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1 POLICY STATEMENT

At UNICEF Australia we are dedicated to protecting and upholding our reputation as an organisation with the highest ethical standards. Our dealings internally, and with all external parties are conducted honestly and with integrity.

We are all ambassadors for our Values and we are committed to ensuring our business practices are ethical, legal, straight forward and transparent. We are respectful of, and compliant with, the laws in all parts of the world in which we operate and our reputation is at the core of everything that we do.

2 PURPOSE

This policy sets out the minimum standards of conduct that are required from all UNICEF Australia (UA) Representatives: its Board of Directors, staff, consultants and volunteers, and applies to anyone who acts on behalf of UA, whether in a paid or unpaid capacity.

3 INTERACTION WITH OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND LAWS

This policy supplements the UA Code of Conduct and interacts with other policies which may be amended from time to time.

This policy does not form a contract or part of UA's contract of employment and UA may vary the contents of this policy from time to time. To the extent that the policy requires employees to do or refrain from doing something, this forms a direction of UA with which employees must comply.

4 GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Our Values are the fundamental drivers of our behaviour. This includes:

  • Demonstrating behaviour that is consistent with our Values
  • Role modelling a culture of sound ethical conduct
  • Creating an environment where people feel comfortable in raising concerns and “speaking up”
  • Recognising and rewarding good behaviour and taking action to address behaviours inconsistent with our Values
  • Responding in a timely manner to the legitimate concerns and questions about our Values and the behaviours they promote, and any possible breach of our Code of Conduct or Ethics Policy.

UA recognises that it is not possible to predict every ethical challenge in which its Representatives may find themselves. Of paramount importance is the simple principle that:

No individual should use his or her position in UA for personal gain or to benefit another at the expense of the UA, its mission, its reputation, or the children and communities which it serves, nor should any individual act in a way that could be reasonably seen by others as compromising the independence and integrity of UA.

5 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

A Conflict of Interest (COI) is defined as any action or situation involving an employee that may result in the employee(s) personal gain or gain to immediate friends or family, taking precedence over their obligations to UA. Personal gain may or may not be financial.

Where conflicts of interest arise – actual, potential, or perceived – the duty of loyalty must not be compromised. UA requires all representatives to:

1. Conduct themselves in accordance with all applicable national and international laws at all times;

2. Act with honesty and integrity, and never knowingly or recklessly mislead any individual, group or corporation;

3. Protect confidential information obtained from activities undertaken by or on behalf of UA in accordance with the UA’s Privacy Policy;

4. Be impartial, ensuring that they:

  • Declare and make known any relevant personal interests in the manner outlined below,
  • Not give or receive any inducements, gifts, benefits or the like which could, or could reasonably be seen to be in conflict with the interests of UA;
  • Not provide any services that could or could be seen to be in conflict with the interests of UA;
  • Not accept any hospitality or other form of gift or reward from a third party which could be seen as an inducement with the exception of token gifts (less than $20 value)
  • Not participate in any discussion, voting or decisions relating to a business with which the employee is affiliated
  • Not participate in the selection process for a new employee where the candidate is personally known unless unavoidable and in this case an additional impartial interviewer is required to be present
  • Not use UA resources (including paper with the UA letter head), equipment and facilities to conduct the business of a third party they are also a member of.

5. Apply the ethical standards governing their particular profession.

6 IMPLEMENTATION

All Board Directors and senior executives of UA must promptly advise in writing to the Chair or the Chief Operating Officer (COO) as appropriate any:

  • Actual, potential or perceived conflict between their own and UA’s interests;
  • Actual, potential or perceived pecuniary interests of theirs or of any member of their family or close associates, which may, or may be perceived to be, in conflict with the interests of UA; and
  • Actual, potential, or perceived conflicts between the interests of UA and those of any relevant private entity.

UA will maintain a Register of Interests for all Board Directors and senior executive staff. In furtherance to these principles, all Board members, executives and staff of UA must:

  • Understand their responsibilities and obligations to uphold the public trust;
  • Follow appropriate policies and procedures as set out in UA Code of Conduct and other UA Policies;
  • Make known by advising in writing to their manager or the Board as appropriate, any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest as outlined above.

7 ETHICAL FUNDRAISING: SPONSORSHIP AND DONATIONS

Consistent with our Values and the principles outlined in this policy, UA will also ensure that all Fundraising activities adhere to the principles and clauses detailed in the Fundraising Policy – Accountability and Transparency.

8 COMPLIANCE

The Chief Operating Officer of UA will have responsibility for compliance and oversight of this policy and the Register of Interests and will report to the Board of Directors as deemed necessary, on an annual basis.