The Code: Rules and Regulations

 

All member organisations subscribing to the code will adhere to its key principles holding themselves accountable to fellow members and the wider world community based upon these core guidelines.

  • Membership

Integrity maintained by membership based on advocacy

  • Membership applications must be supported by two elder members acting as nominating advocates.
  • Membership admittance will be by a vote of elder members only.
  • During the first six months of membership advocates share the full responsibility of any code breaches of their sponsored members.
  • Members are automatically granted elder status after adhering to the code for twelve months without violations.
  • Ethos

Self determined and African centred

  • Members agree that African unity is the key to community self empowerment.
  • Members agree that the key to African progression is self determination.
  • Members agree to promote and initiate an African centered approach to working with and for African people.
  • Members agree to support the existing efforts of African organisations where they adhere to a policy that seeks African solutions to African problems.
  • Members agree to promote and protect the institution of the African family unit via marriage and community.
  • Members agree to use African history and culture as a tool to empower our community.
  • Members recognise that African languages are for African people globally.
  • Members recognise that Amharic (Ge’ez) is the last African script and it should be protected by being learned and used.
  • Members agree to counter derogatory assertions about African identity, heritage and culture.
  • Organisation Structure

By African people

  • Members agree that the core leadership and management of their organisation is African.
  • Members agree that the core ownership of their organisation is predominantly African.
  • Members agree that their organisation gives equal weight to the voice of African women in forming and influencing policy and strategy.
  • Members agree that their organisation does not exclude or marginalise the African youth or elders.
  • Transparency

For African people

  • Members agree to publish a constitution or similar document that embodies its objectives and commitment to the code ethos.
  • Members agree to maintain at least one public interface that is easily accessible to the global African community (website, magazine, newsletter, email address, postal address or telephone number) and display the official membership logo.
  • Shared resources

Pooling assets and skills

  • Members will submit details of resources they are willing to share to a register accessible to members only
  • Member’s entries will be submitted in a format which shall include but not be limited to; resource name, resource detail, specialist area, resource availability, protocol for request, prerequisite conditions for request, economic considerations.
  • Accountability

Public Grievances

  • Members will implement a public mechanism for receiving external/ community complaints. (self monitoring/auditing and feedback)
  • Members will publish their external complaints procedure in the public domain

Internal Grievances

  • Three major breaches of the code or a single violation of the prime law in force will mean an organisation is automatically subjected to a group vote to terminate its membership.
  • Membership termination will be by a vote of elder members only.
  • If at any time a majority of group members nominate an organisation for expulsion then the nominated organisation will be given 30 days notice in advance of its termination and a written note stating the reason for its nomination.
  • Emergency expulsions agreed by majority group votes after a violation of the prime law is immediate and without notice.
  • Expelled members must wait twelve months before reapplying for membership.
  • Dispute Resolution

Peer mechanisms for internal member disagreements

  • Members are required to attempt a private and informal resolution within 14 days of being informed of the complaint
  • Members will formally inform all members of their dispute details if after 30 days the complaint cannot be resolved between the specific parties
  • Members will agree to participate with a peer to peer mediation session if an internal issue remains unresolved for more than 60 days
  • Members agree to fully respond to issues of contention raised collectively by members within 30 days
  • Public Conduct
  • Members agree not to place private issues of contention between members in the public domain without prior agreement between parties and elder members.(see special notes below)
  • Members agree to wear African garments at official meetings, adhering to the cultural uniform which has become the standard of presentation and representation.

 

  • Communication Protocol
  • Members agree all public correspondence conforms to the code terminology guidelines
  • Members agree to prioritise correspondence from another member and aims to acknowledge and/or respond to a request within twenty four hours of receipt.

 

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