Criteria
Rural
These are communities which are located in geographically isolated
areas. This isolation translates into a limited access to technological
resources, formal communications resources and formal institutions.
Community based/ Community governed
The organisation exists within the community which it serves. The
underlying principle is service to the community, controlled by the
community. The community or a significant number of people elects and
mandates a small group of people to run the organisation. This
management includes the financial and resource management (including
human resources) and implementation of the plans as mandated by the
community.
The management committee reports to the community at an open meeting
which is held on a regular basis on its performance in management and
the work of the organisation. At such meetings the committee renews its
mandate or a new committee is elected and the mandate is handed over.
Membership open to all
People from the community, regardless of age, political, racial,
religious or gender status, are welcome in the organisation. People
with any level of ability and from any economic group are able to
participate in the organisation. Women should be given the opportunity
and active encouragement to participate in the organisation at both a
decision making and activity level. Scat specifically supports such
efforts through capacity building.
Written constitution
The organisation has or is striving to develop a legal document with
full details of the organisation, its structure and way of operating.
The process of amendment and dissolution must be specified.
Stated aims and plans
The organisation has or is striving to develop a vision and a purpose
and a written record of what it wants to see achieved as a result of
its efforts over a period of at least one year. It is able to say what
it is going to do to achieve this, by when it is going to do it, how
achievement is measured, why this result is important and how it knows
this.
Regular reporting to funders and to their community
Scat requires monthly reporting on activity, finance and case
statistics from all organisations viewed as struggling and developing.
Organisations viewed as established may report on a quarterly basis.
Scat accepts that a characteristic of a community based organisation is
that it is accountable to the community it serves through transparent
and accessible records of financial and general activities. In
addition, recipients of Scat funding should provide general reports to
their community at appropriate intervals. Recipients should be required
by their own constitution, and are required by Scat criteria to
timeously and publicly advertise and report at least one general
meeting per year (AGM). Recipients should also present audited
financial records at such a meeting and a fresh management mandate must
be given. Attendance registers, agendas and minutes of the entire
meeting should be submitted to Scat.
Annual audited financial statements.
The audit must be performed by an auditor who is registered with the Society for Chartered Accountants of South Africa. |
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