Credibility and accountability have always been the benchmark for Community Pathway Africa (CPA UK) and are achieved through the promotion of principles of good governance in the processes and practices. CPA UK has a four-tier audit and evaluation mechanism to ensure the impact of investment and complete transparency and utilization of funds.
This four-tier audit mechanism reviews programmes and projects, internal operations, and compliance with statutory norms and conducts an external evaluation for the impact and outcome of various development programmes. The entire management processes and practices of CPA UK are in compliance with the principles of good governance.
The board periodically reviews the charity’s charitable purposes, and the external environment in which it works, to make sure that the charity, and its purposes, stay relevant and valid. The board leads the development of and agrees, to a strategy or plan that aims to achieve the charity’s charitable purposes and is clear about the desired outputs, outcomes, and impacts.
Leadership
Strong and effective leadership helps the charity to adopt an appropriate strategy for effectively delivering its aims. It also sets the tone for the charity, including its vision, values, and reputation. The board agrees on the values, consistent with the charity’s purpose that it wishes to promote and makes sure that these values underpin all its decisions and the charity’s activities.
The board recognises, respects, and welcomes diverse, different, and, at times, conflicting trustee views. The board provides oversight and direction to the charity and provides support and constructive challenge to the charity and its staff and volunteers.
The board supports its staff or volunteers to feel confident and able to provide the information, advice, and feedback necessary to the board. The board and individual trustees take collective responsibility for its decisions.
The chair provides leadership to the board and takes responsibility for ensuring the board has agreed priorities, appropriate structures, processes, and productive culture and has trustees who are able to govern well and therefore add value to the charity.
The board ensures that there are proper arrangements for their appointment, supervision, support, appraisal, and remuneration if necessary.
The board has a key impact on whether a charity thrives. The tone the board sets through its leadership, behaviour, culture and overall performance is critical to the charity’s success.