I have read this through several times and I am really liking the structure of this. For me, it feels right. It is clear to me finally how this can all work together.

Answers and comments to the questions:

At what level does/should Life in Africa Foundation and/or -USA have control over CBO staffing decisions?

I don't like the word control. The ultimate goal is to empower the CBOs to be able to run themselves so this will involve, IMO, letting them have the freedom to make decisions based on their needs and situations. HOWEVER, These decision will have to comply with the rules and regulation and requirements that will be set forth in a written and signed agreement with Life in Africa. This will enable them to run their own business while adherring to the requirements of the Parent organization. Perhaps some will not like having the rules and requirements but without them there could be serious issues.

Should Life in Africa (-USA or Foundation) play a role in selecting the local LiA-funded program coordinators? What about removing coordinators for poor performance?

To this I would have to say yes. If LiA is going to pay the salaries of the program coordinators with LiA funds then, yes, we need to have a say in the selection and should definitely have a say in their performance. I would suggest having a management committe that would review the qualifications and references. Kind of like hiring someone for a job. And there should be a set plan of action in place, probably spelled out in the contactural agreement, that defines the action needed to be taken in the case of poor performance or non performance. Like for instance here, they would get a verbal warning, then a written warning and if they get three written warnings they are terminated. This allows them to see the errors and have a chance to correct them. In the case of a gross action, like stealing for instance, termination would be immediately decided by the management comminttee.

Should representatives from Life in Africa (-USA or Foundation) play a role in the CBO leadership? If yes, what role should that be?

Again, I see this as accountability. A written and signed agreement needs to be in place spelling out clearly the expectations and requirements. As long as the CBO leadership is meeting these there would be no problem. Failure to do so would mean loss of funding from LiA so it will be to their benefit to select good leadership. I see the role of LiA to the CBO leadership as an advisor.

At what level does/should Life in Africa Foundation and/or -USA control or require accountability on CBO funding obtained from other sources?

Case in point: right now in Kampala we have ZERO information on the Onet loan fund given to Gulu. It is arguable that it's Gulu's money that belongs to the community, and it didn't come from Life in Africa so we don't have the right to demand anything. But I could also argue that it's Life in Africa's name and that we should have the right to demand financial transparency across the board. (devolving power to the community is tricky!)

IMO, this money was given to Life in Africa to use for the Gulu loan fund. So, LiA must demand accountability and transparency. It is our name and it is the reputation of the organization that is at stake. As far as LiA-USA is concerned total transparancy and accountability is non negotiable.

Another case in point: is it ok for Gulu to solicit funds through other locally present donor orgs where skimming off the top by their local decision-makers is common practice? (believe me, I ask this for a reason)

I have to admit that I have a problem with this practice. It just seems fraudulent to me. One could argue that if say a donor is willing to give 100,000 and 20,000 is skimmed off the top then the CBO would at least be getting 80,000 to do some good. I know this practice is rampant, not only there but in most places where there is a lot of aid money available but I do not like it. Again, it is a question of reputation. I think in those cases the situation needs to be examined very carefully to make sure that the reputation of LiA will not be marred in any way. This is a very tricky one. I would love to hear some more oppinions on this and how to handle it.

Under what conditions should lifeinafrica.com promote CBO-initiated fundraising campaigns?

Again, we need to spell out the requirements in our agreement. I have no problem promoting a legitimate campaign as long as it meets all the requirements of a LiA funded initiative. A proposal would have to be submitted and approved by the LiA board before it was promoted and accountability and transparency would need to apply for all funds raised.

I think this plan makes a lot of sense. Simple, easy to explain. Do CBO's in Ugnada have a board or bylaws - that is, is there a way to make sure there is overlap and control from the US so that you can enforce decisions like staffing or fund sources?

I also hate the ide of skimming, to me that is pure corruption.

Yes, skimming is corruption but it is there and we have to figure out how to deal with it and retain our integrity as an organization.

Thank you for your input on the CBO plan. I am sure that they will have to have some type of Bylaws but they will also have to sign an agreement with Life in Africa and agree to OUR terms and conditions in order to use our name and to receive funding of any kind from us. I think that is going to be where the real enforcement comes from.

Evvy, I saw the points by your post and went to add mine. I was happy to discover that somewhere along the line I'd already given your post points. You are very wise.

Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, the trouble is they tend to come as a package. So for whatever it's worth I hope you'll remember that I really want to contribute as I can to LiA.

There's a lot that doesn't translate smoothly across borders. The practice of skimming is an interesting case in point. But the idea of protecting reputation is something everyone on both sides understands. Now the details of how may vary. The thing about reputation, like trust, is that it is developed over time. That's why principles such as transparency and accountability really are valuable.

One of the reasons that Web sites for organizations often seem so dead, is because people are reluctant to put up about what they're doing. Some of it has to do with the strangeness of an online identity, some of it that people don't want their good idea stolen. The sort of transparency that LiA had first on Omidyar and now here is really so unusual. In fact it was so radical that apparently some people didn't even see it, being ready only to accept transparency as they understood it in a much more limited forms elsewhere.

Anyway, my impression is that there's a real culture of communication that's been developed over the last few years. So when you point out that the CBO status in Uganda might produce some headaches, but the really important part is the agreement with Life in Africa, I have confidence that the agreements will be well understood. The agreement isn't a set of terms coming down from one direction, it's a product of collaboration.

I don't think your opinion about reputation is humble at all. I think that everyone involved at some level understands the importance of creating a good reputation. Maybe we sometimes need to be reminded or shown how our behaviors are contributing otherwise, but there's understanding that reputation is important.

One of your great strengths, Evvy, is being able to communicate so well how to create a good reputation. You communicate what we need to know and to do to be successful.

I'm not trying to propose slippery semantic distinctions. But when we say "skimming" it's easy to make the accusation of corruption, whereas "finder's fee," or "retainer" don't have the same negative connotation. I think you've got it right to say that any determination about such practices must be made with a clear understanding of protecting the reputation of LiA.

John, thank you so much for this post. This has been a rough few weeks for me on many fronts and your post really gave me a lift. Sometimes, when we start to doubt ourselves or get discouraged, a kind word, a pat on the back, or a nod of approval from someone can make such a difference.

Thank you for your continued support of LiA.

It has not been of the much misunderstanding of the CBO and its relationship to the LIA USA as the coop was or any other though but has has and is much more going on but what best things was to add on that of LIA USA and other sources of funding.

Its soon getting started I mean the registration of the CBO especially here in Gulu.We have had a massive hardship in trying to figure out all this processes on how best they can suit and what kind of programmes can run on besides the mother LIA Foundation.This included the plan of the establishment of the children Library though the members who will start on to the adult programmes will also use this same materials as they are4 also beginners as their children(Adult numeracy and literacy) as its also a programme of its own.

Though The children sponsorship of the Orphans by LIA USA might be in progres,There will be need for the above since they have not planned for but this is intended to help this kids since on week ends they'll be coming for children's progeramme and may be aftere having they lunch or those who completed might wish to do some revisoin as such this will be of great significant.

Some three days ago we have a general meeting with the community to elect and the boards and signitories to the bank account and this all went on smoothly and the structure will soon be here on Ned for all the friends and well wishers to comment or have a say on this.I believe this will be sucess.

Thanx.

Probably the soap project will move on as the CBO will have to budget for the products they will be making and liquid soap will probably have to go on with the candles. I believe with this,things will keep on the move so members won't be reluctant doing nothing as the situation is currently.

The idea of CBO seeking funding locally and not depending on LIA Foundation or one source of funding will be of a resource since funding of other projects won't e much easier is its only lia foundation to make and it might really not be for the interest of the lia foundation to fund such projects.Forinstance is adult education is really desired alongside the ophan sponsorship by lia USA,the adult,and library for the them is not programmed so the CBO has to get away to have it moving on either by seeking funding locally or internationally so as the programme keeps on as planned by the CBO.(some idea) as its their project not for LIA USA.

Thanks alot CBOs are like other orgnisations.which is contituatnalized and has standered of registration,there are policy maker and implimentors,plus the beneficiaries,i thing the COB will have all the requirementas gulu is tying to come up with,and we shall need self motivative,implimentors,and looking at the work plans,if properly and strategically married,their will be 80% success.so it matter of determination and joining hands corecting mistakes and sharing instead of throwing blames on each other. together we shall make it.

George, can you please send us the draft of the constitution you've been working on to the liafounders email list? It looks like we may have the possibility to have some probono legal assistance through Ashoka who can review the documents before they are submitted for registration.

I feel it's time we speed up the constitution drafts so that the registration starts, because we are really so much behind time, I have already been trying to check the one for kampala and if the Gulu one was on the Liafounders list already, maybe all of us could look through together and try and edit together.I really feel that by 15th Jan, we should all be having the CBOs legally existing. So please Gulu let's coordinate more on this, let's have a glimpse of the draft so that we can move forward. I wish we could have the final paper ready before Xmas, and ready to be dropped at the community officer's place.

I emailed it 3 minutes to the lia founders @yahoogroups so please check it out.

Time to get to work!

http://www.ned.com/group/lia-usa /ws/cboConstitutions/

At Christina's request I read through the two constitutions posted. Before I make any suggestions I would like to confirm what each group believes the Community Based Organization will be doing. As I understand it there are these projects:

• checking out applicants for micro loans - to be sure they are real projects and responsible borrowers. Will the CBO's also be guarantors of the loans?
• running crafts programs - and selling crafts through LiA-USA
• running the "school fees program", Internet4change, Adult literacy/numeracy programs, . . .
• I am not clear on how the CBO is involved in the soap and candle projects - lending guarantee, part owner, . . .

Are the CBO's non-profit membership organizations - that seems to be the format of the two constitutions - or will they engage in owning and running businesses?

Based on the lack of agreement regarding Ned the cooperative, I am thinking these initial CBOs would be non-profit membership organizations to take over existing projects and explore new potential projects. Under that approach, the soap and candle projects would be separate businesses owned by the people working on them - with possible borrowing support from the CBO.

Am I understanding this correctly?

Thanks for the very discerning question, David. Here in Kampala we just had a discussion between Evvy, Peter, Grace and myself about this and come up with the following configuration.

The LiA CAN! program will facilitate craft skills learning and some craft marketing. The program will own whatever is produced by learning groups and will hope to sell those items to provide materials for more skills learning. We will also field special orders that involve organizing groups of members to produce certain items which they have learned to make that are promoted online. With the availability of microfinance in combination with skills training, however, we'd like to see members starting their own small businesses with the skills they have learned. Orders placed and fulfilled through the CBOs will represent a CBO business activity, but the members will own their small craftmaking businesses that market and distribute their products locally. Groups of members who want to produce and/or store their materials and finished products at one of the Centers would pay a small storage space fee.

This is what we think can work best, anyway, to simplify the relationships between the CBO and the production businesses. Other ideas on how to configure the relationship welcome.

Thank you for the input, I will re-read the constitutions and make some suggestions - but it sounds like we can keep things pretty general and let the members decide the direction as we go.

Sorry that I have not yet gotten back to this. I will be out of town and off line now, until Monday, Jan. 7. I have been thinking about it off and on.

I would suggest a fairly strong executive or executive committee - 1 to 3 people who can devote substantial time to "coordinating things" - keeping others on track, etc. - and find a way to pay them as quickly as possible.

I would have the executive answer to a larger "council" elected from the membership - and charged with learning about the options, risks and opportunities in some detail - and have them meet with the executive once a month or so. The council members would also find ways to communicate what is going on to the members at large - and conduct at least an annual meeting at which council members are elected.

I would suggest membership would be automatic for anyone residing in the locality who wants to participate - no membership fees - but fees for services, perhaps.

Beyond that basic structure, the council - with the advice of the executive - would develop "policies and procedures" as needed to make the best use of available resources and take advantage of opportunities as they arise.

If that is consistent with the desires of the community we can work on putting that in the constitution when I get back.

Thanks David for the good ideas,the main thing which I see is that the members once voted the three executive members so when they don't meet these quality they should be replaced or they continue with the task they have been offered. The Gulu executive committee to me and the members who elected them are of that quality but now it would be the work to get finalised so that they are proved of their worthness.

On membership ya very right I like the idea though some control should be adopted for the membership as well as the service in general,This is because open membership would attract different catergories of people(Human Behaviour in an Organisation) which will require some guidlines inform of fee so as they Know and have love for what they would love to be members.

Those are my ideas but not the community if it would require community to brain storm about then its also possible it cant stop it form puting it in the constitution.

Thanks for ya great concern.

Thanks David for your ideas. I would like to talk about the membership.Munnu has pointed out the disadvantage of having open membership, I think I totally agree with him that there should be some kind of regulated membership to give each one of them a sense of ownership and resposibility. Once somebody pays in something as membership fee,he/she feels that he owns it.

According to statistics given ,the number of people in that community, is more than 4000 and half of these are women , so once this is open, surely each one of them would be expecting services, which has already been a very big problem in the past . We had about 250 here in kampala and it was so difficult to sustain all of them, personally I even feel there is need to reduce on this number for better sustainability.

As for the Executive, It's really a great idea, but what I quite did not get well is how they are going to be elected. Would they also be elected by the members or would it be by the already elected committee ? Or would it be just an appointment by I really do not know who for now.

Munnu and Grace,

Of course it is up to the "organizers" to decide what type of organization you want to spend your time on developing. I would just say, if you want a "membership organization", you will be competing with all the other organizations. If you are a "community based organization" you can include everyone and work with existing organizations.

I agree that it is important for community members to feel ownership but there are other ways than a membership fee - like time spent on community projects - to earn rights - like having a vote for the council. The council can make those rules as they experience what works.

I hear Grace saying that you cannot serve everyone - I suggest thinking in terms of how each community member can serve the community - not the "organization" serving each community member.

As to how the executive is elected - I like the executive being an employee of the council. If the executive is going to be elected by the membership we will need to be clear about who has a right to vote and what powers belong to the executive and what powers belong to the council.

Great questions - feel free to ask more - I hope I have been clear in answering. Then let me know what way you want to do it.

David, thanks so much for putting your mind toward this. The economics of the poverty we have here in Uganda mean that there are scarce resources - if there are no barriers to entry then we end up with lots of people joining only for the benefits, and indeed expecting to be served equal benefits because they joined. So when we talk about microfinance or income generating activities for members we need to be cognizant of how many resources we actually have and the very high need/expectations for benefits that people in this part of the world tend to join such organizations for.

The Centers also do have operational costs and membership is one among many potential sources of income to help contribute to those. My personal suggestion would be that indeed there should be some kind of annual membership dues payable in cash or perhaps in time or in kind; membership could be restricted to those with references/invitations from 2 existing members, so that what develops is a trust network of people who know each other.

Christina said:

My personal suggestion would be that indeed there should be some kind of annual membership dues payable in cash or perhaps in time or in kind; membership could be restricted to those with references/invitations from 2 existing members, so that what develops is a trust network of people who know each other.

I like this idea - particularly, dues payable in time or in kind - it is along the lines of what the "council" could establish as "policies and procedures". I would still treat everyone living in the area as a "member" - and think of the organization's role as bringing everyone together as a "community". That can be done by requiring people to earn the right to receive services - and charging in cash, kind, or time for services delivered.

When you say:

the very high need/expectations for benefits that people in this part of the world tend to join such organizations for.

I would say that - one of the things you want to change is people waiting for someone else to fix things for them. Your community has resources that are not realized because people are asking "how can I get what I need" and not "what can we do to make our community a better place to live?" That is not an African problem - I see the same problem here in my community. If your organization can get people to start asking the second question, you will have the basis for real change. The first step is to understand and honor the fact that each of us has something to contribute.

If this is not the direction the organizers want to go let me know and I will stop pushing it. Just outline how you see the organization being governed and I will adjust the constitution accordingly.

Thanks to every one's contribution on this and what I would to ask is the maximum number of members as per this cbo

Thanks david for your proposal on the membership,we really agree on that,and i would like to thank you for your effort for us coming with standard constitution,i would like to find out, if its okey with the draft you have worked on.so that we can go ahead register the CBO.thanks alot.

George,

Thank you for the vote of confidence - however, I have not yet worked on the draft. I will try to put together a proposal along the lines of what I have proposed. When you say:

we really agree on that

are you speaking for all of the organizers? Is that agreement only on the idea of "membership" I have proposed? Or, does it include the council/executive proposal?

Thank you for getting back to me.

I made some proposed changes to the first several sections of the Kampala cboconstitutions. The parts I want to delete are in italics the parts I want to add are in bold. I don't want to go too far until I know if this is what the group wants.

Also, do you have a local attorney who can review these changes to see if they are ok with the local law?

Edit to add link.