Most committee charters do not provide for periodic external reviews of their activities or surveys with their stakeholders.
What Should a Committee Charter Include?
The committee charter best practices is an attempt to create a textbook on the rules of protocol and etiquette generally accepted in international communication based on the study of domestic and foreign experience. Along with the characteristics of the features of protocol practice in the field of purely professional diplomatic activity, the manual reveals the universal organizational and protocol provisions for working with foreign partners (the tasks of protocol services, the establishment of protocol seniority, the procedure for receiving foreign delegations, the organization of negotiations, etc.), the basic rules of modern etiquette.
A Committee Charter should include:
- Delegation of Authority.
- Type of Committee and Area of the Program.
- Membership.
- Chairperson.
- Purpose or Mission Statement.
- Activities, Duties, and Responsibilities.
- Standard Committee Procedures.
- Formalities.
The noted universal nature of the committee charter best practices, proposals and recommendations suggest the possibility of their application not only in the implementation of international contacts but also in official events at all levels, to improve the general etiquette culture of officials. Factors complicating the work of audit and oversight committees include the limitation of the duration of formal committee meetings, as well as the growing demands placed on them, and the complexity of the issues facing organizations. In addition, the interviews showed that not all committee members belong to the category of people with modern knowledge in their field of competence, as well as the necessary skills to address some new issues that need to be addressed by the committees.
Development Committee Charter Practices
Various oversight functions of the development Committee Charter are an important part of the prerogatives of the governance mechanisms of the system organizations. Over the years, the policy making organs of the system organizations have repeatedly emphasized the need to enhance transparency and accountability, as well as the rational and efficient use of the resources. This has resulted in the strengthening of internal audit and other oversight functions, including the establishment of independent audit and oversight advisory committees.
The best committee charter practices include:
- promoting the exchange of experience of local governments;
- public recognition of the achievements of local governments as a tool to encourage further work towards improving the quality of life of the community;
- mutual respect;
openness, transparency, and accountability;
- innovation and openness to change;
- efficiency and feedback;
- sustainable financial management;
- formation of local identity (according to socio-economic and cultural-historical criteria);
- development of partnerships between local authorities, business, and the public sector;
- support for business initiatives, startups to include young people in the processes of local socio-economic development and encourage them to stay in the community;
- activities of cooperatives as drivers of community development and cohesion;
- human rights, cultural diversity, and social cohesion;
- non-discrimination and inclusiveness, so that all the less privileged and the most vulnerable can be heard and their opinions are taken into account;
- dissemination of best practices and useful initiatives aimed at the development of local communities.
Attention should be focused on those practices that have sustainable results and long-term impact of the implemented projects approved by the development Committee Charter, describing specific examples of how achieving certain goals has brought positive changes: creating general conditions for job creation/employment; providing a favorable environment for the development of social initiatives/volunteering; business interest in those areas that were previously considered unpromising.