Glossary

NGO Development Center

A Web page that serves as a point of entry for surfers of the World Wide Web. Note: Most of the popular portals are designed to optimize their compatibility with one or more Web search engines. Many portals also offer value-added services such as e-mail accounts, Web page hosting, or filtered information flow, with the costs of these services being underwritten by advertising.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU or MoU) is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It most often is used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in situations where the parties cannot create a legally enforcement agreement. It is a more formal alternative to a gentlemen's agreement.

In some cases, depending on the exact wording, MoUs can have the binding power of a contract; as a matter of law, contracts do not need to be labeled as such to be legally binding. Whether or not a document constitutes a binding contract depends only on the presence or absence of well-defined legal elements in the text proper of the document (the so-called "four corners"). For example, a binding contract typically must contain mutual consideration—a legally enforceable obligations of the parties, and its formation must take place free of the so-called real defenses to contract formation (fraud, duress, lack of age or mental capacity, etc.).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorandum_of_Understanding

Conflict of Interest: it emerges when a person or a group in a position of responsibility utilize their status for personal or subjective benefits

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

Equality and Inclusiveness: means non-discrimination on a gender, color or race basis. All men and women should be provided with the opportunity of improving their welfare or maintaining it. Individuals or groups, whether beneficiaries or staff must be offered equal opportunities.

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

Accountability: refers to the existence of mechanisms to present reports related to the usage of resources. It entails holding officials responsible for the decisions that are undertaken or for any shortcoming in achieving objectives within the NGO’s vision.

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

Palestinian NGO: is an independent body established by no less than seven persons in order to achieve legitimate objectives for the public welfare on a non-profit basis. It should be characterized by independence, freedom, voluntarism and the accomplishment of public welfare It must be legally registered at the Palestinian Ministry of Interior according to the Charitable Societies’ Law carrying No. 1 and issued in the year 2000. The objective is to promote community service on a non-profit basis. It includes charitable societies, grassroots organizations, sports clubs and the Palestinian networks and unions representing Palestinian charitable societies and NGOs

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

Transparency: involves providing reliable and up-to-date information as to the activities, procedures, resolutions and policies. It also involves ensuring providing information to beneficiaries, the public and other related official bodies and donors..

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

Networking and Coordination: is a principle based on common visions of value and common objectives to promote the public welfare with a concern not to waste resources and efforts.

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

Good Governance involves making sure that the NGO is functioning efficiently and managed properly. It also has to do with compliance to the endorsed laws in order to achieve the objectives set up in its basic bylaws. This includes delegation of responsibilities to smaller representative committees that are subject to accountability.

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

Influence and Effectiveness requires that the outcome of NGOs programs reflects that meets the needs with the best usage of human and financial resources.

Resource: The Palestinian NGOs Code of Conduct – January 2008

• refers to involving all stakeholders, men and women, directly or indirectly, in decision-making through legitimate mediating bodies representing their interests.

A voluntary cluster of Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations who work in various human, social and development fields. They share a unified vision seeking to develop and strengthen Palestinian civil society. PNGO strives to support, consolidate and strengthen Palestinian civil society on the principles of democracy, social justice and sustainable development. The Network performs its services without discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion or gender. Based in Ramallah, Palestine. Offers the website "The Palestine Monitor" with updates of developments in the occupied territories.

Monitoring is observation of how a project is implemented and operates; it provides timely information for ensuring that progress, quality, and effect of processes and procedures are maintained. Evaluation focuses on whether a project is being implemented

Community-based organization.

International labour organization

Non governmental organization