Accountability & Transparency
How money is controlled, what we publish, and how anyone — including the communities we serve — can raise a concern about us.
Separation of financial and programme authority
Financial authority and programme authority are held separately. The Treasurer is custodian of the Foundation's funds and accounts and is answerable to the General Assembly for the integrity of financial records. The Finance and Administration function manages budgets, procurement and legal compliance. The effect is that no single person both commits and approves expenditure.
All funds are held in a bank account in the Foundation's name. Funds are never held in an individual's personal account, and no individual is authorised to receive donations personally on the Foundation's behalf.
What we publish
- Annual reports covering programme delivery against stated targets.
- Audited financial statements.
- Programme impact reports.
- Our indicative multi-year budget, broken down by thematic area.
- Research and advocacy publications, with methodology and limitations stated.
All programme data is disaggregated by sex, age, disability status and geographic location. Integrated programming is only credible if you can show which groups it is actually reaching, including the groups it is missing.
Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism
A Community Accountability and Reporting Mechanism (CARM), including a confidential feedback and complaints channel, is established in all target communities. It exists so that the people our programmes affect can tell us when we are getting it wrong — including about the conduct of our own staff, volunteers and partners.
- You do not have to give your name.
- Where you are the person affected, no action is taken without your consent.
- Reports about our own personnel are treated with the same seriousness as any other.
- Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern is itself a breach of our code of conduct.
Governance oversight
The General Assembly, composed of all registered members, is the supreme decision-making body. It meets at least once each year, approves the accounts and elects the Bureau. A voluntary Board of Advisors comprising legal, financial, gender and development experts provides independent guidance on strategic direction without holding executive authority.
Fraud, corruption and misuse
We maintain anti-fraud and anti-corruption, conflict of interest and whistleblowing policies. Any request for payment made in the Foundation's name — to apply for a job, to volunteer, to be selected for a programme, or to receive assistance — is fraudulent. We charge no one, ever, for access to anything we do. Suspected fraud in our name should be reported to contact@womenslight.org.
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