Statutes

 Version française

Name and headquarters

Article 1 

AidInfoPlus is a non-profit association governed by the present statutes and, secondly, by Articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code. It is neutral politically, and non-denominational.

Article 2

The Organization’s headquarters are located in the State of Geneva.
The Association shall be of unlimited duration.

Aims

Article 3 

The Association shall pursue the following aim(s):

  • to build the capacity of civil society representatives, journalists, aid workers, academics and concerned citizens to access and use information on international aid;
  • to contribute in any other way to increase transparency in international aid and to raise accountability among aid donors and recipients.

Resources

Article 4 

The Association’s resources are derived from:

  • donations and legacies;
  • sponsorships;
  • public and private subsidies;
  • membership fees;
  • any other resources authorized by the law.

The funds shall be used in accordance with the Association’s social aims.

Members

Article 5

Any physical or moral person may become a member if (i) they have demonstrated their dedication to the goals of the Association through their commitments or actions, and (ii) provided that they are not employed by the Association.

The Association comprises:

  • founding members
  • active members
  • honorary members

Requests to become a member must be addressed to the Committee. The Committee admits new members and informs the General Assembly accordingly.

Membership ceases:

  • on death;
  • by written resignation to the Committee;
  • by exclusion ordered by the Committee, for a just cause, with a right of appeal to the General Assembly. Appeals must be lodged within 30 days of the Committee’s decision being notified;
  • for non-payment of dues for more than one year.

In all cases the membership fee for the current year remains due. Members who have resigned or who are excluded have no rights to any part of the Association’s activities.

Only the Association’s assets may be used for obligations/commitments contracted in its name. Members have no personal liability.

Organs

Article 6 

The Association shall include the following organs:

  • The General Assembly,
  • The Committee,
  • Any Commission set up by the General Assembly or the Committee,
  • The Auditor

Secretariat

Article 7 

The General Assembly and the Committee are served by a Secretariat headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The General Assembly appoints the Chief Executive Officer.

General Assembly

Article 8 

The General Assembly is the Association’s supreme authority. It is composed of all the members.
It shall hold an Ordinary Meeting at least once each year. It may also hold an extraordinary session whenever necessary, at the request of the Committee or at least of one-fifth of its members.

The General Assembly shall be considered valid if at least a third of the members are present.

The Committee shall inform the members in writing of the date of the General Assembly at least six weeks in advance. The notification, including the proposed agenda, shall be sent to each member at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting.

Article 9

The General Assembly:

  • shall approve the admission and expulsion of members;
  • appoints the members of the Committee and elects, at a minimum, the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer;
  • reviews the reports and financial statements for the year and votes on their adoption;
  • approves the annual budget;
  • supervises the activity of other organs, which it may dismiss, stating the grounds therefore;
  • appoints an auditor for the Organization’s accounts;
  • decides on any modification of the statutes;
  • decides on the dissolution of the Association;
  • fixes the annual membership fees.

Article 10

The General Assembly is presided over by the President of the Association or a member of the Committee.

Article 11

Decisions of the General Assembly shall be taken by a majority vote of the members present. In case of deadlock, the President shall have the casting vote.

Decisions concerning the amendment of the Statutes and the dissolution of the Association must be approved by a two-third majority of the members present.

Article 12

Votes are by a show of hands or another appropriate electronic process. Voting can also take place by secret ballot, if at least one third of members request it.

Article 13

The agenda of the ordinary annual session of the General Assembly must include:

  • approval of the Minutes of the previous General Assembly
  • the Committee’s annual Activity Report
  • the report of the Treasurer and of the Auditor
  • the setting of membership fees
  • approval of the budget
  • approval of reports and accounts
  • election of Committee members, when applicable, and Auditor
  • miscellaneous business

Committee

Article 14

The Committee is composed of at least 3 members elected by the General Assembly. Each member’s term of office shall last for 3 years and be renewable one time. The Committee meets as often as the Association’s business requires.

Article 15

The Committee is authorized to carry out all acts that further the purposes of the Association.
It delegates the Association’s day-to-day affairs to the Chief Executive Officer who accounts to the Committee and reports annually on his/her management to the General Assembly.

Article 16

The Committee members work on a volunteer basis and as such can only be reimbursed for their actual expenses and travel costs. Potential attendance fees cannot exceed those paid for official commissions. For activities beyond the usual function, each Committee member is eligible for appropriate compensation.
The paid employees of the Association have only a consultative vote on the Committee.

Article 17

The functions of the Committee are:

  • to take the appropriate measures to achieve the goals of the Association;
  • to convene the ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies;
  • to take decisions with regard to admission of new members as well as the resignation and possible expulsion of members;
  • to ensure that Statutes are applied, to draft rules of procedure, and to administer the assets of the Association.

Article 18

The Association is legally bound by the individual signature of the President.

Various provisions

Article 19

The financial year shall begin on 1 January and end on 31 December of each year.

The Treasurer is responsible for the Association’s finances. The General Assembly shall appoint an Auditor who will audit the Association’s accounts every year.

Article 20

Should the Association be dissolved, the available assets should be transferred to a non-profit organization pursuing public interest goals similar to those of the Association and likewise benefiting from tax exemption. Under no circumstances should the assets be returned to the founders or members. Nor should they use a part or a total of assets for their own benefit.

The present Statutes have been approved by the Constituent General Assembly on 22 January 2016 at 14h00 Geneva time.

For the Association

Dr Hélène Rossert
President

Dr  Eric Comte
Secretary

*Download the signed Statutes (PDF  2 Mb)