Good governance certificate for NGOs |27 December 2013

A group of executives representing different NGOs (non-governmental organisations) have received their certificates after completing a course in good governance.

The certificate presentation ceremony took place recently at the Lungos office in the Orion Mall.

Held from March 2012 to July 2012 last year, the course was run by the then Seychelles Institute of Management and now a University of Seychelles department. Its aim was to empower the participants to improve more effectively in capacity building so that they can help their respective organisations to be more transparent and accountable.

Present at the certificate presentation ceremony was chief executive officer of Lungos Steve Lalande, chairperson of Lungos Marie-Nella Azemia, UNDP’s 10th European Development Fund (EDF) representative Barbara Carolus Andre, Lungos board members, the NGO community and guests.

In his address, Mr Lalande stated that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) declared in 1996 that promoting good governance in all its aspects by insuring the rule of law, improving the efficiency and accountability in the public sector and tackling corruption, are  essential elements of a framework within which economies can prosper.

“Many civil society organisations call upon government and state institutions to practice good governance but government also want civil society to practice good governance within the NGOs,” he said.

The course, which had four modules, was funded by the 10th EDF programme under UNDP’s small grant programme in good governance for Seychelles.
 
Mr Lalande also informed the audience that he was pleased the money invested in the 10th EDF small grant for the NGOs was money well spent.

“With this level of trust, it will hopefully encourage donors to invest further in other programmes. I would like to thank the European Union for its investment in Seychelles,  the government and particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the focal point for coordinating the 10th EDF programme,” he added.

The course’s four modules were good governance, strategic planning, performance management and how to run an organisation.

Pastor Michael Bijoux from the Bible Society of Seychelles, one of the participants who completed the four modules, said that when running an NGO, one has to have the ability to deliver objectively, know the purpose and to be transparent.

“I very much appreciate what I have gathered following the course, starting from good governance, management and reporting. If you don’t have the knowledge and good reporting skills to present your projects and to submit them on time, you will face obstacles and your projects will not be successful,” he added.

Lungos hopes to repeat the course in the near future to benefit other NGOs that did not have the chance to take part
.
With 80 registered members only, 30 places were available for the course.

The certificates were presented by Mrs Azemia and Mrs Carolus Andre.