WELCOME TO CLAN


​CLAN (Caring & Living as Neighbours) is an exciting vehicle for effecting large-scale change for children who are living with chronic health conditions in low-middle income countries. CLAN works in the field of non-aid and development and we do this independently of any religious or political affiliation. Change alone is not enough. It is essential to CLAN that we work with integrity and strive for long-term, sustainable outcomes in all we pursue.

CLAN aims to build creative and trusting relationships with people of developing countries and to meet quality principles and commitments based on (1) :
  1. Rights, protection and inclusion
  2. Participation, employment and local ownership
  3. Sustainable change
  4. Quality and effectiveness
  5. Collaboration
  6. Communication
  7. Governance
  8. Resource management
  9. People and culture

CLAN’s Statement of Intent (read at the start of every CLAN committee meeting) is an appropriate place to start this Handbook. “CLAN (Caring & Living As Neighbours) will:
“Put the children first, seeking always to improve their quality of life and longer term health outcomes, so as to redress the global inequity associated with chronic medical conditions for children living in resource poor countries.

We will take an holistic approach, ensuring the basic pillars of CLAN are maintained:
  1. Optimise affordability and availability of medications
  2. Education (of patients, families, health care workers, government bodies, policy makers and the international community), research and advocacy
  3. Optimal medical management
  4. Encourage family support groups
  5. Assist in reducing the financial burden of chronic medical conditions in childhood that lead to poverty

We will think laterally and remain open to novel and unusual activities if there is an opportunity to benefit the children. Our first response should always be, “that sounds interesting, let’s think about that and see what we can do”, rather than, “that sounds hard, not sure if we can do that".”
The CLAN Online Policy Handbook is a living document. New policies and procedures will continuously be developed in response to the increasing breadth and depth our activities.

We welcome comments or feedback with on ways that we could improve it to better meet the needs of our stakeholders, partners and those communities with who we work. We hope that this handbook will be a useful introduction for volunteers, staff and partners who are joining our organisation, to help them learn more about the way CLAN works and the ethos and policies that underpin our action.

​1 ACFID Code of Conduct June 2017; ACFID Code of Conduct Quality Assurance Framework June 2017.

WHAT IS CLAN?


​CLAN (Caring & Living As Neighbours) is a not-for-profit, Non Government Organisation (NGO), approved by AusAID for Overseas Aid Gift Deduction Scheme (OAGDS) status and endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).

Vision Statement
That all children living with chronic health conditions in resource-poor countries of the world will enjoy a quality of life equivalent to that of their neighbours' children in higher‑income countries.

Mission Statement
To maximise the quality of life of children (and their families) who are living with chronic health conditions in resource-poor countries of the world.

CLAN’s Five Pillars
With a rights-based foundation, CLAN's strategic framework for action to maximise quality of life for children with chronic health conditions is based on our Five Pillars:
  1. Access to affordable medication and equipment 
  2. Education, research and advocacy 
  3. Optimising medical management 
  4. Encouraging family support groups 
  5. Reducing poverty and promoting financial independence.

CLAN has a 6th Pillar – Governance the activities of which are internally focussed to ensure effective governance of all administrative functions and legal compliance requirements. 

HOW CLAN WORKS


CLAN (Caring & Living as Neighbours) is an Incorporated Organisation (NSW Department of Fair Trading) and as such the Constitution is a guiding document.

As a brief guide to CLAN’s operation: CLAN Annual General Meetings are held each year, and CLAN Committee meetings every 2 months. The CLAN Committee has 5 Executive members (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Public Officer) and a variable number of ordinary committee members who are involved in project work for CLAN, or work in an advisory capacity. Executive positions are voted on at each Annual General Meeting as per the Constitution.

​The CLAN Committee is broken into several distinct project-orientated sub-committees (Working Groups), and these groups are in regular email contact between meetings, engaging in various projects for CLAN. The groups report back to the CLAN Committee at meetings on the progress of their projects. The CLAN web-site, Annual Reports and newsletters are key mechanisms that are used for disseminating reports on CLAN’s work.

CLAN'S BROADER OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK


CLAN is committed to adhering to recognised international ethical practice developed and informed by the following codes and standards:

ACFID Code of Conduct 2017

In its Preamble, the Code states that ‘The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) is the peak body for Australian non-government organisations (NGO’s) involved in the international development and humanitarian action. ACFID aims to lead and unite its Members in action for a just, equitable and sustainable world. …’

The Code sets standards for practice rather than standards for results’ and ‘it is underpinned by a set of values which inform the behaviours of all Members all of the time.’

The Code states the Quality Principles and attached Commitments for NGO accreditation requirements. The Quality Principles include:
  1. Rights, Protection & Inclusion: Development and humanitarian responses respect and protect human rights and advance inclusion.
  2. Participation, empowerment & local ownership: Development and humanitarian responses enable sustainable change through the empowerment of local actors and systems.
  3. Sustainable change: Development and humanitarian responses contribute to the realization of sustainable development.
  4. Quality and Effectiveness: Development and humanitarian organizations and responses are informed by evidence, planning, assessment and learning. 
  5. Collaboration: Development and humanitarian responses are optimized through effective coordination, collaboration and partnership. 
  6. Communication: Development and humanitarian organizations communicate truthfully and ethically. 
  7. Governance: Development and humanitarian organizations are governed in an accountable, transparent and responsible way.
  8. Resource management: Development and humanitarian organizations acquire, manage and report on resources ethically and responsibly. 
  9. People and Culture: Development and humanitarian organizations manage and support their people fairly and effectively.

The governing body of CLAN is responsible for self-assessment against the regulations and reporting to ACFID. Members are also expected to support their partners to meet the requirements of the Code.


The ACFID Quality Assurance Framework is linked to the Code of Conduct, and provides guidance for Members to demonstrate evidence of compliance with the Code. For each Quality Principle stated, Members must demonstrate compliance to the Compliance Indicators through fulfilling the requirements of the associated Verifiers. The Framework also includes Good Practice Indicators for Members to selfassess against to strengthen and improve their practice. A Code of Conduct Good Practice Toolkit is provided to support Members to meet the requirements of the Code. For more information go to: 
​www.acfid.asn.au/code-of-conduct

Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability 2014
The Standard was developed in partnership with many humanitarian organizations after a global consultation process. The focus of the Standard is humanitarian action, guided by four principles:
  1. Humanity: Human suffering must be addressed wherever it is found. The purpose of humanitarian action is to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings. 
  2. Impartiality: Humanitarian action must be carried out on the basis of need alone, giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress and making no adverse distinction on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class or political opinion. 
  3. Independence: humanitarian action must be autonomous from political, economic, military or other objectives that any actor may hold with regard to areas where humanitarian action is being implemented. 
  4. Neutrality: Humanitarian actors must not take sides in hostilities or engage in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

The Standard is a set of Nine commitments to communities an people affected by crisis, stating what they can expect from organizations and individuals delivering human assistance. Each Commitment is supported by a Quality Criterion. The Nine Commitments are for humanitarian organisations to use to improve the quality and effectiveness of the assistance they provide to people affected by crisis. The Commitments include key actions, organisational responses and the policies, processes and systems that organizations should have in place to provide high-quality and accountable humanitarian assistance.

The Nine Commitments and Quality Criteria are:
  1. Communities and people affected by crisis receive assistance appropriate and relevant to their needs. Quality Criterion: Humanitarian response is appropriate and relevant.
  2. Communities and people affected by crisis have access to the humanitarian assistance they need at the right time. Quality Criterion: Humanitarian response is effective and timely.
  3. Communities and people affected by crisis are not negatively affected and are more prepared, resilient and less at-risk as a result of humanitarian action. Quality Criterion: Humanitarian response strengthens local capacities and avoids negative effects.
  4. Communities and people affected by crisis know their rights and entitlements have access to information and participate in decisions that affect them. Quality Criterion: Humanitarian response is based on communication, participation and feedback.
  5. Communities and people affected by crisis have access to safe and responsive mechanisms to handle complaints. Quality Criterion: Complaints are welcomed and addressed.
  6. Communities and people affected by crisis receive coordinated, complementary assistance. Quality Criterion: Humanitarian response is coordinated and complementary. 
  7. Communities and people affected by crisis can expect delivery of improved assistance as organisations learn from experience and reflection. Quality Criterion: Humanitarian actors continuously learn and improve.
  8. Communities and people affected by crisis receive the assistance they require from competent and well-managed staff and volunteers. Quality Criterion: Staff are supported to do their job effectively, and are treated fairly and equitably. 
  9. Communities and people affected by crisis can expect that the organisations assisting them are managing resources effectively, efficiently and ethically. Quality Criterion: Resources are managed and used responsibly for their intended purpose.

​For more information go to: https://corehumanitarianstandard.org/the-standard

IFRCRC Code of Conduct (International Federation of Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies)
  • The humanitarian imperative comes first 
  • Aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipient(s) and without adverse distinction of any kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone. 
  • Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint 
  • We shall endeavour not to act as instruments of government foreign policy 
  • We shall respect culture and custom 
  • We shall attempt to build disaster response on local capacities 
  • Ways shall be found to involve program beneficiaries in the management of relief aid 
  • Relief aid must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster, as well as meeting basic needs 
  • We hold ourselves accountable to both those we seek to assist and those from whom we accept resources 
  • In our information, publicity and advertising activities, we shall recognise disaster victims as dignified human beings, not hopeless objects.

WANGO Code of Ethics and Conduct for NGOs 2004 (World Association of Non Government Organisations)
  1. Guiding Principles – Responsibility, service and public mindedness; co-operation beyond boundaries; human rights and dignity; religious freedom; transparency and accountability; truthfulness and legality
  2. NGO Integrity – It is not-for profit, non-governmental, organised, independent, self-governing, and voluntary 
  3. Mission and Activities – Has a well-defined mission which serves as the foundation and frame of reference for all activities and organisational planning of the NGO; the NGO has an obligation to utilise its resources in an effective and efficient manner toward accomplishment of its stated purpose 
  4. Governance – An effective governance structure and a strong, active, and committed governing body is crucial to the soundness of an organisation and its ability to achieve its mission and objectives 
  5. Human Resources – A committed, capable and responsible staff is vital for the success of an NGO 
  6. Public Trust – Trust is the lifeblood of an NGO – to develop and maintain trust; each NGO should exhibit genuine public accountability and transparency, and should be honest in the information that it makes available to the public
  7. Financial and Legal – NGOs should have proper financial and legal procedures and safeguards in place, not only to stay within the law, but also as a measure of the organisation’s health and to assure donors, members, and the general public that investments in the organisation are safe and being correctly used. 
  8. Fundraising – As a recipient of such funds, it is important that the NGO be open and transparent, be accountable to the donor, use the funds responsibly and according to the intent of the donor, and allow the funding individuals and organisations to be able to have insight into the project at all times. It is important that the fundraising activity also be consistent with the mission of the NGO. 
  9. Partnerships, Collaboration and Networking - When appropriate, NGOs may find that cooperation with other civil society organisations, government and intergovernmental agencies, and for-profit corporations may be beneficial in advancing their mission related objectives.


​CLAN also proudly aligns its work and professional practice in accordance with the following:

UN Sustainable Goals: 17 goals to transform our world

In 2015 the United Nations built on the Millennium Development Goals to create the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as part of a wider 20130 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In 2015 countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the plant and ensure prosperity for all as part of the new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years. For the goals to be reached, everyone needs to do their part: governments, the private sector, civil society and people:
​
  1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
  2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 
  3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages 
  4. Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning 
  5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 
  6. Ensure access to water and sanitation for all 
  7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
  8. Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all 
  9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation 
  10. Reduce inequality within and among countries 
  11. Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
  12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
  13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
  14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
  15. Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity and loss 
  16. Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies 
  17. Revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.

 For more information go to: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals