Policy
- Data Protection Policy
- Financial Management Policy
- Gender Policy
- Human Resource Policy
- Human Rights Policy
- Monitoring and Evaluation Policy and Framework
- Payroll Policies
- Privacy Policy
- Procurement Policy
- Travel Policy