Developed by a Joint Working Group of the EFC and US Council on Foundations (COF), the Principles and accompanying Practices aim to guide and support funders in making better decisions in pursuing their international missions and objectives, and to provide a framework that will encourage and assist more foundations to get involved internationally.
Read the Press Release about the Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy (27kb)
Download the Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy (149kb)
Background
Launched in May 2005, this Joint Working Group comprises representatives from European and US foundations and corporate funders with international activities.
The Joint Working Group defined accountability as a commitment to: as a commitment to uphold a funder's core mission, serve the public good, engage and inform stakeholders, and assure positive impact. The Group drew up seven core principles to guide foundations in their cross-border work. They cover the following areas: integrity, understanding, respect, responsiveness, fairness; cooperation and collaboration; and effectiveness.
These are underpinned by a set of good practice options which illustrate steps and approaches funders may choose to adopt in implementing the seven principles. The document includes also a resources section covering leading institutions, studies and tools addressing this topic.
Central to the work was a series of consultations with EFC and COF members; donor associations and networks; international NGOs; grantees and partner organisations in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Africa, including a workshop with 25 African NGO leaders in South Africa.
The Principles are voluntary and aspirational. They seek to address a specific niche and complement activities undertaken in Europe and the United States that deal with broader issues of accountability, effectiveness and good practice. The Principles are a living document that will be reviewed and updated periodically.
Working Group Co-chairs
Natalia Kanem, The Elma Philanthropies Services, Inc., USA
Luc Tayart de Borms, King Baudouin Foundation, Belgium
Working Group Members*
Jennifer Astone, Firelight Foundation, USA
Nicholas Borsinger, ProVictimis Foundation, Switzerland
David Carter, UN Foundation USA
Boris Cornejo, Fundación Esquel, Ecuador
Kathleen Duncan, formerly with Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales, UK
Connie Higginson, American Express Foundation, USA
Cathrin Scupin & Sergio Missana, Fundación BBVA, Spain
Ray Murphy, C. S. Mott Foundation, USA
Patricia Rosenfield, Carnegie Corporation, USA
Rien van Gendt, Van Leer Group Foundation, Netherlands
Cole Wilbur, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, USA
Secretariat
Rob Buchanan, International Programmes, COF
Sevdalina Rukanova, International Programmes, EFC
* The organisational affiliations listed above are accurate as of the time individuals served on the Joint
Working Group. In some cases, the affiliations have changed.