IDESG Code of Ethics
IDESG Code of Ethics
This Code of Ethics is approved by the Board of Directors of IDESG, Inc. at its meeting held on Tuesday, 11 November 2014. It shall come into effect on 15 December 2014.
Why a Code of Ethics?
IDESG and its members have a legitimate right to understand on whose behalf or in which role, if any, an individual acts and intervenes in its work; and to have safeguards against misunderstandings, conflicts of interest or any other undue influence on the advancement of the organization and its work.
What is it for?
While individuals may express their personal views and behave according to those views, office holders of IDESG, as well as individuals representing the views of an organizational member of IDESG, represent the office they hold or the organization they represent. This involves responsibilities (and occasionally, rights) beyond those of individual members. The Code of Ethics outlines the expectations of such persons in the role that they play or office that they hold.
Who is concerned by this Code?
Every individual elected or appointed to a position of authority within IDESG including the Management Council and Board, Officers of the Corporation, of the plenary, or of any committee. However, all persons (members, observers, officers, staff, contractors, and guests) are expected to behave in accordance with the spirit of this Code and in particular the General Provisions, as well as the IDESG Code of Conduct.
General Provisions
IDESG and its meetings are not a forum for lobbying, promotion or business development. All persons recognize that contribution they make, individually or on behalf of organizations that they represent, are intended primarily for the benefit of IDESG, and that any benefit accruing to them or their organizations, as a result of a decision of IDESG, should be incidental and secondary to the needs of IDESG. All persons voluntarily support and contribute to the success and growth of IDESG through the contribution of time, expertise and other resources. Each member is responsible for assessing the extent of their own engagement and members are expected to limit their participation to that appropriate to the time, expertise and resources that they are able to provide. Their own lack of time, expertise or resources are not legitimate bases for preventing work being progressed by others. The provisions of Article IX of the Bylaws (“Conflict of Interest”) apply with changes, if any, required to all decision making bodies within IDESG.
Organizational Members and their Representatives
Representatives of organizational members are expected to contribute their individual and organizational expertise for the benefit of IDESG. Meetings may invite an organization to present relevant work, subject to existing rules and policies (such as regarding Intellectual Property) and such presentation should remain germane to the needs of IDESG.
Officers of the Plenary and of Committees
All officers have a responsibility to ensure that work entrusted to them progresses according to agreed timetables and constraints and that broad discussion is made possible in the organization and deliberations of that work. Officer holders are expected to remain impartial and only contribute to the substance of a debate sparingly to make additional, not-‐yet expressed, views known. They only exercise the same right to speak as any other member, except in keeping the meeting in order.
Members of the Board of Directors and Officers of the Corporation
The Board of Directors dedicates itself to leading by example in serving the needs of the association and its members and also in representing the interests, mission and values of IDESG at large. Each director is responsible for discharging his or her duties as a director in accordance with his or her good faith judgment of the best interests of IDESG, with honesty, integrity, due diligence, and reasonable competence. Directors are actively encouraged to express concerns, criticisms and alternative views at meetings of the Board but otherwise expected to be advocates for IDESG and its activities and promote agreed policies. Directors shall safeguard and protect confidential information and confidences obtained in the execution of their duties. Directors must act at all times in the best interests of the association and not for personal or third-‐party gain or financial enrichment. When encountering potential conflicts of interest, the Board will consider the matter in line with the Conflict of Interest rules in the Corporation’s Bylaws.