Governance and transparency
Responsible leadership built on trust
TUSIC seeks to maintain governance arrangements that support ethical decisions, responsible stewardship, meaningful accountability and respect for the communities connected to our work.
Our responsibility
Governance should protect the mission and the people it serves
Good governance is more than organizational administration. It helps ensure that decisions support TUSIC’s purpose, comply with applicable requirements and consider the rights, safety and dignity of affected people.
TUSIC aims to define who can make decisions, how resources are authorized, how risks are reviewed and how concerns can be raised without inappropriate interference.
Governance arrangements should be reviewed as TUSIC’s activities, responsibilities and legal obligations develop.
Governance framework
Clear roles, responsible decisions and effective oversight
TUSIC’s governance framework should develop around the following core responsibilities.
Strategic direction
Protect the organization’s purpose, approve appropriate priorities and consider long-term sustainability.
Legal and policy oversight
Identify applicable obligations and maintain appropriate policies, approvals and organizational records.
Financial stewardship
Oversee budgets, authorized expenditure, financial records, restricted resources and appropriate financial review.
Risk and performance
Review significant organizational risks, approved plans, progress, outcomes and areas requiring corrective action.
People and safeguarding
Support ethical conduct, safe participation, appropriate personnel oversight and effective safeguarding arrangements.
Community accountability
Provide accessible information and appropriate routes for feedback, complaints and concerns.
Roles and responsibilities
Separating oversight from day-to-day management
Exact titles and structures may vary, but governance responsibilities should remain clear, documented and appropriate to TUSIC’s legal and operational circumstances.
Board or governing body
Provides organizational oversight, protects the mission, approves major policies and holds authorized leadership accountable.
Executive responsibility
Translates approved direction into plans, manages operations and reports material information to the governing body.
Staff and volunteers
Carry out authorized responsibilities in accordance with approved roles, policies, conduct standards and supervision.
Communities and stakeholders
Provide knowledge, feedback and perspectives that should inform relevant organizational and program decisions.
Responsible decisions
From community priorities to accountable action
Material decisions should be supported by appropriate information, authorization, documentation and subsequent review.
Understand
Identify the need, purpose, relevant evidence and affected stakeholders.
Assess
Consider safeguarding, financial, operational, legal and reputational risks.
Authorize
Obtain approval from the person or body with the required level of authority.
Document
Record the decision, conditions, responsibilities and relevant conflicts of interest.
Review
Monitor implementation, examine results and address issues or lessons.
Conflicts of interest
Personal interests should not control TUSIC decisions
People involved in governance or organizational decisions should disclose actual, potential or perceived conflicts. Appropriate action may include recording the conflict, limiting access to information, withdrawing from discussion or not participating in the decision.
Organizational transparency
Information TUSIC should publish responsibly
Transparency should be balanced with privacy, safeguarding, security, legal restrictions and the protection of communities, personnel and responsible partners.
Purpose and strategy
Approved information explaining TUSIC’s mission, values, priorities and areas of work.
Leadership information
Accurate and approved information about accountable organizational leadership where appropriate.
Policies and standards
Public versions of relevant governance, safeguarding, financial and accountability policies.
Activities and learning
Verified reports describing approved activities, outcomes, challenges and organizational learning.
Financial information
Appropriate financial reports or summaries once formally prepared, reviewed and approved.
Contact and reporting routes
Clear ways to ask questions, provide feedback, raise concerns or make appropriate information requests.
Policies and accountability
Explore related information
These pages explain the standards and reporting mechanisms that support TUSIC’s accountability framework.
Accountability in practice
Questions or concerns about TUSIC?
Contact us for organizational information or use the complaints and feedback process to raise an appropriate concern.