General Assembly

Role

The role of the General Assembly is to:

review HAP’s operations by approving the financial report, budget and auditor’s report
receive and approves the Board’s annual report
formulate fundamental policy principles and objectives and review policy-making
review the HAP accountability principles
appoint working groups and committee members, delegate tasks and review progress on delegated tasks
elect board members.

Composition

The General Assembly comprises independent members of the Board and all HAP members. Members are either Full Members or Associate Members.

Full Members

Full members of HAP are entitled to attend, speak and vote at meetings of the General Assembly. Representatives of Full Members are also eligible for election to the Board. They can nominate others to the Board and lodge proposals with the Secretariat and participate in working groups and committees.

However, Full Members also have special duties:

implementing HAP’s Accountability Principles
preparing an Accountability Work Plan, with timescales, benchmarks, budget and support needs
monitoring and annual reporting to the HAP Secretariat on activities and progress made vis-à-vis the Accountability Work Plan
participation in HAP’s “New Emergencies Policy”
reporting to HAP on the process and outcome of complaints handling procedures
paying an annual membership fee (as assessed)

Moreover, Full Membership of HAP is limited to organisations:

whose core activities, or whose members’ core activities, include operational relief and humanitarian assistance activities
are legally registered or recognised as a not for profit organisation in the country where it has its Headquarters
meets the requirements for financial accountability under the law in the country where it has its Headquarters.

Read the current list of Full Members.

Associate Members

Agencies that do not meet these criteria for full membership, may nonetheless become Associate Members.

Associate Members have the same rights as full members except that they may not vote at general meetings and their representatives may not stand for the Board.

To be eligible for Associate Membership of HAP, an agency simply has to show that its activities and management practices are consistent with and supportive of the vision, purposes and objectives of HAP.

Read the current list of Associate Members.