US, EU Grantmaker Groups Publish Accountability Principles for International Philanthropy

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The Council on Foundations (COF) and the European Foundation Center have published Principles of Accountability for International Philanthropy, the result of a two-year consultative process of grantmakers and stakeholders from four continents. The COF press release announcing the document says:

Voluntary and aspirational, the Principles and accompanying Practices aim to guide and support funders in making better decisions in pursuing their international missions and objectives, and to provide a framework that will encourage and assist more foundations to get involved internationally....

The document encompasses seven concise Principles based on an identified set of core values that foundations should aspire to embrace. They address integrity; understanding; respect; responsiveness; fairness; cooperation and collaboration; and effectiveness. They seek to fill a specific niche and complement activities undertaken in Europe and the United States that deal with broader issues of accountability, effectiveness and good practice. The Principles are a living document that will be reviewed and updated periodically.

While the document does not specifically address ways to protect against diversion of charitable resources to terrorists, it is similar the Principles of International Charity published by a group of U.S. nonrprofits in March 2005 as an alternative to the problematic Treasury Department Guidelines.