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| Capitalization of experiences
of NGO national platform (NPF)
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Unless you indicate otherwise, the information obtained from this questionnaire can be put online in the International Resource Centre Web site.Please contact us for any further clarification or information. |
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| SUNFO (Sri Lanka-United Nations Friendship Organization) |
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I |
HISTORY AND TASKS OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
II |
FUNCTIONING AND GOVERNING OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
III |
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE NGO PLATFORM |
IV |
OTHER REMARKS ON YOUR NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
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| I.
HISTORY AND TASKS OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
| 1)
HISTORY OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
| a) Please describe the important factors connected to the creation of your NPF (important events: famine, arrival of an international NGO, political crisis, etc)? 10 lines or more |
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| SUNFO was inaugurated on 22 May,1999 . SUNFO Board of Management was formed by founders represented various key organizations in Sri Lanka .
SUNFO served the nation during last seven years by expanding its network among various youth, humanitarian, child services, Youth development and Social service organizations.
SUNFO has actively implemented several key mobilizations and activities year by year. SUNFO implemented GCAP, Walk the World, World Youth Foundation. WANGO and several other International programmes in Sri Lanka .
SUNFO conducted 9 Provincial workshops in last October-December,2006. Further SU NFO host the GCAP Network and youth arm of SUNFO named as “SUNFO World Youth Congress” actively involved in building National Youth Organization Network.
SUNFO is the first Sri Lankan member of WANGO (world Association of Non-Governmental Organizations) based in New York .
Now SUNFO network consist of over 400 NGOOs, Networks, associations and CSOs. |
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| b) Please describe the significant growth of your NPF (extension of scope, increase in the number of members, activities, possible crisis)? 10 lines or more |
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| SUNFO developed its Membership base up to 150 during the years 1999 to 2004
From 2005 to upto now SUNFO act as SUNFO-GCAP Sri Lanka coalition and Membership base expanded to over 500 organizations in Sri Lanka
SUNFO organized many activities such as;
- Commemoration of UN Days and UN Special Observances.
- Mobilizations such as Walk the World, White Band Days, etc.
- Commemoration of National Days of friendly Nations.-Global Understanding Programme.
- Training and Human Potential Development.
SUNFO is the representative of Global Youth service Day.
SUNFO was a part of developing many networks such as; Network of Youth Organizations, World Youth Foundation, Taking IT Global, SANSAD etc.
SUNFO Coordinated UNMC activities in Sri Lanka .
Our crises is assuring necessary resources of continuation for many activities.
As we have island wide network in all provinces travel cost and time is very high. High Speed Internet facility is not available in many parts of Sri Lanka . Therefore quick, cost effective communication is
Not possible within the island wide network.
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| c) What are the strong points of your NPF? |
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- Achieving MDGS.
- Peace in Sri Lanka and Peace in World.
- Peace, Harmony and Friendship.
- Eradication of Extreme Poverty.
- Free and quality Education for all.
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| d) What are the weaknesses and points to be improved? (For example, in terms of institutional or organisational reinforcement, communication material, strategy, financial management, etc) |
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| Institutional we are badly need a permanent building and our own two vehicles. As we have only rented out office we have to shift the office during last 7 years to 5 places. Hiring vehicles are ery expensive and it limits our travels to provinces. |
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We need to have resources for monthly printed News letter, a weekly one hour radio programme in order to have efficient communication within the country. |
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| Financial Management and general Administration we have only volunteer/part time staff due to lack of resources for fulltime staff. |
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| 2) MISSIONS OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
| a) What services does your NPF offer its members? Give a detailed account of the aims and activities organized (type of training, counsel, communication means, etc)–10 lines or more |
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| We are a non-political, non-racial and non-sectarian Peoples movement working towards peace, harmony and wellbeing of mankind according to the principles of United Nations. . |
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We conduct special MDG Training Programmes for Society Leaders. Last year over700 NGO and other society leaders attended for our training programmes in provinces. |
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| We offer educational programmes and seminar on current issues. |
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We recognize services of members and member organizations by presenting Awards. |
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We organized in-country and overseas training opportunities for members and organizations. |
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We provide net working facilities among member organizations. |
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We organize mobilizations for key issues. |
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We facilitate consultation process among members. |
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b) Does your NPF take a stand with respect to government policies, regional or international institutions? YES/NO
If yes, which ones? In which domain (education, health, Human rights)? How? (meetings with the Ministry, Letters to the Editor, organisation of seminars, etc) |
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| Yes. That is for achieving MDGS. |
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| c) How are its stands elaborated and adopted (organisation of campaigns, creation of permanent commission or work group within the NPF, etc)? |
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| We organized Peoples Chain between Moratuwa and Gale (I00KM) by mobilizing over 65,00 people our member organizations and friends on 5 Dec.2006.
We organized StandUp Campaign with the participation of nearly 250,000 people on 16-17 October in Sri Lanka. |
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| II.
FUNCTIONING AND GOVERNING OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
| 1)
FUNCTIONING OF THE NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
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| a) What is the legal status of your NPF? Is it registered or declared with the authorities? What laws govern NGO activities in your country? Are there different laws for different kind of organizations? (NGO, association, union, collective group, etc) Specify in 10 lines |
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| Registered with Registrar of Non-Governmental Organizations under Voluntary Social Services Organizations (Registration & Supervision) Act, No.31 of 1980 as amended by Act, No. 8 of 1998. |
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Above Acts are governing the affairs of Non-Governmental organizations.. Normally Supervisory Ministry is Ministry of Social Welfare & Social Services. Governing institute is National secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations. |
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| Some other avenues of Registration for National Level Organizations: |
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Registered by an Act of Parliament. – Proposed and seconded by two Members of Parliament and finally approved by the house. |
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Under the Registrar of Companies-As a Non-profit Company |
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Under the Society Ordinance Act. |
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| Organizations operating and limited their activities only for a Divisional Secretariat areas- They could register with Relevant Divisional Secretariat Office.- Sri Lanka has divided to around 300 Divisional secretariat areas. |
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| Organizations serving only in one administrative District they could register in the Relevant District Secretariat ad Provincial Council. |
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| b) What are the decision-making bodies of your NPF? (General Body, Administrative Board? Executive Administration? Ethical Board? How are these bodies designated? |
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Board of Trustees: Relevant to assist Management |
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Board of Management: Project issues |
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| Director General-Executive Administration and Operation of Day to day activities. |
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Management Committee: General Administration and Policy Implementation |
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| General Body: Key Policy issues. |
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| Advisory Committees: Technical/subject issues. |
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| c) Internal rules and ethics |
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Does your NPF have internal rules? YES/NO (If yes, please attach the document) |
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Does your NPF have code of ethics or other similar documents? YES/NO (If yes, please attach the document) |
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Have you changed the code of ethics or internal rules in the last 5 years? YES/NO If yes, please specify: |
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| No we follow w general administrative rules decided by Board of Management |
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| We are in the consultation process of developing a code of Ethics. |
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| d) What are the conditions for membership in your NPF (financial membership, charter, participating in a commission or a work group, tasks relating to development or human rights…)? |
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Any organization accepting the mission of : |
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| We are a non-political, non-racial and non-sectarian Peoples movement working towards peace, harmony and wellbeing of mankind according to the principles of United Nations. |
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e) Do you have international institutions as members (associations, NGO movements)? YES/NO If yes, how many? Are they specifically organized within the NPF? |
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| f) How many members receive information about your activities and your members (letter, e-mails, meetings, web site, Intranet…)? |
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| 2) GOVERNING OF THE NGO PLATFORM |
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a) How are the Administrative Board members elected? What are their duties? (Drawing up strategic perspectives, follow-up of activities and budget…)? Specify. |
| Following Officials are elected Board Members: |
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President |
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Vice President |
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Director General |
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Secretary General |
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Deputy Secretary General |
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Treasurer |
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Assistant Treasurer |
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National Coordinating Secretary |
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Board Directors. |
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They are responsible to take the Management decisions.
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b) What are the functions of the General Body? Specify. |
| Policy Making Changing Policies, Electing Office bearers, Board of Management, Board of Trustes. |
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c) Are there other governing bodies in your NPF? YES/NO If yes, what are their functions? |
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| III.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE NGO PLATFORM |
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| 1)
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MEMBERS |
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| a) How many members are there in your NPF? |
| 2004 : 60 |
| 2005 :158 |
| 2006 :620 |
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| b) Do you have work groups or thematic commissions? YES/NO If yes, on what themes do they work (example: nature, health, objectives of the Millennium for Development, access to funds…)? |
| Yes: |
| Human Rights |
| Health |
| Environment |
| Children & Women |
| Youth |
| MDGs |
| Elderly Services |
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| c) Do you assess the expectations or needs of your members? YES/NO If yes, in what way? |
| Yes upto some level. Members consider that they get collective achievements, recognition and more opportunities through SUNFO. |
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But they feel that still more could do if SUNFO is having basic infrastructural facilities and more International support. |
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| 2) RELATION WITH SPONSORS |
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| a) Does your government provide reinforcement policies for NGOs? What are the arguments that justify this policy? What are the functions and special tasks attributed to NGOs by your Government, that justify the funds for reinforcing their capabilities? |
| They are trying to develop a policy. |
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| b) Is there a specific financial system to reinforce the NGOs in your country (example: funds, special donations)? |
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| - If yes, what kind of capabilities do they support? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these funds? |
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| - Else, how does the NGO fund its capability-reinforcement programme (staff training, research, strategic plans, organizational diagnosis…)? |
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| c) Who are your sponsors? For each sponsor, specify the project you are working on and the duration. |
United Nations Millennium Campaign-Stand Up
Novib- MDG Educational Programmes |
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| Local Sponsors for our UN Day Commemoration activities. |
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| d) How would you summarize your relation with the sponsors (easy/difficult access or communication problem of co-financing, flexibility or not, project pace, evaluation, unsuitable problems, financing of the general expenses of the establishment…)? |
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| 3) RELATION WITH OTHER ASSOCIATIONS, NGOs |
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| a) Do you work with international NGOs, international networks, and national NGO platforms from countries other than yours? YES/NO If yes, please specify the names and the nature of relations: |
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| YES |
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Coordination SUD-Knowledge Sharing |
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Vani- Training and contact development |
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GCAP- Coordinate Mobilizations |
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GYSD-Youth Programmes |
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WFP-Walk the World |
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RYS-Youth Service Projects |
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Unite for Sight- Health Programmes-Eye Care |
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TRMPC-Health Camps-Dental
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| b) Are there other NPFs or national NGO networks in your country? YES/NO
If yes, what are they? Do you work with these NPFs and/or national NGO networks? YES/NO
If yes, on what themes, what projects? |
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| Yes: |
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| National Peace Council of Sri Lanka.-Peace Organizations Network
Central Council of Social services-Part of SUNFO Now
CHA-Forum of INGOO, UN and Diplomatic Missions |
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| IV OTHER REMARKS ON YOUR NGO NATIONAL PLATFORM |
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SUNFO is open to have collaborated projects in Sri Lanka with interested organizations, Foundations, Funding Agencies and Networks. |
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