Code of Conduct
Code of conduct for co-workers and employees of medico international e.V.
Purpose of the code of conduct
The purpose of the code of conduct is to promote the transparency, responsibility and action principles of the activities of medico international through voluntary and self-activating regulation, and to improve the quality of its work.
Purpose and functions of medico international
medico international works for the human right to the best possible access to health. In doing so, we support partners (primarily in Africa, Asia and Latin America) in their endeavours to create the economic, social and cultural living conditions which allow each person to attain the highest health standard possible for them. In particular medico stands in solidarity with people in situations of emergency and poverty, including refugees and the victims of war.
Principles of the code of conduct
1. The work of medico international is partner-oriented
1.1. The focus of medico’s work is on the people we support: Our loyalty and responsibility are first and foremost to the people we are working with. We take their needs and rights as the basis of our support programmes.
1.2. Autonomy and ownership: The goal of our work is to enable our partners to solve their problems by themselves. We accordingly promote the development of autonomy and embrace people’s right to full participation in all decisions affecting one's own life.
1.3. Human rights: We are committed to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights in accordance with international law.
1.4. Trust: We seek the trust of the partners we work with.
1.5. Participation and non-discrimination: We strive to include our partners’ members in the conception, implementation and evaluation of projects and programmes to the fullest extent possible, regardless of their age and gender.
1.6. Respecting local culture and traditional knowledge: We respect the dignity of the people we work with, and respect their culture, values and traditional knowledge. However, the commitment to respecting foreign culture does not mean that we tolerate and support actions which undermine the human rights of individuals or groups.
2. medico international works towards sustainable results
2.1. Effectiveness: The goal of our work is to permanently overcome destitution and disempowerment. We seek maximum effectiveness for our work, avoiding any form of waste in using resources.
2.2. Sustainability: We seek sustainable results, with solutions that our partners can maintain independently and which match their long-term development goals.
2.3. Environmental protection: We deal responsibly with the natural environment. We endeavour to maintain and care for existing ecosystems.
2.4. Monitoring and evaluation: We try to monitor all our programmes as to the results they achieve. Generally, evaluations are available to private and institutional donors as well as any interested party. In particular, we are committed to making them available to partners.
3. medico international is committed to transparency and responsibility
3.1. Transparency: We strive for maximum transparency in our internal procedures.
3.2. Responsibility: We are committed to sound financial conduct in accordance with existing legislation and regulations. We are truthful and honest in all actions involving acquiring funds, applying for funds and using and accounting for funds. We ensure verifiable financial accounting and procurement procedures, as well as organisational procedures which ensure appropriate use of resources.
3.3. Accountability: We report on our goals and activities. We publish a financial and operational report, available to all on request, whose key statements can be read by anyone on our home page. We make use of every opportunity to inform the public of our work and the sources and uses of our resources.
4. medico international is committed to responsible internal organisation
4.1. Documentation: medico international’s goals, tasks and principles are clearly defined and documented in writing, as is its organisational structure.
4.2. Equal opportunity: Decisions on employment and promotion of co-workers are guided by the principle of equal opportunity for all.
4.3. Employment: In our human resources policy we comply with current labour law and the principles of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). We offer jobs at appropriate salaries and match tasks with individual capabilities. Where terminations are unavoidable, we offer periods of notice which are adequate for both the co-worker and the organisation, and which are in compliance with prevailing labour law.
4.4. No conflicts of interest: medico’s commercial dealings are free of personal and professional conflicts of interest. Board members are honorary positions, with no remuneration. Reimbursement of expenses is possible.
5.1. Veracity: We are truthful and honest in all our professional activities.
5.2. Integrity: We refrain from practices in both internal and external dealings which threaten the ethical integrity of our organisation. We are committed to banning and rejecting theft, corrupt methods, nepotism, bribery or dealing in illegal substances. We only accept donations and funding from sources whose goals correspond with our own goals and tasks, and which do not undermine our identity and independence.
5.3. Cost effectiveness: We utilise the funds made available to us with the greatest possible cost effectiveness. We are committed to minimising waste and unnecessary costs, in order to pass on the resources entrusted to us to the greatest possible extent to those people who need them.
6. medico international is committed to preventing fraud within the organisation
6.1. Legislation and conduct: All medico international co-workers are committed to complying with local rules and legislation. They are instructed to conduct themselves in such a way that no doubt arises concerning the illegality of corruption. Corruption may not be tolerated or supported. If a co-worker in contact with an outside party sees any risk of possible corruption, they are instructed to bring another colleague as a witness to all subsequent meetings.
6.2. Bribery: Bribery and accepting bribes of any kind are prohibited. Bribery is defined as proffering an item or action designed to influence the decision of the person involved. Even the mere promise of such a gift counts as bribery, whether or not the item or service was given or performed directly or indirectly. This includes gifts to family members or friends of the decision maker, unless there is a legitimate reason for such a gift.
6.3. Documentation and duty to report: medico co-workers are obliged to avoid any kind of corruption and to document this. The organisation’s management must be notified immediately of any instances and concrete indications of corruption. For this purpose, it is not necessary to follow communication channels which were otherwise agreed upon. Co-workers discovering corruption are explicitly protected from adverse consequences from the organisation or other co-workers. Confidentiality is guaranteed.
6.4. Partner: It must be pointed out to partners in projects and agreements that medico does not accept any kind of corruption.
6.5. Dealing with partiality in decision making: All co-workers are required to consider when making decisions if there is any conflict between personal interests (or the interests of family or friends) and those of medico. If there is such a conflict of interest, the next level up in the hierarchy must be approached for advice. This level must then determine whether decision making authority should be transferred to another co-worker.
6.6. Shared responsibility: All co-workers share responsibility for preventing corruption. All co-workers are accordingly called upon to notify management structures of procedures which could encourage corruption or make it possible and to submit suggestions for improvement.
7. medico international is committed to cultural diversity, justice, promotion of minorities and non-discrimination for social groups
7.1. Freedom: In line with universal human rights, medico endeavours to maintain and promote free political and cultural development.
7.2. Equal opportunity: We strive to maintain the principle of equality also in internal relationships. We specifically endeavour to integrate underprivileged and handicapped people and those of other marginal groups in our initiatives.
7.3. Gender: We recognise and value the different attitudes, aspirations and needs of men and women. Both genders are equal in their rights and opportunities, in the context of achievements and duties.
7.4. Non-discrimination: Neither human resources policy nor co-worker training may be guided by discriminatory purposes. It is intended to maintain a balanced ratio of genders in the organisation.
7.5. Promoting minorities: We strive to protect and particularly promote minorities.
7.6. Child labour: medico international is concerned to see that children who are known to be performing child labour get high quality training and education. Children and young persons below 18 should not be employed at night and in hazardous conditions.
International Labour Organisation: medico international recognises the standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
8. medico international is committed to capacity building and empowerment of local people and partners
8.1. Capacity building: We take every opportunity to strengthen the skills and capacity of the local partners and people in the project countries. This begins with enabling partners to carry out their own needs analysis, define their priorities and plan effective action.
8.2. Advisory services: We provide advisory services to our partners and also to local authorities, with the goal of sustainable development.
8.3. Sustainability: We help develop and coordinate projects with the goal of achieving sustainability, which requires that all activities can be taken over by the partners as quickly as possible.
8.4. Physical and technical resources: Wherever possible, we give preference to local procurement of materials and technical resources over imports.
8.5. Appropriate technologies: We encourage the use of locally adjusted technologies which the partners themselves own, and which they can also maintain.
This regulation came into force as a result of the decision of the Executive Board on 20 March 2006.
Thomas Gebauer, Executive Director
March 2006