Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations (PNGO)

Contact Information
City: 
Ramallah et Gaza, Palestine
e-mail: 
pngonet@pngo.net
Web site: 
Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO)
network: 
No
Description
Presentation, history and objectives: 

The Palestinian NGO Network is a civil and democratic body, which seeks to support, consolidate and strengthen the Palestinian civil society on the basis of the principles of democracy, social justice and sustainable development. It strives for the attainment of the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people. It is a Palestinian NGO umbrella organization comprising 92 member organizations working in different developmental fields. PNGO was established in September 1993, after the signing of the Oslo Accords, with the objective of enhancing coordination, consultation and cooperation among the different sectors of civil society. Since then PNGO has become an important component of Palestinian society and serves as an essential coordination mechanism for the NGO sector at the local, regional and international level.

MISSION:

PNGO envisages the establishment of an independent and democratic Palestinian state based on the rule of law, social justice and the respect for human rights. In order to support the above process, PNGO will:

  • Contribute to the national resistance to end the occupation

    Advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people locally, regionally and globally

  • Advocate for responsible and appropriate legislation and public policies
  • Strengthen coordination within the NGO sector
  • Strengthen democratic values within society
  • Strengthen civil society’s organizational capacities

PNGO’s overall goal is to reinforce the role played by NGOs through contributing to the development and empowerment of civil society within an independent Palestinian state based on the principles of democracy, social justice and respect for human rights.

OBJECTIVES:

PNGO believes that the above-mentioned goal can be achieved by addressing the following objectives:

  • Establishing international public education and solidarity groups in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people

    Strengthening the coordination and cooperation among the different Palestinian NGO networks and civil society organizations

  • Providing policy analysis with regard to legislation and developmental planning

    Enhancing the managerial and institutional capacity of PNGO’s members

VALUES AND PRINCIPLES:

PNGO is guided in its work by a number of values and principles.

PNGO regards it as important that the NGO sector should be accountable, transparent and committed to the sector’s mission.

PNGO believes in accountability with regard to all internal structural levels: The coordination office is accountable to the steering committee, the steering committee to the general assembly and the general assembly to the partner NGOs and the community at large.

PNGO is guided by the network’s clear mission which states that the national developmental roles of NGOs should complement the building of a democratic Palestinian civil society based on social justice, the sovereignty of law and the respect for human rights.

PNGO’s work is based on transparent administrative and financial systems which stipulate the production of regular administrative and financial reports.

PNGO believes in joint leadership and teamwork, with decisions being made in a process of consultation among all the parties involved.

PNGO believes in equal partnerships with its international partners and in discussions that are based on equality and mutual respect.

Programme: 

PNGO is active in the fields of Coordination and Networking, Capacity-Building, Community-Outreach and Public Education.

Coordination and Networking:

PNGO promotes coordination, cooperation and consultation not only among Palestinian NGOs but also between the Palestinian NGO sector and the different bodies of the Palestinian National Authority. In addition, PNGO facilitates the exchange of information and experience between NGOs at the local, regional and international levels.

PNGO holds regular meetings with member organizations to discuss matters of concern, it organizes meetings with international NGOs, diplomatic missions, parliamentarians and international governmental organizations, it holds coordination meetings with Palestinian governmental bodies and it participates in local and international events which aim at strengthening coordination and cooperation among civil society organizations worldwide (such as the World Social Forum and regional Social Forums, UN conferences and events organized by the bodies of the EU, national governments or NGOs)

Capacity-Building:

PNGO believes that a strong Palestinian civil society is dependent on professionally structured NGOs. The Network is committed to enhancing the organizational capacities of member organizations at the administrative and financial levels.

One example of PNGO’s activities in the area of capacity-building is its joint project with the British NGO Responding to Conflict (RTC). The project aims at empowering civil society organizations to find constructive ways of responding to conflict. The course involves intensive practical and participatory exercises for practitioners working for peace and justice in situations of instability and conflict.

In addition, PNGO, having received a grant from the Welfare Association Consortium (WAC) as part of the Palestinian NGO Project II funded by the World Bank, is implementing a project entitled ‘Building Up Financial & Administrative Quality Standards’. The project supports 30 member organizations in the creation and implementation of a sound administrative and financial management system enabling them to adapt to changing circumstances and comply with legal requirements

Community-Outreach:

PNGO is convinced that strong ties have to be built between NGOs and the different sectors of society which is why the Network regularly organizes activities aimed at informing the public of the role, activities and services provided by NGOs.

PNGO holds regular public meetings to discuss developmental and societal issues of concern, it updates the PNGO website on a regular basis, it publishes the PNGO newspaper supplement Al-A’mal Al-Ahli and it conveys PNGO’s news by means of local newspapers.

Public Education Program:

PNGO believes that civil society is an integral partner in both the development process and in the formulation of democratic legislation. In this context, PNGO provides analyses, conducts studies and participates in discussions to assist in the formulation of public development policies and legislation.

PNGO organizes regular meetings between civil society organizations and members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), it drafts laws to be proposed to the PLC for ratification, it organizes national conferences and public meetings regarding reform matters, it issues press releases, it formulates positions with regard to issues of common concern, it carries out advocacy campaigns and it drafts concept papers outlining the activities of the civil society sector.

Structure and staff: 

The General Assembly

The General Assembly is made up of the entirety of the Network’s member organizations. It has the following powers and responsibilities:

1. To discuss and approve the Network’s annual plan and its audited budget.

2. To discuss and approve future annual plans.

3. To review and approve the Network’s financial plans and policies.

4. To elect member organizations which are to form part of the Network’s Steering Committee once every two years. Two member organizations which were part of the previous Committee must maintain their membership in the new Committee in order to guarantee the continuity of work.

5. To approve new memberships, upon the recommendation of the Steering Committee.

6. To modify and approve the Network’s By-Laws, with the approval of at least two-thirds of the member organizations.

7. To convene at least twice a year.

8. To determine annual membership fees.

9. To form specialized committees within the Network whenever the need arises.

 

The Steering Committee

The Steering Committee comprises seven to nine member organizations that work voluntarily and have the following powers and responsibilities:

  1. To implement the goals of the Network by formulating annual administrative and financial plans and programs, which are to be approved by the General Assembly.
  2. To prepare detailed work plans derived from the annual plans.
  3. To meet at least once every two weeks in order to supervise the Network’s daily performance. Additional meetings can be convened when the need arises.
  4. To supervise the process of receiving and disbursing funds, to prepare the annual budget and to ensure that accounts are audited.
  5. To present administrative and financial annual reports to the General Assembly for approval.
  6. To raise the funds required to guarantee the execution of the Network’s annual plan in cooperation with the General Assembly.
  7. To supervise the collection of the annual membership fees.
  8. To receive, process and assess applications for membership and make recommendations to the General Assembly during its annual meeting concerning the suitability of the organizations in question.
  9. To approve the employment of the Network’s coordinator and other employees, in accordance with the needs of the Network.
  10. To seek the help of advisors and experts in order to improve the Network’s performance.
  11. To officially represent the Network both locally and internationally, within the framework of its stated goals.

Membership

  1. Organizations, not individuals, are eligible for membership.
  2. Any organization, meeting the definition of an NGO as outlined above, is eligible to join the Network if it fulfills the following criteria:
    1. It must have been established for at least two years before applying for membership.
    2. It must be active in one or more of the fields detailed in the above NGO definition.
    3. Its program must outline a clear strategy, goals and activities. It must have identified mechanisms for the attainment of its goals and the evaluation of its work.
    4. It must have clear By-Laws that stipulate how decisions are made and define the interrelation among different administrative levels. There need to be job descriptions for all employees. The organization must provide information about its internal structures, including the names and duties of the people working for it.
    5. Its financial reports must be completed professionally, audited by a chartered auditor and approved by authoritative bodies.
    6. It is required to have issued at least one annual report outlining its work and activities.
    7. Its activities must be compatible with the stated goals and objectives of its program.
    8. The Chairperson of its Board of Directors, the Chairperson of its General Assembly, its Director General or its Executive Director must not occupy the following governmental positions: Minister, Deputy Minister or Director General in a Ministry.

The Executive Committee considers applications for membership and presents its recommendation to the General Assembly for approval by at least two-thirds of the member organizations.

The PNGO Network was established in September 1993, as a quick response to the signing of the Oslo Agreements with an objective to enhance coordination, consultation, and cooperation between member organizations working in different developmental domains. The main domains of work are: Coordination and networking, capacity-building, community-outreach, and public education. Throughout the past eight years, PNGO organized a wide numbers of activities in these fields of work.