SBECT Good Governance

Governance is the need of the hour in the development sector in order to ensure and promote application of best management practices, compliance of law and adherence to best possible ethical standards. The entire management processes and practices of SBECT Foundation are in compliance with the principles of Good Governance’.

Making Policies & Decisions

SBECT Foundation, from the inception itself, works on a delegated work environment. Each and every person in the organization is involved in the process of decision making in a scientifically designed system.

Making Policy & Decision in the Foundation are done through a four tier system.

• Departments & Divisions
  Monthly review meetings are held for each division and department regularly.
• Executive Committee
  The Executive Committee manages the Foundation’s operation directly and it reports to the Board of Advisors. Members of this committee are professionals working with SBECT Foundation and it is mandatory to include a member from the Board of Advisors.
  The Executive Committee of SBECT Foundation holds a meeting each Quarter (every three months) and looks after day to day management.
• Advisory Body
  The Board of Advisors comprises of technically competent people from diverse backgrounds and expertise. The body is formed for a period of one year and a few independent members with eminence and reputation are nominated each year. Members of this board also meet once every Quarter.
  The Board of Advisors advises the Trustees of SBECT Foundation, taking regular inputs from the Executive Committee.
• Board of Trustees
  The Board of Trustees sets the vision and broad guidelines for the Foundation and ensures good governance in liaison with the Board of Advisors; although, the Board of Trustees is not involved in the day to day operation of SBECT Foundation.

Credibility Norms

SBECT Foundation encourages its partners to follow Credibility norms for ensuring good governance in the development sector. SBECT Foundation also follows norms of good governance itself.

The Foundation strives to build capabilities of its grassroots NGO partners towards good governance. The Governance and Credibility System includes a systematic set of norms, which is administered and monitored by a qualified Company Secretary.

Project Management & Monitoring system

The project management & monitoring system in SBECT Foundation comprises of a systematic and well laid down processes. These are as follow –

• Selection of NGO Partners
  Partners are invited selection of partners for required locations under specified programme through advertisement in relevant forum, websites; and also through reference from credible partners as well as perennial ‘submit a proposal’ section in SBECT Foundation website. Also, prospective partners keep on submitting proposals directly to the foundation round the year. Initial selection is done on these bases.
• Desk Appraisal
  Prospective proposals are put through the desk appraisal process at respective programme divisions.
• Field Appraisal
  Short-listed proposals from desk appraisal are considered for field appraisals by the programme departments located across India.
• Monitoring
  Once a partner is selected under a particular programme, an MoU is signed, guidelines and initial trainings are imparted and the particular project is started. The project is put under a systematic and periodic monitoring system. The processes include the following steps:
  • Project Auditing
  • Activity report analysis
  • Field evaluation
  
  
  The process of project monitoring is followed by impact analysis, which is a done internally; and external evaluation, done by an external and professional agency.
• Impact analysis
• External evaluation

Audit System

SBECT Foundation has a four tier audit system to ensure that funds are utilized to the optimum level in an accountable manner.

• Programme & Project Audit System – is followed to assess and ensure impact of the investment and proper use of money by its NGO partners and projects Programme & Project Auditor
• Internal & Process Audit System – This is conducted throughout the year in order to ensure accountability in the internal operation of the organisation, Internal & Process Auditor
• Statutory Audit – is held by the statutory auditor for finalization of balance sheet and statement of affairs. This is also done to comply with standard statutory norms. Statutory Auditor
• External Evaluation: On the basis of need, impact and outcome of various welfare programmes of SBECT Foundation are evaluated by external evaluation agencies having relevant experience on the subject. Various agencies who have done external evaluation are;
• Governance Compliance Certification: Managing Trustee & Associates (Company Secretaries) Audit reports are discussed with the Advisory Body and the Executive Committee to take suitable and necessary steps if required.

Use of Technology for Good Governance

• Online Monitoring System
  SBECT Foundation advocates use of technology for ensuring impartial monitoring and to cut down over head cost.
  
  
  SBECT Foundation has already started the system in a few of its national level programmes. Gradually, all its projects will be compatible with this system. The biggest challenges so far have been lack of access to technology in remote project areas and lack of working knowledge among grassroots NGO partners. The Foundation is taking up the task of building capacities of all its NGO partners and project staffs.
  
  
  Two separate and customized monitoring systems have been developed for 50 SBECT Twin e-Learning Programme (STeP) centres and 41 Mission Education projects across India.
• Beneficiaries Management System
  A successful beneficiary management system is operational across 100 projects in 21 states of India. This technology is helping SBECT Foundation in tracking the progress and development of all the beneficiaries in two major national level programmes as of now.
• Microsoft Groove – the decision making software
  SBECT Foundation practises participatory and democratic decision making process, which involves all possible professionals in the organisation.Microsoft Groove software is operational, connecting all major offices and divisions, since last one year.
• Management Information System (MIS)
  A monthly MIS is prepared and analyzed by the MIS Officers and it is submitted and discussed in Executive Committee meetings for assessing the operational activities and to do future planning.
• Accounting System
  With increasing use of relevant technology in each division and department, along with projects, both quantitative and qualitative MIS are managed technologically.
  
  
  The Accounts Team of SBECT Foundation consists of competent and qualified accounts professionals. The accounts are maintained on daily basis through advanced and updated computerized systems. The same is also analyzed and checked periodically by the internal control system and Internal Auditor, in compliance with standardized HR and Management Policy.
• Future Technology
  SBECT Foundation is exploring various technologies like GPS (Global Positioning System) to track and to do real time monitoring of all SBECT on Wheels projects, its national mobile hospital programme.
  
  
  Next in line is also video conferencing system which would eventually connect all SBECT Foundation offices and centres. It will facilitate decision making, monitoring, optimum involvement of all stake holders – including supporters, capacity building and training etc.

People Management

• Our people are our assets.
• SBECT Foundation believes in a democratic and participatory work culture.
• Appraisal and review system is conducted twice a year in a democratic way to identify the future leaders of the organization.

Education Support

• SBECT Foundation encourages its employees to take up higher studies so that they emerge as future leaders and grow individually as well as professionally.