Networks are new ventures in the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU). ARU is learning and re-learning new practical ways of reaching out to its members as it lives and fulfills its Vision, Mission, Goals, and Objectives. Fiscal Agents shall keep ARU informed of the activities being carried out. The understanding and practical living of these Networks evolve with times. Thus, whatever is written down is not the blueprint.
Fiscal Agent
A Network initially begins with an Institute as a Fiscal Agent. The first grant could support registering the Network according to the Country’s registration laws for a non-profit NGO. Ultimately, the Network is managed by an advisory board to support moving the project forward. If the registration eventually goes through, the entity becomes the recipient of the grant-to help further both the partner’s and ARU’s Mission.
ARU has four Networks:
- Consecrated Catholic Women Health Care Initiative. The Fiscal Agent is the sisters of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (DST)
- The Anti-Human Trafficking- The Fiscal Agent is the sisters of the Holy Cross.
- The Elderly Consecrated Women-The Fiscal Agent is the sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary Reparatrix (Ggogonya), (IMHR)
- Sisters Communication Practitioners-The Fiscal Agent is the Missionary Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (MSMMMC)
Network Guidelines
- A Vision of the Network
- A Mission Statement that articulates the purpose and goals of the Network
- Terms of Reference and By-laws and Constitution, including a dissolution clause, should be in place to assist in the governance of the Network. This is in case the Network is registered as an NGO.
- An advisory Board should have between 7 and 9 members, preferably odd numbers. The majority should be sisters, but the board should include lay people with expertise in the field and experience in resource mobilization. Each board member’s appointment letter should stipulate the term of office.
- A clear organogram for the Network should clarify the role of each party’s involvement to avoid confusion of roles.
- It is advisable to have an independent physical address and, optimally, a physical office for Network operations; this should be off the national conference premises where possible. This helps to clear conflicts of interest and the ability of th
Network Operations Guidelines
- Personnel would include a Director/Coordinator who is not a member of the grantee Institute (Fiscal Agent) and one member from the grantee institute who could serve as a Financial Manager. Other personnel depend on need and budget the network proposes to accomplish. This may differ by country, type of network created and consensus among the partnering Institutes on ministries. Documentation is important to ensure continuity and foster trust in the Network members.
- Contracts for the personnel of the Network with a Job Description for each should be provided. The duration of the contract should be equal to the grant period. However, the Director/Coordinator may have an additional period to allow continuity of the project if there is a need for succession planning.
- The members of the network should develop a clear work plan within the first three months of the grant to allow the Network to have a roadmap with clear goals and an approach to achieve them.
- Officers/Personnel should be available for meetings and have access to the internet and other necessary means of communication to conduct the Network’s business.
Network Financial Guidelines
- The Fiscal agent shall entirely oversee expenditure.
- Decisions on the project implementation are made by the Director and staff and approved by the Advisory Board or Entity Board.
- In the case of sub-granting and/or award to the beneficiaries, written criteria for awards are required, and award letters should have a standard template for accountability purpose. This applies to Start Up Capital. For instance provided to Youth who complete the Sister Led Youth Empowerment Initiative (SLYI).
- A Network is a formal collaboration, interconnection or partnership of multiple religious Institutes for clearly stated purposes: human development topics, formation, sisters’ service needs, healthcare with specific goals and coordination mechanisms and is operated through dedicated communication channels to facilitate accomplishing of project goals.
- Collaborative networks demonstrate the impact of the services rendered and provide learning opportunities on what works. Helping to see the larger portrait of the social issues being addressed within a community by the Network and could lead to partnerships with public and government entities supporting these issues like Trafficking in Persons.
