Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Membership Criteria

In March 2008 the DEC Board agreed that Membership of the DEC will be reviewed in 2008 and then every three years. Prospective Members will be reviewed against the criteria (see the membership criteria page) and any organisation that wishes to join the DEC should submit their proposal by the end of July 2008. Additional guidance on the criteria is available from membership@dec.org.uk

 

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

 PREAMBLE:

The Trustees’ responsibility is to enhance the reputation and effectiveness of the DEC as the UK public appeal for major overseas emergencies in support of civil society’s response. In essence members must have the necessary expertise in raising funds and upholding established standards in humanitarian aid for emergency relief.

Trustees have established that the DEC will have a maximum membership of 15 so that it remains manageable and cost effective and in making judgements on membership they will use the criteria set out below.

Membership for existing and potential members will be reviewed every three years and the Trustees decision will be final. The first review will be in September 2008.

LEGAL

•         Be registered for at least five years as a UK humanitarian charity responding to the suffering of affected communities

•         Be independent of any parent or sister organisation to the extent of having responsibility for deciding  which humanitarian programmes will be funded by DEC funds, and having full accountability for the expenditure of those funds

•         Accept to be bound by the DEC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association’, Operations Manual and Accountability Framework

•         Have submitted fully audited accounts in accordance with legal requirements and be able to demonstrate financial probity and transparency in the use of donated funds

FINANCIAL

  • Have an organisational commitment to responding to humanitarian emergencies  on a wide geographical basis from their own resources
  • Have an audited track record of fundraising from the public for overseas disasters.
  • Have income from individual UK donors of at least £4 million a year, averaged over three years, for overseas work
  • Have expenditure on emergency work overseas of £10 million a year averaged over three years
  • Have framework or partnership agreements with major institutional funders such as Dfid or Echo

PROGRAMME QUALITY

•         Be a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief

•         Have a demonstrable commitment to the principles enshrined in the Humanitarian Charter, and to achieving Sphere and People in Aid standards and a willingness to be evaluated against them

•         Be able to demonstrate the skills and have control systems that assure a quality response with DEC income which is demonstrated by programmes that:

•         achieve humanitarian response objectives and outcomes

•         are accountable to beneficiaries

•         are based on learning from experience