The NGO Code of Conduct for Health Systems Strengthening
Basic information
- Type: Code of Conduct/Ethics
- Year established: 2007
- Status: Active
- Thematic area: Health
- Summary: The NGO Code of Conduct for Health Systems Strengthening offers guidance on how international NGOs can work in host countries in ways that respect, support and strengthen government health systems. The Code focuses on ensuring that trained local staff are not given incentives to leave government service, and that NGO efforts will complement government efforts. The Code was developed beginning in late 2007 through a series of consultative processes and has been subsequently revised in 2009.
Contact details
- Host organisation: Health Alliance International
- Website: www.ngocodeofconduct.org
- Email: contact@ngocodeofconduct.org
- Phone: +1 (206) 543-8382
- Address: 4534 11th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105
Areas addressed
- Principles or standards: Principles-based
- Human resources:
- Staff development and training
- Staff relations
- Cross-cutting thematic areas:
- Gender equality
- Human rights
- State - CSO relations
Further info: The Code is divided into six commitments areas : 1) NGOs will engage in hiring practices that ensure long-term health system sustainability; 2) NGOs will enact employee compensation practices that strengthen the public sector; 3) NGOs pledge to create and maintain human resources training and support systems that are good for the countries where they work; 4) NGOs will minimize the NGO management burden for ministries; 5) NGOs will support Ministries of Health as they engage with communities; and 6) NGOs will advocate for policies that promote and support the public sector.
Participation
- Reasons for participation
- Enhancing credibility, quality or reputation
- Further information: Signatories endorse this Code as part of broader efforts to ensure that NGO activities support, and do not undermine, government efforts in the health sector.
Compliance
- Monitoring mechanism: Commitment only
- Has sanctioning mechanism: No
Assessment
The Code of Conduct for Health Systems Strengthening, although specific to the health sector, addresses two issues of concern applicable to many sub-fields of development: ensuring that NGO efforts are complementary to government efforts, and that short-term gains through NGO projects are sustainable in the longer term. These issues are particularly acute in the health sector in developing countries due to the regular loss of qualified personnel to more lucrative posts outside of their home countries. This Code fills a niche within development organisations more broadly in its guidance on human resources practices.
