GOOD GOVERNANCE

We have developed a three-tier audit and evaluation mechanism to ensure the best impact of the investment in allocation and utilization of funds making us one of the best NGOs in India.

Statutory Auditors

Iyer & Associates

(Chartered Accountants)

Programme & Internal Auditors :

Joemon &Meera

(Chartered Accountants)

Governance Compliance Certification:

Amar Simha

(Chartered Accountants)

Good governance is needed for overall development along with best management practices, compliance with the law, and adherence to the best possible ethical standards. The entire management system and practices of Lovedale Foundation are designed keeping in mind CSR NGOs that are in compliance with the principles of Good Governance.

Making Policies & Decisions

Lovedale Foundation, from the inception itself, works to create a delegated work environment. Each person in the organization is involved in the process of decision-making in a scientifically designed system. Decision-making and policy formation in the Foundation are done through a four-tier system.

Departments & Divisions

Monthly review meetings are held for each division and department regularly.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee manages the Foundation’s operation and they directly report to the Board of Advisors. Members of the committee are working professionals from different backgrounds. The Executive Committee of Lovedale Foundation holds a meeting quarterly (every three months) and looks after the day-to-day affairs of the management system to make it a transparent NGO.

Advisory Body

The members of the Advisory Board are technically competent people from diverse backgrounds and expertise. The body is formed for a period of one year and a few independent members with eminence and reputation are nominated each year. They hold meetings quarterly. The members advise the Trustees of Lovedale Foundation by taking regular inputs from the Executive Committee.

Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees works to set the vision and broad guidelines for the Foundation and ensure good governance system liaison to the Board of Advisors. The Board of Trustees is not much involved in the day-to-day operation of the Lovedale Foundation.

Credibility Norms

Lovedale Foundation encourages its partners to follow Credibility norms for ensuring good governance in the development sector. Lovedale Foundation strictly follows the norms of good governance. The Governance & Credibility System includes a systematic set of norms, which is administered and monitored by a qualified Company Secretary.

Project Management & Monitoring system

The project management and monitoring system in Lovedale Foundation is designed in systematic and well laid down processes. These are as follows

Selection of beneficiaries and program partners

We select partners through invitations at required locations under specific programs through advertisements in forums, websites. We also consider through references from our credible partners as well as the perennial ‘submit a proposal’ section on the Lovedale Foundation website. The Foundation receives proposals around the year and the selection is done on the basis of;

Monitoring

Once a partner is selected under a particular program, an MoU is signed, guidelines and initial training are imparted and the particular project is started. The project is put under a systematic and periodic monitoring system. The processes include the following steps:

• i. Project Auditing
• ii. Activity report analysis
• iii. Field evaluation

The process of project monitoring is followed by impact analysis, which is done internally; and external evaluation, done by an external and professional agency.

Impact analysis

External evaluation

Audit System

Lovedale Foundation has a three-tier audit system to ensure that funds are utilized to the optimum level in an accountable manner.

Internal & Process Audit System – This is conducted throughout the year in order to ensure accountability in the internal operation of the organization

Internal & Process Auditors Ravi & Iyer Associates

(Chartered Accountants)

Statutory Audit – is held by the statutory auditor for finalization of balance sheet and statement of affairs. This is also done to comply with standard statutory norms.

Statutory Auditor

Joemon & Meera (Chartered Accountant)

External Evaluation:

On the basis of need, impact, and outcome of various welfare programs of Lovedale Foundation are evaluated by external evaluation agencies having relevant experience on the subject. The agencies that have done external evaluations are
KPMG, Fidelity Financials, and Goldman Sachs.

Governance Compliance Certification: (Company Secretaries)

Audit reports are discussed with the Board of Trustees, Advisory Body, and the Executive Committee to take suitable and necessary steps if required.

Use of Technology for Good Governance

Online Monitoring System

Lovedale Foundation advocates the use of technology to ensure complete monitoring and to cut down overhead costs. Lovedale Foundation has already used the system in a few of its national-level programs. Gradually, all of its projects will be compatible with this system. The biggest challenges so far have been a lack of access to technology in remote areas and a lack of working knowledge among grassroots NGO partners. The Foundation is taking up the task of building the capacities of all its NGO partners and project staff.

Beneficiaries Management System

A successful beneficiary management system is operational across the projects in rural India. This technology is helping Lovedale Foundation in tracking the progress and development of all the beneficiaries in two major national-level programs as of now.

Management Information System (MIS)

A monthly MIS is prepared and analyzed by the MIS Officers and it is submitted and discussed in Executive Committee meetings for assessing the operational activities and to do future planning.

Accounting System

With the increasing use of relevant technology in each division and department, along with projects, both quantitative and qualitative MIS are managed technologically. The Accounts Team of Lovedale Foundation consists of competent and qualified accounts professionals. The accounts are maintained on daily basis through advanced and updated computerized systems. The same is also analyzed and checked periodically by the internal control system and Internal Auditor, in compliance with standardized HR and Management Policy.

People Management

Our people are our assets.

Lovedale Foundation believes in democratic and participatory work culture.

Appraisal and review system is conducted twice a year in a democratic way to identify the future leaders of the organization.