Our
organization

Democratic & inclusive governance:

The foundations of Humundi

Humundi is managed on a day-to-day basis by an international team of 60 permanent staff spread across our 9 offices in Europe, Africa and Latin America. In addition to this dedicated team, we are fortunate to be able to count on the motivation of volunteers who work alongside us throughout the year. For more information, contact us at volontaires@humundi.org.

From a legal point of view, Humundi is a non-profit association (a.s.b.l.) recognized as a NGO and subject to the Companies and Associations Code. As an a.s.b.l. Humundi is solidly structured to guarantee democratic and transparent governance.

Humundi’s aim is to put in place a form of governance that allows staff and supporters to be properly involved, and to ensure that the various bodies operate smoothly around an autonomous and efficient team that respects the organization’s values.

Transparency, horizontality, autonomy, integrity, dialogue, clarity, responsibility and efficiency are some of the values that guide the organization’s ongoing reflections on its governance.

These values are reflected in the considerable freedom given to teams to define their decision-making and governance methods, and in the existence of an International Strategic Committee, on which all the representatives of the country offices sit, and which guarantees a balance of power for the major decisions to be submitted to the organization’s governing bodies, and ensures that the diversity of viewpoints within the organization is taken into account.

Transparency and ethics,

Our fundamental values

At Humundi, transparency, integrity and ethics are fundamental values that guide everything we do.

We are committed to acting responsibly and ethically, to being honest in our communications and to reporting our actions openly and honestly. We also recognize the power dynamics that exist within our organization and in the contexts in which we work, and we take them into account in our approaches. This integrated approach is the foundation of the trust we build with our partners and supporters.

In our approach to fundraising, Humundi abides by an Ethical Charter, which commits us to respectingeight commitments to our donors. As a member of the AERF (Association for ethical fundraising) and of the associations listed on the Donorinfo website (independent information centre on associations in Belgium), we undertake to maintain transparent and responsible conduct.

Integrity and ethics:

the pillars of our commitment

In a bid to guarantee respect for its values to all, Humundi is committed to strengthening integrity in its activities.

As such, we have signed the Integrity Charter for NGOs launched in 2018 by the Minister for Development Cooperation. In doing so, we confirm that ‘Integrity and respect are fundamental values to us and we commit to taking concrete steps to ensure that they ‘guide our actions and are supported by all those [and everyone] who officially work for our organization (staff, volunteers, leaders).’

Humundi has also adopted a Code of Ethics and Conduct which sets out the various standards to which everyone working for, representing or otherwise involved with Humundi, must adhere.

With this in mind, we have set up an Integrity Advisor within our organization, as well as a confidential contact point to receive reports on integrity issues:

• Juliette Etienne, our Integrity Advisor: available to offer advice in complete confidentiality, she informs you about the procedures, redirects you to the necessary resources and helps you better understand your options. She is not involved in official investigations.

• Dominique Morel, Complaints Manager: responsible for the formal management of reports.

Would you like to receive integrity advice? You can send an email to make an appointment with Juliette via integriteconseil@humundi.org

Would you like to make a complaint? You can send an email to signalement@humundi.org (This email is exclusively reserved for integrity-related reports).

Procedure for reporting a complaint

Reports are treated confidentially, and anonymity can be requested. Only the persons concerned have access to the details of the complaint. Complaints must be made in good faith with valid reasons for the ethical violation.

In the event of a breach of the code of ethics and conduct, Humundi will react promptly and appropriately by taking fair measures. Disciplinary action, including dismissal and/or legal proceedings, may be taken for failure to comply with these standards.

Reports may include behaviour contrary to our values, breaches of moral or financial integrity, violence in the workplace or situations involving whistleblower status. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 48 hours. The admissibility of the complaint will be assessed within a further working day. A reasoned response will be provided within three months of the investigation (or, with justification, a revised deadline if necessary).