Governance
MASES`S operations are overseen by an independent Supervisory Board. Consisting of six members from different but complementary backgrounds, including the financial, corporate and development sectors, the board offers MASES senior expertise in auditing, finance, governance, project management, social affairs and sustainability. The board includes a Selection and Remuneration Committee, which is responsible for recommendations to the full Supervisory Board regarding the appointment, evaluation and remuneration of the Chief Executive and Managing Board members. An Audit and Risk Committee monitors finance, risk and compliance and advises the Supervisory Board on finance, control and risk management issues.
Financial & Resource Management
The complex Nature of MASES`S national activities requires a highly controlled management system, which MASES provides at local and head office levels. MASES uses the Enterprise Resource Planning software application SAP for its financial and human resources processes. Data is captured at field level in a front-end SAP interface and is validated before being uploaded into the corporate SAP system, guaranteeing data quality. MASES advisors write time on a weekly basis, which allows for monitoring of contracts on the basis of agreed days.
Audit & Risk Management
The quality of MASES`S work, including internal processes and services to clients, is ensured by both internal and external auditing and evaluation. MASES`S financial statements are audited annually by an independent external professional auditor. The external auditor performs their audit and issues their opinion on the annual accounts of MASES as a whole, which include country and head office financial information. Audit is carried out in the Bangladesh as well as in MASES countries as appropriate to enable the auditor to form their opinion. The external auditor reports to the MASES Supervisory Board and Audit and Risk Committee. MASES has received an unqualified opinion each year since becoming a fully independent organization in 2002.MASES also has an Internal Audit Unit with a straight reporting line to the Chief Executive and Audit and Risk Committee. The Internal Audit Unit executes internal audits based on a risk-based audit plan. These audits provide the Managing Board with independent and objective information on the degree of control of MASES`S primary processes, supporting processes (such as Finance and HR) and projects. They support MASES in accomplishing its objectives by assessing the organization’s processes as a means to identify good practices, possible weaknesses and risks. Based on the information provided, the Managing Board takes measures where needed to improve the organizational practice and stimulate learning. The Internal Audit Unit (IAU) monitors the follow-up of the audit recommendations and reports to the Managing Board and Audit Committee on progress. The Internal Audit Unit (IAU) applies and upholds the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Code of Ethics.
Quality assurance
Everything MASES does is focused on achieving development results in the most efficient, effective and sustainable way possible. To ensure this, MASES makes planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning a key part of its work. MASES’s comprehensive planning, monitoring and evaluation system is called MfR – Managing for Results. In practice, MfR means constant analysis, reflection and improvement of our practice – enabling successful tailoring of solutions to local problems and contexts and full transparency for our donors and partners.
In addition to our ongoing internal evaluation process, each year three independent external evaluations are carried out on MASES programmers or strategic themes. corporate evaluations centre on accountability and learning. Firstly, corporate evaluations help to demonstrate accountability by evaluating achievements against spending. Secondly, they assist MASES in continually improving practices by applying what has been learned to our future work.
Corrective & preventative action
MASES implements a range of policies to ensure staff and organizational initiatives meet the highest levels of ethical conduct. All staff is required to adhere to the MASES Code of Conduct, which provides guidelines for good conduct and directions for exercising good judgment in ethical matters or in situations of conflict of interest.
MASES maintains a strict policy of zero tolerance to theft, fraud and misuse of resources. We consider it the responsibility of all MASES staff members to be aware of the potential for fraud, and to report any reasonably suspected fraud. MASES Fraud Response Procedure sets out the course of action that has to be taken when fraudulent activity is suspected or has taken place. MASES also has a Whistleblower Procedure in place, which allows people within MASES to report alleged irregularities for investigation confidentially and without fear of prejudice, while providing clear steps and measures to resolve the issue.
MASES is supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and implements a Child Protection Policy to ensure children are safeguarded from abuse, discrimination and harm of any kind in the implementation of MASES activities.