Governance

Governance & Management

We are taking this very, very seriously.

We are building a responsible and competent organisation.

Below we outline what this means in practice.

A responsible organisation:
- We have systems that hold us accountable. We have two registered non-profit entities, one in Uganda and one in the UK. The Ugandan entity is accountable to Ugandan law; the UK one to English law. Both entities have constitutions that clearly lay out the decision and accountability mechanisms and responsibilities of Board Members. The UK entity is primarily responsible for fundraising outside of Uganda and supporting the Ugandan entity on strategy and management. The Ugandan entity is responsible for designing and implementing the charity’s strategy, on-the-ground operations, and additional fundraising within Uganda. Child safeguarding is every Board Member’s responsibility.

- Our members hold us accountable. We refer to Jabali members, not beneficiaries. That’s because they are members of the Jabali community and their voice and agency matters profoundly to our collective success. We are deeply committed to ensuring that each member feels safe and comfortable raising complaints and concerns to any member of the Board or Management and is aware of their rights. We are working with leading experts to ensure that our member feedback mechanisms and safeguarding approach are in line with global best practice.

- We will embark on a responsible growth strategy. We will take a slow and cautious approach to growing the charity. We want to make a long-term and holistic commitment to every member and will work hard to ensure that we don’t find ourselves unable to deliver this to any member we have committed to.

A competent organisation:

- We have relevant skills and experience. Our Board has years of expertise in managing children's support charities and entrepreneurship, including firsthand experience in building organizations from the ground up, notably in Uganda. Each member specializes in one of five domains: Fundraising, Communications, Operations, Finance, and Governance systems. Together, they collaboratively shape our strategic direction, drawing from their diverse professional backgrounds to ensure holistic leadership across all areas.

- We are setting up an Advisory Council. To ensure we are in line with global best practice in all areas of our work, we will convene an Advisory Council of individuals who bring specialist expertise and networks in areas crucial to the charity’s success. These include charity governance and management, child safeguarding, education, personal development, fundraising, communications, and law. The Advisory Board will meet quarterly and individual Advisors may be engaged on an ad-hoc basis when specific guidance and support are needed.

- We will maintain a fit-for-purpose management team as we grow.

This has four levels:

1. All Board Members have areas of responsibility and will continue to dedicate a few hours per week to executing important tasks within those domains.

2. Our part-time Operations & Administration Officer’s level of effort will be scaled up from 40% to 100% as our activities and number of members grow.

A competent organisation:

- We will maintain a fit-for-purpose management team as we grow.

This has four levels:

1. All Board Members have areas of responsibility and will continue to dedicate a few hours per week to executing important tasks within those domains.

2. Our part-time Operations & Administration Officer’s level of effort will be scaled up from 40% to 100% as our activities and number of members grow.

3. If/when we reach a certain scale - currently projected to be 100 members - we will hire a full-time Uganda Country Manager.

4. We will work with Volunteers and Interns (starting with current members in tertiary education) to help get things done.

A competent organisation:

- We will maintain a fit-for-purpose management team as we grow.

This has four levels:1. All Board Members have areas of responsibility and will continue to dedicate a few hours per week to executing important tasks within those domains.

2. Our part-time Operations &amp; Administration Officer’s level of effort will be scaled up from 40% to 100% as our activities and number of members grow.

3. If/when we reach a certain scale - currently projected to be 100 members - we will hire a full-time Uganda Country Manager.

4. We will work with Volunteers and Interns (starting with current members in tertiary education) to help get things done.

This has four levels:

1. All Board Members have areas of responsibility and will continue to dedicate a few hours per week to executing important tasks within those domains.

2. Our part-time Operations & Administration Officer’s level of effort will be scaled up from 40% to 100% as our activities and number of members grow.