Welcome to CHA - Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies

Mandate

CHA through its member organisations is committed to protect the basic rights and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable in society such as children, the elderly, the disabled, women, the wounded, prisoners, refugees, the displaced as well as all those living in poverty or suffering from deprivation and loss as a consequence of conflict or disaster. CHA through its member organisations is committed to provide the most vulnerable with protection and assistance for relief, rehabilitation, recovery, reconstruction and development to alleviate poverty and suffering and to promote the observance of fundamental humanitarian principles.

Vision

CHA believes in the respect of diversity and the promotion and achievement of fundamental rights and freedom, which provides equal opportunities for development for all Sri Lankans.

Values

Values of CHA are:

Promotion of dialogue and non-violent conflict resolution.
Genuine durable solutions for those affected and who have suffered from disaster.
Working with people in need regardless of ethnicity, political or religious beliefs or affiliations, or gender differences or preferences.
Independent identities of members and the promotion of dialogue and coordination.
Provision of humanitarian and development assistance through community based participatory approaches and the promotion of self-reliant development.
Principles of service and professionalism.

Mission

CHA works in the non-profit humanitarian sector to:

CONVENE: to engage the leadership of the humanitarian community and other key stakeholders to address critical and emerging issues involving their work;

PROMOTE: effective policies and a healthy environment to strengthen the work of non-profit humanitarian organizations and increase incentives for funding and support;

CHAMPION: accountability, effective collaboration and coordination amongst and within the government, donors and humanitarian sectors;

IDENTIFY: and communicate the important role and contribution of the non-profit humanitarian sector in Sri Lanka;

PROVIDE: a centre of excellence, which collects, collates, analyses, documents and disseminates information;

LEAD: independent humanitarian sector organizations to help shape their future and the future of the society they serve.

Goals & Objectives

Coordination, Facilitation and Networking

Goal:
To be an effective coordinating and facilitating networking agency for the humanitarian sector.

Objectives:
- Achieve greater levels of efficiency and effectiveness of the humanitarian sector and hence maximizing use of the resources in this sector;
- Assist in mediation and negotiation among different parties operating in the humanitarian sector to ensure smooth operation of CHA's members;
- Fulfill the role of a catalyst and leader to identify, on behalf of and with the humanitarian sector, new priorities and opportunities.
Knowledge Centre

Goal:
To be recognised as a centre of excellence by the stakeholders in the humanitarian sector

Objectives:
- Collate, analyze, document and disseminate good quality information essential and timely to the humanitarian sector;
- Promote the sharing and responsible use of appropriate information;
- Stimulate the development and enhancement of information networks within the humanitarian sector;
Advocacy, Lobbying and Policy Debate

Goal:
To be at the forefront of policy debate, advocacy and lobbying on issues affecting the humanitarian sector.

Objectives:
- Lobby among government and other agencies on humanitarian and policy related issues;
- Encourage dialogue on policy issues and promote suitable policies among policy makers and the humanitarian sector;
- Promote dialogue and confidence building at grass-root level to strengthen peace and reconciliation process through the CHA network.
Promotion of Professional Standards

Goal:
To successfully promote professionalization of the humanitarian sector.

Objectives:
- Facilitate the development of professional skills of agencies in the humanitarian sector, including the CHA Secretariat;
- Develop and promote guidelines, standards and principles relevant to the humanitarian sector;
- Initiate and/or support District level participation through development of District Consortia;

Structure

The basic structure of the consortium comprises four components, consisting of the General Assembly, the Steering Committee, Secretariat and Task Groups.
The General Assembly will consist of members. The General Assembly will meet bi-monthly, unless a special meeting is required in the interim period. The General Assembly will be convened by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall cause the General Assembly to be summoned for a special meeting on the submission of a written memorandum signed by not less than one-third of the full members.
An Annual General Meeting of the General Assembly shall be held within three months of the end of the financial year, unless the General Assembly decided otherwise for special reasons. The membership will be given three weeks notice in writing of the date fixed for the Annual General Meeting. The following shall be the normal agenda at the Annual General Meeting;
- Annual Report and the Financial Statements for the preceding financial year.
- Appointment of an Auditor
- Election of Office Bearers and the Steering Committee
- Endorse annual subscription levels
In addition to the elected members a maximum of 3 Ex-officio members may be nominated to the Steering Committee to support the work of the Steering Committee. Two of whom will be nominated, the third will be the Executive Director. These members may be nominated by the Steering Committee and/or the General Assembly subject to such nominations being ratified by the General Assembly at its next meeting. Such members will be nominated for their specialised skills, eminence and or contribution made available to CHA.
The Secretariat will consist of full-time staff who are contractually employed by the Consortium. The Secretariat will be managed on a day-to-day basis by a contractually employed Executive Director. The Executive Director will be an ex-officio member of the Steering Committee when required, but will be without voting rights.
Sectoral, geographical or issue-based task groups are open to members and non-members alike, Ideally they will seek to bring together all key stakeholders.
A Task Group is either a Standing Committee, a Forum or a Working Group established at the request of the stakeholders.

Governance

The Consortium shall have Articles of Association describing the reasons for association, vision, mission, goals & objectives, structure and governance.
Ultimate authority lies with the General Assembly of Full Members who delegates authority to the Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee shall be the main representational and policy making body for the Consortium collectively. The Steering Committee oversees the overall functioning of the Secretariat. The Steering Committee is answerable to the General Assembly and may refer contentious matters back to that Assembly.
The Steering Committee will scrutinize new membership applications and may act as the body of reference when significant controversy arises around a programme by a member and/or when the continued membership of an organisation is put into doubt. It will be constituted in such a way that sound knowledge of the Consortium, its aims, values and functioning is guaranteed. The Steering Committee will present new application to the General Assembly, with a recommendation.
The Secretariat is managed by the Executive Director to whom the Steering Committee delegates managerial and representational authority. The Executive Director is answerable to the Steering Committee.
The CHA Secretariat will convene, facilitate, guide Task Groups and report back to the Steering Committee about the progress made by Task Groups.

Membership

The strength of the Consortium lies in the commitment of the membership to the value of CHA.

The term ‘Member' applies to all membership categories. Membership of the consortium does not preclude membership of other consortia, fora or networks with different activity.
CHA offers the following membership in terms of the criteria stipulated:
- Associate Membership
  
  Associate membership will be conferred upon applicants for a period of 01 year.
  - The agency seeking membership with CHA should be:
    - a non-profit making organisation;
    - an organisation involved in relief, rehabilitation, economic, social development and peace related activities;
    - an organisation, which does not originate from Government;
    - recognised by the government of Sri Lanka;
    - an independent organisation;
    - willing to forward relevant information (including accounts) to the Consortium;
    - able to pay subscription fees;
  - Attend and participate in Consortium meetings/ activities;
  - Have an operational programme activity, or support other organisations through a combination of funding and non-funding activities, in two or more districts of Sri Lanka or have the status of a network that represents more than 10 district agencies over a period of one year;
  - Comply with and adopt national labour laws.
- Full Membership
  
  Status as full members of the Consortium shall be conferred upon those who have completed the stipulated requirements for associate membership on the recommendation of the Steering Committee.
  - The agency seeking membership with CHA should be;
    - a non-profit making organisation;
    - an organisation involved in relief, rehabilitation, economic, social development and peace related activities.
    - an organisation, which does not originate from Government.
    - recognised by the government of Sri Lanka;
    - an independent organisation;
    - willing to forward relevant information (including accounts) to the Consortium.
    - able to pay subscription fees
  - Have a permanent representation in Sri Lanka;
  - Attend and participate in Consortium meetings activities.
  - Have an operational programme activity, or support other organisations through a combination of funding and non-funding activities, in two or more districts of Sri Lanka or have the status of a network that represents more than 10 district agencies over a period of one year;
  - Have been operating for at least one year;
  - Comply with and adopt national labour laws.
- Observer
  
  Observer status is extended to representatives of government & non-state agencies engaged in humanitarian and development work, different UN agencies, other intergovernmental agencies and donor governments
  - The agency seeking membership with CHA should be:
    - a non-profit making organisation;
    - recognised by the government of Sri Lanka;
    - able to pay subscription fees;
  - Have a permanent representation in Sri Lanka;
  - Attend and participate in Consortium meetings/ activities;
  - Have been operating for at least one year;
- Temporary Membership
  
  Temporary membership is extended to individuals, organisations, academics or researchers involved in humanitarian or development work who are temporarily based in Sri Lanka. Temporary status will be granted for a period of up to 6 months and may be renewed after obtaining Steering Committee approval.
  - The individual or agency seeking membership with CHA should be:
    - from a non-profit making organisation;
    - from academia ;
    - able to pay subscription fees;
The Steering Committee shall satisfy itself by calling for further information about the nature and functioning of the agency as may be necessary to determine whether the agency can or does make a positive contribution to the aims and objectives of the Consortium, and whether intent is sufficiently demonstrated by practice. The Steering Committee will assess whether the organisation can contribute to the process and ongoing work of the Consortium. This will be done in an open manner with the agency concerned, and the Steering Committee will submit its recommendations in writing.
Procedural Steps
- The member shall adhere to the following procedural steps.
- Submit a letter of interest to the secretariat.
- Complete the CHA application with an agency profile clarifying the mandate of the organisation and its mission, funding sources, budgets, and annual accounts for the previous and current financial year, organisational structure and numbers of international and or national staff, and a specific description of project of programme work by sector and by geographical area.
- Ensure that the application is supported with relevant documentation.
- Specify the main office address and the addresses pertaining to the districts in which the applicant works and a brief outline of the nature of work carried out.
- Provide written references of two members.
- Acknowledge the terms and conditions of the ‘Letter of Intent'.
Rights And Obligations
- Members other than Temporary members shall have the right to raise issues, provide comments, and offer recommendations on all matters relevant to the activities and operations of the Consortium.
- Members shall receive on a regular basis, all mailings and reports for general distribution, and have ready access to all general information kept on file at the Consortium Secretariat.
- Only full members shall have the right to vote.
- Full Members and Observers are eligible to be members of the Steering Committee.
- Members shall pay subscriptions as may be determined by the General Assembly.
Discontinuation of membership
- When the member informs the Consortium in writing of its intention to withdraw;
- When the Consortium is dissolved;
- When the General Assembly decides by a two-thirds majority that the activities of the agency are in contradiction of the Articles of Association and detrimental to the aims and purposes of the Consortium;
- When a member is in arrears of payment of membership dues;
- When a member or associate member has failed to attend more than two consecutive meetings of the General Assembly, or less than two-thirds of the meetings in the period of one year;
- When a member shows evidence that they are either unwilling, or unable to attend the consortium meetings.

Bank Accounts

One or more bank accounts may be opened in the name of the Consortium approved by the Steering Committee and all moneys received by the Consortium by way of membership subscriptions, grants or otherwise shall be credited to such bank account as may be directed by the Steering Committee.

Annual Report & Financial Statements

The Consortium shall publish prior to its Annual General Meeting an Annual Report of its work and activities during the preceding year together with a statement of its financial position in the form of an Income and Expenditure Account and a Balance Sheet containing a summary of the assets and liabilities of the Consortium made up to the end of the previous financial year and duly audited by the Auditors to the Consortium. A printed copy of the Annual Report and the Statement of Accounts shall be delivered or posted to each member at least seven days prior to such Annual General Meeting. It shall include an annual work plan and budget for the ensuing year for approval by the General Assembly at its Annual General Meeting. The financial year of the Consortium shall be the calendar year.

Relationship with Stakeholders

The Steering Committee or, by delegation, the Executive Director of the Secretariat, are authorized to interact on behalf of the Consortium with other stakeholders such as line ministries and other government representatives, district consortia, representatives from other agencies and umbrella organisations in and outside Sri Lanka, academia and research institutes, donor representatives, activist groups etc.
In doing so, the members of the Steering Committee and the Executive Director will at all times bear in mind the mandate and aim of the Consortium, and clearly differentiate their personal interactions from official interactions. They can be held accountable by the Steering Committee and/or the General Assembly.
Where desirable and possible, the Steering Committee and the Executive Director will seek to transform individual and ad hoc contacts into an institutional relationship. No individual member shall make any statements on behalf of the Consortium.
CHA provides its members with relevant documentation including periodic reports.

Adoption

The Articles shall be adopted by at least two-thirds of the current full members of the Consortium. The provisions of these articles shall take precedence over all past decisions of the Consortium.

Amendment & Liquidation of Articles

Any amendment to the article shall be a two-thirds vote of the General Assembly. Members shall be notified at least two weeks in advance of any amendments proposed. In event of dissolution or liquidation, the General Assembly shall decide upon how the assets of the Consortium are to be disbursed.