• Introduction
• Article 1 : Name and Objectives
• Article 2 : Structure of the CCC
• Article 3 : Membership/Meeting/Voting
• Article 4 : The executive committee
• Article 5 : Other committees
• Article 6 : CCC executive director and office
• Article 7 : Finance
• Article 8 : Charter amendment

INTRODUCTION

Since 1979, non-profit, Non-Government Organizations hereinafter referred to as NGOs, have been assisting the Cambodian people through provision of humanitarian relief and development assistance, including technical and capital assistance. By 1990, the number of NGOs and other development organizations working in Cambodia had increased to the extent that it was decided to establish the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC) to provide a formal coordination forum to facilitate humanitarian and technical assistance to the people of Cambodia.

ARTICLE ONE

1.0 NAME AND OBJECTIVES

1.1 The committee shall be known as the Cooperation Committee for Cambodia hereinafter referred to as the CCC.

1.2 The objectives of the CCC are as follows:

1.2.1 To facilitate contact between and information exchange among NGOs represented in Cambodia with a view to strengthening participation and cooperation in NGO activities and to avoid duplication of effort.

1.2.2 To provide a forum for NGO co-ordination on issues of common concern with a view to facilitating representation to Cambodian Government authorities, other governments, international agencies and influential persons.

ARTICLE TWO

2.0 STRUCTURE OF THE CCC

2.1 The CCC shall consist of four bodies; the membership, the Executive Committee, other committees, and the Executive Director, staff and office, as defined in Article Three, Four, Five and Six of Charter.

2.2 The CCC seeks to invite the broadest possible participation from NGOs in Cambodia. The CCC is committed to enhancing diverse representation and participation among NGOs.

2.3 The CCC shall amend Bylaws to provide for the orderly and ongoing operations of the organization as articulated in Article Two of the Bylaws.

ARTICLE THREE

3.0 MEMBERSHIP / MEETINGS / VOTING

3.1 Membership in the CCC is open to organizations holding as their primary objective development and humanitarian assistance, rather than promoting political or religious aims. Requirements, categories and procedures for membership are articulated in Article Three of the By-Laws.

3.2 Rights and duties of the membership

3.2.1 While the role of CCC is to facilitate the attainment of aims and objectives of member organizations, organizations of the membership shall retain complete autonomy over and responsibility for their respective operations and programs.

3.2.2 Ordinarily, decision-making authority on matters that affect the full membership shall rest with members.

3.2.3 Member organizations are entitled to one vote in every election for positions on committees and on every issue placed before quorum meetings of the members.

3.2.4 Staff of member, Associate and Observer status agencies are eligible to stand for election or be appointed to positions on CCC committees as articulated in Article Three of the By-Laws.

3.2.5 Members and Associates have the right to observe at any and all CCC meetings with the exception of Executive Committee meetings.

3.2.6 Members and Associates have the right to raise issues, provide comment, and offer recommendations on all matters relevant to the activities and operation of the CCC.

3.2.7 Members and Associates shall have ready access to all general information kept on file at the CCC office.

3.2.8 Membership fees shall be charged based on the approved CCC annual budget and in accordance with the financial guidelines provided in Article Seven of the Charter and the By-Laws.

3.3 Membership shall be discontinued under the circumstances described in Article Three of the By-Laws.

3.4 Meetings and Voting

3.4.1 The Executive Committee shall convene general meetings of the membership once a month.

3.4.2 Each year the December monthly meeting shall serve as an Annual Meeting to review business activities of the previous year, and to discuss plans for the coming year.

3.4.3 A special meeting consisting of a representative of organizations of the membership and invited guests may be called as provided for in the Bylaws.

3.4.4 The representative of each Member organization has the right to speak and cast the vote for the Member organization he/she represents.

3.4.5 Voting procedures, both for elections and for other decisions, are articulated in Article Three of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE FOUR

4.0 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

4.1 The CCC members shall elect seven (7) members to a one-year term of office to form the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall elect a chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Treasurer at the first Executive Committee meeting convened following the elections. The Executive Director shall be an ex-officio, non-voting member of the Executive Committee.

4.2 The election of the Executive Committee shall take place once a year on at the Annual General Meeting, which is normally held in December of each year. Election procedures are articulated in Article Four of the By-Laws.

4.3 Should an elected member of the Executive Committee retire earlier than three months prior to the end of the term of office, a previously nominated candidate may be approached by the CCC Executive Committee to fill that office for the remainder of the current term of office and until the next Executive Committee elections.

4.4 The Executive Committee shall be bound by the decisions passed by the Members.

4.5 The duties of the Executive Committee and its members are articulated in Article Four of the By-Laws.

4.6 The operating procedures of the Executive Committee are articulated in Article Four of the By-Laws.

4.7 The Executive Committee or its individual members shall retire as articulated in Article Four of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE FIVE

5.0 OTHER COMMITTEES

5.1 The Executive Committee may establish and dissolve committees to further the aims of the CCC as follows:

5.1.1 Sub-Committees are established to assist the CCC membership to deal with on-going matters of interest to the membership.

5.1.2 Ad hoc Committees are established as working groups to deal with issues of interest to the CCC membership and others.

5.2 The process of establishment of a committee, eligibility for participation, term of office, operating procedures, rights and responsibilities of committees, and procedures for dissolution are articulated in Article Five of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE SIX

6.0 CCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND OFFICE

6.1 The Executive Director, in consultation with the Executive Committee and membership as provided for in the Charter and By-Laws, shall ensure there is an office and staff persons as required to perform the work of the CCC. The duties of and provisions concerning the staff are articulated in Article Six of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE SEVEN

7.0 FINANCE

7.1 The budget for the CCC shall be financed by annual membership fees and by additional contributions solicited from member organizations or from third parties.

7.2 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for and use its best efforts to manage the finances and assets of the CCC. Members of the Executive Committee, individually and collectively, shall have no personal financial liability for obligations incurred by the CCC. The Member organizations employing the Executive Committee members shall have liability for obligations incurred by the CCC to the same extent that other Members and Associates have such liability.

7.3 The budget for the forthcoming year shall be presented each year at the Annual Meeting in December, for ratification by Members.

7.4 Financial procedures are articulated in Article Seven of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE EIGHT

8.0 CHARTER AMENDMENTS

8.1 Proposed amendments to the Charter will be presented to the membership through the Executive Committee upon any one of the following:
a. Recommendation by the Executive Committee;
b. Recommendation by a Charter or By-Laws Review / Amendments Sub-
c. Committee; or
d. Receipt of the text for a proposed change accompanied by signatures representing ten per cent (10%) of Member organizations.

8.2 Proposed amendments to the Charter must be submitted to the Executive Committee at least fifteen (15) days prior to a monthly meeting of the membership for review and distribution.

8.3 The proposed amendments will be presented for discussion at the monthly meeting, and considered for purposes of amendment and vote through a confidential written ballot.

8.4 The Charter can only be amended upon ratification of a proposed change by a two-thirds (67%) majority of the Member organizations.

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