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How WaterAid is managed4. Why don't you merge with all the other charities that work in your area? 5. What is the difference between you and other organisations that provide water and sanitation? 1. How is WaterAid governed?The Charity Commission is established by law as the regulator and registrar for charities in England and Wales. In Scotland, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) has similar responsibilities. WaterAid is registered with both the Charity Commission (registered charity number 288701) and with OSCR (registered charity number SC039479). Like every charity WaterAid is governed by a Board of Trustees, who are responsible for ensuring that the charity is well-managed in line with its charitable objectives as stated in its governing document, the Memorandum of Articles of Association, filed at the Charity Commission. WaterAid currently has 12 Trustees who all give up their time, skills and energy voluntarily to ensure that WaterAid is compliant with the legal and statutory requirements of a UK charity and registered company. They ensure that we keep proper books and records, and that annual accounts are prepared and reviewed by external auditors. It is the trustees' responsibility to formally approve our annual report and accounts. Our Chief Executive, who is responsible for all of the different teams within WaterAid, reports to the Chairman of the Trustees. Trustees are recruited through an open application process to ensure that we have the professional skills and experience needed for WaterAid to operate effectively. The Trustees are elected annually by WaterAid's members (currently 37 people from professional bodies and the water industry). We actively encourage people with international development experience and those of African and Asian origins to apply. We will also continue to strive for a diverse and gender balanced Board. Trustees are elected for a three year term that may be renewed for another three years. In occasional circumstances the term may be extended beyond this to retain specific skills. The Charity Commission / OSCR have powers to intervene in a charity to protect its assets where a formal investigation establishes serious mismanagement or abuse. 2. How do you ensure your staff and trustees are equipped to run an organisation that is funded by the public?WaterAid operates by employing full and part-time paid employees and taking on unpaid volunteers and trustees. All are subject to the laws and regulations governing the charity, charities in general and, where appropriate, employment law. We recruit experienced and qualified staff and give both them and our volunteers training and support to ensure they can carry out their roles effectively. Staff, candidates for Trustees and often volunteers are recruited through a formal application process to ensure that we have the professional skills and experience we need for WaterAid to operate effectively. Training is as important to people in charities as it is in other organisations. WaterAid makes a range of appropriate training available to its staff, volunteers and trustees so that we can be confident that they are able to do their jobs as effectively as possible and develop in their roles, making the most cost effective use of the money entrusted to us by donors. Overseas we not only build the skills of our own staff but also the skills of our partner organisations too. This is a vital part of our work, as with further skills and support, partner organisations can develop and grow, helping more people without water and sanitation in the countries where we work. In all of our projects WaterAid and its partners help build the skills in the communities where we work to ensure that they can set up, operate and maintain their own safe water and sanitation facilities. By working in this way many communities have the skills and structure in place to continue the development in their area. 3. Is WaterAid independent?Yes, WaterAid is an independent organisation registered as a charity in the UK and managed from our head office in London. We have independent trustees who are bound by charity law to ensure that the charity works towards the best interests of its beneficiaries, not to any other agenda. The world's water and sanitation problems are far greater than the total resources available to WaterAid and we do receive money from the Government to carry out work which is in line with our aims and objectives. Ensuring government participation helps to ensure more of the world's poorest people gain access to water and sanitation, particularly when they see successful projects and take up this innovation in their own spending programmes. In 2006/7 Government funding made up 18% of WaterAid's total income. 4. Why don't you merge with all the other charities that work in your area?WaterAid specifically works to help people gain access to water, sanitation and hygiene education. However, the scale of the problem is vast and to achieve our vision of a world where everyone has access to these basic needs we are continuously seeking ways of working in partnership with others so that our work has as much impact as possible. We are increasingly conscious of the need to consider any possible risks of duplication of effort. This is why we work with local organisations in the countries where we work, through the structure put in place by the country governments. As the responsibility for water and sanitation is more often falling to local government WaterAid is also working with them to develop their capacity to carry out their work effectively. In many countries we are helping the local government to map the water resources that are available, and to see which are working. This means any future work can be planned to mend broken facilities (which is cheaper than building new ones) and reach those most in need. We also work with other international NGOs on our campaigns, reports and advocacy work - both in the countries where we work and internationally. For example we are a founding member of the End Water Poverty campaign, a coalition of like minded organisations calling on water and sanitation for all - find out how you can get involved.
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