CAMFED’s financial processes ensure we are accountable to the girls we serve, and the donors who invest and trust in us.
Our partner communities are our stakeholders, whose members match donor resources with time and resources of their own. As such they are deeply invested in the success of CAMFED’s programs. This ‘social contract’ means that whole groups of local people help ensure that funding reaches those who need it most, and is deployed in the most impactful way.
Innovation, accountability and transparency – from community to global level
In our partner communities, the system starts with the selection process: school-based committees and community leaders identify girls in greatest need. Once approved for support, each girl’s entitlement is then tracked through our data monitoring system. Volunteers – including members of the CAMFED Association (CAMA) and local government officials – help us in this detailed monitoring process, using mobile phones to record data and send it back to our database for efficient and cost-effective tracking.
CAMFED staff in district and national offices make regular visits to each school. They meet with volunteer groups and other parties to ensure that funds are being used for the purposes that they were provided for. Our staff ensure that records are in place for each transaction, are maintained in a manner consistent with our best practices, and provide a clear audit trail.
The audit process, which happens annually in each country, traces funds from the time of donation to the time it reaches individual girls or young women. Evidence is gathered in two ways:
- Inspecting finance records from schools and volunteer groups involved in program administration
- Interviewing sponsored girls to confirm they received their full entitlements
To strengthen the effectiveness of audits and legitimize enforcement and compliance, we work in partnership with government audit departments in each country of operation. Both parties share audit reports to find and resolve discrepancies and to reward good record-keeping.
Training
This framework is supported by a continuous training program. Financial training is focused on developing and providing the following key basics of financial management:
- Strong financial planning skills
- Sound maintenance of financial records
- Robust internal controls
- Regular internal audit and monitoring
The training program is run for local committees administering the CAMFED program, including Teacher Mentors, Parent Support Groups and members of the CAMFED Association. The training provides the skills to manage resources and embed the moral and legal responsibilities that are required to manage financial resources. It emphasizes the need to align principle with practice to maintain and sustain the trust and confidence of the rest of the community.
UK anti-bribery legislation
CAMFED is implementing anti-bribery policies and procedures using the same collaborative principles as our management and governance model. In all offices, CAMFED delivers workshops that introduce the definitions and legal implications of bribery; an anti-bribery champion is appointed from each office; and country-specific example scenarios and proven methods of resisting bribery are appended to the policy.
Guide Star Platinum Seal of Transparency
CAMFED has once again earned the highest rating possible, a Platinum Guide Star Seal of Transparency.
Charity Navigator rating
CAMFED has a 4 star rating from Charity Navigator, the highest rating possible.
Efficient Operations
More than 90 percent of the money we spend goes directly to our programs. Our Annual Reports provide a detailed breakdown: