Transparency in the German NGO Sector

VENRO a coalition of over 100 non-governmental organisations active in development cooperation. In 2008 the VENRO members agreed on a set of transparency standards within their member organisations (VENRO Verhaltenskodex). In these standards transparency is basically understood as internal transparency and transparency vis-a-vis the German public in general and private or institutional donators in particular. The transparency standards do not aim at providing transparent information for stakeholders in partner countries. The issues covered by the transparency standards are the internal management of member organisations, the way member organisations communicate with the public and the impact of VENRO membres. According to the standards internal transparency and control systems are necessary to prevent squandering, misuse and corruption. The goals of transparent communication are fundraising, accountability and awareness raising.

The standards comprise a list of information which should be published for the public. Annual reports should only contain essential general information. VENRO members are called upon to publish additional and more detailed information on the internet or to provide it upon request. In particular VENRO members commit to collect information about salaries and allowances of management staff as well as the use of external service providers such as consultants and provide this information upon request. Availability of project level information is not mentioned in the standards.

There are other national and international initiatives linked to transparency in the Non-profit-Sector. Transparency Germany is organising a working group on transparency in the non-profit-sector. and promotes a transparency code. The consulting company PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany awards every year a transparency prize for the most transparent German NGO. The protestant charity Diakonie in Germany has its own transparency standards. On an international level a network of international NGOs had established a charter on accountability to promote transparency.