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Governance

In a nation of the size and diversity of India, inequities are deeply rooted in centuries-old fissures of gender, caste, class, ethnicity and religion. Political careers and electoral success and policy too often becomes a patchwork of 'schemes' aimed at appeasing specific interest groups. Similarly, the contribution of private philanthropy will be insufficient to ensure that the benefits of India's increasing prosperity are equitably distributed. Only a new model of governance, CRY believes, where priorities are determined by empowered communities, will be able to do this.

Governance is here to stay! And it will take nothing less than the active citizenship of Indians from all walks of life to implement it. Enlisting advocates for child rights in particular and social justice in general, from among the educated, professional and business classes and from among India's increasingly influential global diaspora will be particularly critical.

Today, 21st century NGOs adopt best practice in governance as a part of their strategy. At CRY, governance encompasses the non-negotiable values of accountability, transparency and partnership. We follow this approach with each individual or group that we partner including vendors and third party suppliers.

With CRY's development partners

Selection criteria based on long-term strategy and values
Selection norms and process designed for transparency
Multi-layered, participative, documented and audited grant sanctioning system
Data-driven, participative planning, monitoring and evaluation
Exhaustive financial and impact parameters - process and outcome
Internal and external audits - financial and programmatic
Financial risk management - training and funding support
Financial and capacity building inputs for organisation building including leadership building, democratic functioning, performance measurement and internal transparency
Proactive transparency to reference communities
Walk the talk

With donors, media and government across markets

Comprehensive reporting to donors and the public
Proactive transparency
Feedback mechanisms
Values, ethics screening
Norm and best practice bench-marking across for-profit and non-profit sectors
Active participation in development of sector norms across sectors

With employees and board

Mission-centric performance planning, evaluation and reward systems
Conflict of interest and ethics policies
Democratic, participative, transparent decision-making
Formal and informal feedback mechanisms and forums
Documentation and independent audit
Consistent adherence to, and investments in, building mission and values led ethos and culture