Constitution of the
FAMILY ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION (Regd. SO 8737)
ARTICLE 1: PREAMBLE
1:1 Being aware that social and economic issues are becoming more compounded
in our society today, especially at the grassroots level where families
are becoming more vulnerable;
1:2 There is hereby established an association to be known and called
FAMILY ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION and which may be referred
to in its abbreviated form as FADECO and which herein after shall be referred
to as the association.
1:3 The association shall be a non denominational (ecumenical) and non-political
development organization.
ARTICLE 2:0 LOCATION AND OFFICES
2:1 The head office of the association shall be situated at Kyanyamisa
in Karagwe District, Kagera region provided always that branch offices
may be established wherever the members shall deem fit.
2:2 The address of the association shall be:
Family Alliance for Development and Co-operation
P.O. Box 223
KARAGWE - KAGERA REGION
TANZANIA
ARTICLE 3:0 INTERPRETATION
3:1 FAMILY ALLIANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION shall mean MAN and
DEVELOPMENT
3:2 ASSOCIATION shall mean Family Alliance for development and Cooperation
3:3 Any dispute arising out of the interpretation of this constitution
which cannot be settled by the Executive Committee, shall be referred
to the General Assembly. In case the General Assembly fails to make the
interpretation, such shall be referred to a group of five (5) competent
persons to be appointed by the General Assembly.
3:4 In this constitution, unless the context otherwise requires, any
reference to the male gender includes the female gender implicitly.
3:5 In this constitution, unless otherwise stated, a member refers to
a family member: husband, wife or child(ren). And shall stand on his own
as an individual member; and shall be having voting rights as an individual.
No one individual shall represent a group of individuals.
ARTICLE 4:0 OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
The objectives of the association are:-
4:1 To foster self help schemes through participation in the sustainable
and integral development programmes towards alleviating the socio economic
problems that face most families;
4:2 To act as a catalyst for motivating village (rural) people to organize
themselves and undertake development work on a self help basis;
4:3 To encourage mutual co-operation and solidarity among peoples for
peace, justice and development;
4:4 To initiate and encourage training programmes in various fields to
impart needful skills, to enable families to engage in productive economic
and productive ventures;
4:5 To encourage and mobilize the rural population to engage in agriculture
combined with agroforestry in joint economic ventures and beyond all,
in the sense of environment conservation, to fight all forms of environmental
degradation;
4:6 To start, establish, set up, run and manage projects and programmes
on institutional capacity building (hospitals, libraries, schools and
other training/social facilities)for the purpose of uplifting social development;
4:7 To sensitize the society on gender issues.
ARTICLE 5:0 ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION
5:1 To provide a central forum for social, intellectual and human exchange
of ideas in various fields of human development and advancement;
5:2 To work and fight for the freedoms of the individual and to tap individual
talents and abilities for the benefit of our society as a whole;
5:3 To establish and inculcate a sense of harmonious relationship and
co-existence at the grassroots level for the purpose of enhancing understanding,
solidarity, unity and mutual friendship among peoples;
5:4 To educate the members of the association and the general public
to engage in environmental conservation with particular reference to maintaining
and increasing the agroforestry cover and to fight all forms of environmental
degradation;
5:5 To develop, encourage and promote social and cultural contacts among
our people with people of various nationalities and backgrounds;
5:6 To help and promote the educational standards of our rural population
in various fields related to development through organized training and
functional literacy programmes in Agriculture, Agroforestry, Animal husbandry,
Health and Sanitation, Appropriate technology and other related development
studies; and also the teaching of languages to promote communication and
bilateral contacts among peoples of different regions;
5:7 To promote international and global understanding, goodwill and community
spirit through bilateral and cultural exchange programmes through organized
case study tours and visits, and through exchange or borrowing of appropriate
technologies;
5:8 To eliminate all forms of discriminations based on gender; and in
particular to promote all activities that are intended to uplift the economic
and social status of WOMEN and to integrate women in all family projects
as active participants with equal access to problem identification, project/
programme planning, management, decision making, implementation and sharing
of project proceeds;
5:9 To generally do anything or things for the better achievement of
the objectives of the Association and to co-operate with other associations;
5:10 To obtain and accept gifts either in form of liquid money, real
or moveable property; and to invest such money for the benefit of the
members of the Association.
ARTICLE 6:0 MEMBERSHIP
6:1 The Association shall have the following categories of membership:-
a) Full Membership
b) Associate Membership
c) Affiliate Membership
d) Honorary Membership
6:2 A person will be eligible for membership in categories a, b and c
if:-
a) He is resident in Tanzania
b) He is of sound mind
c) He is of or above eighteen (18) years of age
d) He has/ or cherishes a family
e) He subscribes to the objectives of the Association
f) He pays his membership and subscription fees and any other fees as
may be prescribed from time to time by the Association
6:3 Full Membership:
a) Full Membership shall be granted upon such person(s) after paying a
membership fee to be stipulated by the General assembly
b) Full membership fee shall be Tz Shs 500
c) Every full member shall pay an annual subscription fee of Tz Shs 2000/-
provided always that all fees and dues payable under this article may
be reviewed and revised from time to time by the General Assembly.
6:4 Associate/ Affiliate Membership:
a) Affiliate or Associate membership shall be conferred upon such person(s)
or such bodies and at such a fee as the Association may in its absolute
discretion deem fit. Affiliate or Associate members shall have the right
to participate in the meetings of the Association but may not exercise
the right to vote;
b) Affiliate or Associate members shall pay such membership and annual
subscription fees as the association shall from time to time determine.
6:5 Honorary Membership:
Honorary membership shall be conferred upon such person(s) as the association
may decide. Honorary members of the association shall have no voting rights.
Honorary members may not subscribe through payment of membership fees.
ARTICLE 7:0 DUTIES OF MEMBERS
Every member of the Association shall:-
7.1 Comply with the provisions of the CONSTITUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION
and the resolutions of the General Assembly;
7.2 Promote, develop, implement and protect the interests of the Association
7.3 Meet all financial obligations as from time to time be determined
by the association
7.4 Do such work as may be assigned to him by the General Assembly or
the central executive committee.
ARTICLE 8:0 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP
8:1 A person(s) shall cease to be a member of the association if he
a) dies
b) resigns
c) is certified to be of unsound mind by a recognized medical personnel/
practitioner
d) is expelled from the association, provided always that a member shall
not be expelled unless he totally fails to conform to the Associations
constitution; and unless he has been given written warning by the Executive
Committee and has been given the right to present his argument(s)
e) persistently and seriously undermine the aims and objectives of the
association or consistently prejudices the status of the association.
ARTICLE 9:0 SUSPENSION FROM MEMBERSHIP
9:1 The executive committee shall have the power to suspend any member
from the association if such member(s) acts and/ or conducts himself in
a manner that is prejudicial and detrimental to the interests of the association
9.2 The duration of such suspension shall be at the discretion of the
executive committee provided that it shall be reasonable in the given
circumstances;
9.3 The suspension of any member(s) shall be accompanied by appropriate
sanctions as the association will deem fit;
9.4 The executive committee shall report within fourteen (14) months on
any member suspended by it to the next meeting of the general assembly
which shall have the power to expel, re-instate or further suspend such
person(s);
9.5 A member thus suspended, shall be re-admitted to the association upon
a written application to the executive committee which shall recommend
him to the general assembly.
ARTICLE 10:0 ORGANS OF THE ASSOCIATION
The organs of the association shall be:-
a) The general Assembly
b) The Executive Committee
ARTICLE 11:0 FUNCTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The general assembly shall be the SUPREME BODY of the association and
its functions shall include:-
11.1 Receiving and approving reports from the chairman of the Executive
Committee on the activities of the association for the previous year
11.2 Receiving annual reports on the projects of the association
11.3 Receiving and approving audited financial reports from the Treasurer
11.4 Electing office bearers
11.5 Approving or disapproving expulsion of a member(s) and/ or re-admitting
a member(s) provided always that the affected member(s) shall be availed
the opportunity to defend himself and put across his own case
11.6 Approving or disapproving suspension of a member
11.7 Deliberating on any issue which may be raised by the members
11.8 Approving or disapproving applications of new members who may wish
to join the association
11.9 Electing an officer to conduct election
ARTICLE 12:0 COMPOSITION, DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
12.1 There shall be an executive committee of the association of not
more that seven (7) and not less than five(5) persons which shall include
a) The Chairman
b) The Vice Chairman
c) The Secretary
d) The Vice Secretary
12.2 The Chairman, Vice Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the
executive committee members shall be elected by the general assembly.
12.3 The executive committee shall have the following duties:-
a) act for and on behalf of the association
b) execute and implement decisions of the association as passed by the
general assembly
c) discuss and decide on all important matters affecting the association
and bear collective responsibility on all matters discussed and agreed
upon
d) initiate policies and propose projects/ programmes, mobilize and manage
the association's finances
e) establish sub committees from itself to carry out specific functions
f) have the power to suspend one of their members pending approval or
otherwise of the General assembly or any member of the association as
provided in article 6:1 and to temporarily fill in vacancies so created
in the executive committee pending by election at the next general meeting
12.4 The Chairman who shall always be referred to as the Executive Director
shall:-
a) be the overall administrative head of the association
b) call for and preside over all executive committee meetings
c) summon an emergency meeting of the association whenever he deems fit
d) co-ordinate all the activities of the association
e) be signatory to the association's account(s)
f) have a casting vote
12.5 The vice chairman shall:
a) perform the chairman's duties in his absence
b) perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the executive
committee or the general assembly
12.6 The secretary shall:
a) be responsible for the safe custody of all records of the association
b) record and circulate minutes of all meetings
c) deal with all correspondences of the association under the general
direction of the executive committee
d) be signatory to the association's account(s)
e) carry out such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to
him
12.7 The Treasurer shall:
a) be responsible for the safe custody of the association's finances
b) present audited accounts and financial reports at every general meeting
c) be signatory of the association's account(s)
d) perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the executive
committee or the general assembly.
12.8 The SUB COMMITTEES so formed at the discretion of the executive
committee shall meet as and when necessary to conduct its business at
such times and places as its chairman may deem fit.
ARTICLE 13:0 COMMITTEE MEETINGS
13.1 The executive committee shall meet at least once every three (3)
months to conduct its business at such times and places as the chairman
may choose
13.2 The quorum at committee meetings shall be two thirds (2/3) of the
members
13.3 The committee may invite any person(s) of any specialized training
and knowledge and skill to its meetings for the purpose of advising the
committee on technical maters provided that such person(s) shall not have
power to vote
13.4 Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the committee may
regulate its own procedure
13.5 Each member and/ or member family through the respective sub committees,
shall have to present his development progressive report(s) suggesting
in full details, the possible/potential alternative(s) for better and
further development.
13.6 Meetings may take different and varying forms as the committee may
find appropriate. Meetings may take the form of an ordinary general discussion,
study session, seminar or workshop.
ARTICLE 14:0 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
14.1 The association shall each year hold a meeting as its annual general
meeting and this shall be specified in a notice calling for the same
14.2 At every annual general meeting, the general assembly shall elect
a chairman to preside over the meeting
14.3 The secretary of the executive committee shall circulate the notice
of the meeting three (3) months prior to the meeting; followed by the
agenda one (1) month before the same meeting
14.4 Determination of any issue at the annual general meeting shall be
by a simple majority vote of the paid up members present in person. The
chairman shall have a casting vote at the annual general meeting in the
event of a tie (i.e. a draw vote).
14.5 The quorum at any annual general meeting shall be one half (1/2)
of the total fully paid up members.
14.6 Election of office bearers to the executive committee shall be held
every two (2) years. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
14.7 The annual general meeting shall be held at such places and at such
times and dates as the executive committee may appoint, provided that
where the executive committee fails to do so for fourteen (14) calendar
months without reasonable cause, one third (1/3) of the fully paid up
members of the association may sign a petition and convene a meeting as
the annual general assembly.
14.8 The annual general meeting shall be informed about the progress of
the association, scrutinizing every details and making new and further
plans and strategies for the future.
14.9 Subject to the provision of this constitution, the general assembly
may regulate its own procedure.
ARTICLE 15:0 ATTENDANCE AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The annual general meeting shall be attended by:
15.1 The members of the executive committee
15.2 The members of the association
15.3 Person(s) or organizations who share the same aspirations with and/or
sympathetic to the aims and objectives of the association, at the invitation
of the executive committee.
ARTICLE 16:0 EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
16.1 An extraordinary meeting of the general assembly to conduct urgent
business and issues may be convened by:
a) the executive committee
b) the executive committee upon a petition to that effect being filled
by two thirds (2/3) of the fully paid up members of the association and
provided that when the executive committee fails, without reasonable cause,
to convene such a meeting within one (1) month of receipt of such a petition,
the petitioner may convene the meeting.
16.2 The quorum at the extraordinary general assembly shall be one third
(1/3) of the fully paid up members of the association.
16.3 Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the extraordinary
general assembly may regulate its own practice.
ARTICLE 17:0 THE PATRON
17.1 There shall be a patron of the association elected by the general
assembly who shall play an associate advisory role
17.2 The patron shall be a person of good standing and integrity
17.3 The Patron may not be allowed a casting vote.
ARTICLE 18:0 SOURCES OF FUNDS
The funds of the association shall consist of:
18.1 Monies collected as membership and subscription fees
18.2 Monies accruing from fund raising
18.3 Donations from benefactors and friends
18.4 Grants
18.5 Loans from banking and lending institutions
18.6 Interests and profits accruing from the associations projects
ARTICLE 19:0 BANK ACCOUNTS
19.1 A bank account(s) of the association shall be opened with any commercial
bank or such other financial institutions as may be decided by the executive
committee
19.2 Except as may be otherwise authorized by the general assembly, all
documents, contracts, cheques and negotiable instruments shall be signed
by any two (2) of the following members of the executive committee:
a) The Chairman
b) The Vice Chairman
c) The secretary
d) The treasurer
19.3 Individual members shall be allowed to operate their private savings
account(s) with any banking institution PROVIDED that operation of such
private account(s) shall not violate the standing of the account(s) of
the association. Such private account(s) may be known to the executive
committee.
ARTICLE 20:0 THE SEAL
20.1 There shall be a seal for the association whose design shall be
approved by the executive committee
20.2 The SEAL shall be kept by the secretary of the association and shall
be used to authenticate the official documents of the association or documents
to which the association is party by its duly authorized officers of the
executive committee.
20.3 All associations' official documents shall bear such a seal.
ARTICLE 21:0 AMENDMENTS
21.1 A member wishing to propose an amendment to the constitution shall
give notice to such proposal by sending it to the secretary of the association
at least two (2) months before the annual general assembly meeting, giving
details of the proposed amendment and the reasons necessitating such an
amendment.
21.2 On receipt of such a proposal, the secretary shall circulate copies
of the same to all members
21.3 An amendment shall be effected by a majority vote of two thirds (2/3)
of the members present and voting
21.4 An amendment shall be made in the interest and favour of the association
with particular regard and reference to the association's objectives.
ARTICLE 22:0 DISSOLUTION OF THE CONSTITUTION
22.1 The association shall stand dissolved if a motion duly proposed
by a full member at a meeting of the general assembly to that effect is
carried by two thirds (2/3) majority of the members present and voting.
Provided that the proposal to move such a motion will have been included
in the agenda for the meeting.
22.2 In the event of dissolution and after settlement of the liability
of the association, the general assembly shall appoint a care taker committee
to dispose off the assets of the association in a manner to be determined
by the general assembly.
22.3 Families/ or individual members of the association, may after the
dissolution of the association, be free to re-organize themselves BUT
may not adopt the title nor credentials of the dissolved association.
ARTICLE 23:0 ACCESS TO THE BENEFITS OF THE ASSOCIATION
23.1 Members of the association shall share in all benefits of the association
23.2 Members may be requested to make a will as long as they are members
of the association, stating very clearly, who may be entrusted and/ or
allowed to share in his place in case of disability and/ or death
23.3 Such individual(s) mentioned in a member's will, may join the association
thereafter if he deems fit, and after submitting his application.
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