DIFI

Vision of DIFI:

Promote and protect inalienable human rights and dignity of all persons to social justice.

 

Mission of DIFI :

 The mission of DIFI to implement sustainable principles of social development/justice in specific domain of human rights in the Republic of Cameroon

 

OBJECTIVES OF  DIGNITY FIRST INTERNATIONAL .

DIFI shall promote and protect human dignity in sustainable social development programs in the Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall leverage out into communities, projects management services/tools for and with grassroots development actors through the bottom-up approach to fight poverty in Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall improve on basic human needs/welfare through provision of quality social services such as education, health and special care services in grassroots communities in the Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall carry out Pro-Bono legal services in Human Rights Clinics in the Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall promote democratic culture and governance for human dignity and societal progress in the Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall promote ageing and old person rights in Dignity Old Persons Homes (DIHOPs) in the Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall promote and protect disabled persons rights to social rehabilitation programs in Dignity Vocational Center for Disabled in the Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall promote Children Welfare and Development Projects in communities in Heidi/Stecher Children Fund in  the Republic of Cameroon

DIFI shall promote widows Rights through sustainable grassroots pro-active projects in Republic of Cameroon.

DIFI shall promote second generation agriculture and rural development Revenue-Generating Centers in communities for efficient fight against poverty and exclusions. 

DIFI shall promote information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools for community and human sustainable development through social networks and skills leveraging in the Republic of Cameroon.

 

 

 

Become a Member of DIFI

Membership of DIFI shall be opened to all interested persons who freely apply for particular membership category with pledge to adhere and undertake steps to foster the philosophy, aims and objectives of DIFI especially standing for TRUTH and LOVE for others in the society. Membership categories shall be divided into the following: 

 

1) FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS 

Founding membership rights/obligations of DIFI shall also be extended to such other persons who within the first years of its existence make substantial financial, moral and material contributions towards the up-keep of the association. The modalities of joining founding board members shall be laid down by internal rules and regulations.

 

2) BOARD OF DIRECTORS

These are persons who are elected and or contribute materially and financially in the up keep of the association. They shall be not more than ten and not less than five. Their conditions of adherence shall be laid down in a separate text in the internal rules and regulations.

 

3) CARD MEMBERSHIP 

Ordinary memberships of DIFI shall be accorded to anyone who willingly applies and is ready to contribute actively in the execution and management of projects of DIFI as well as meet the minimum membership charges and dues to be determined from time to time by the board of directors. 

 

4) HONOURARY MEMBERS 

These are persons with no voting and seating rights in either the general assembly or Board of Director, but have public opinion and say in the affairs of DIFI through either the Executive Director of the Board Chair.

 

5. COMPLEMENTARY CONDITIONS 

Persons (Physical or moral) desiring membership of DIFI shall apply for it to the nearest organ of DIFI providing the following:

Completed application for signed with 4X4 passport size photo attached or fills an online application form to which a photograph must be attached.

Pay membership/card fees which differ from class of membership. The cost of both card and membership application fee shall be defined in the internal rules and regulations of DIFI.

A photocopy of valid National Identity card or passport.

Pledge of each member in the appropriate status and level to participate regularly in meetings and activities of DIFI.

Sign code of good conduct and humanitarian character towards the target groups of DIFI and the public at large.

Benefit from all services and training programs offered by the DIFI

Participate in general assembly meetings as wells as in voting and decision making process

Be elected to the organs of the DIFI subject to the requirement of the post profile as defined by the constitution or internal rules and regulations,

Use the equipment and tools of the DIFI, in conformity  with the conditions laid down in the internal rules and regulations

Withdraw from the group in strict respect of the regulatory text in force 

Consult all documents of the DIFI at the headquarters and make copies  thereof at his own expense

Commitments towards the DIFI activities, its affiliation contract and to  Sign and honour respect all the decisions taken by the DIFI

Actively participate in the activities of DIFI

Withdraw from DIFI through the required procedure laid down in internal rules and regulations. 

Sanction when there are judged and sentenced cases of disrespect of conditions laid down in the constitution or guilty of malpractices such as theft, embezzlement, the non-respect of his financial obligations and any other offence defined by the international rules and regulations may be expelled.

The same sanction shall be made temporally made public by the board of directors with two months notice, whether validated or not by the general Assembly. It may be through a written notification specifying the reasons and the duration. During this period, the member concerned shall have the right to defend himself before the authority that issued suspension. 

The death, dismissal resignation or retirement of a member shall not discharge him from the responsibility arising from his former obligations. His engagement shall cease after two years. 

Faults committed by the members of the DIFI and the corresponding penalties are laid down in the internal rules and regulations fixed and adopted by the general assembly on the proposal of the board of directors. Any deviant behavior acts of dishonesty, indiscipline and misconduct shall be appraisal by the BOD and punished according to the laws in force.

Sanctions range from a serious verbal or written warning, temporal suspension to definite dismissals. The exhaustive list, the amount and modalities of payment shall be stated in internal rules and regulations drawn up by the management committee and approved by the general assembly.

 

 

 

 

Democratic Governance of DIFI structures and Organ.  

Structures of DIFI comprise of:

 

 

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS,  

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD, 

REGIONAL COORDINATIONS, 

GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS UNITS, 

SPECIALISED CENTERS

 

2.  FUNCTIONS OF ORGANS OF  DIFI 

 

DIFI SPECIALISED INSTITUTIONS

 

Specialized centers of DIFI are made up of the following:

 

Dignity Orphans Home (DOH)

Dignity Homes for Old Persons (DIHOPs)

Dignity Vocational Centers for Disabled (DVCD)

Human Rights, Democratic Culture & Governance Clinics

Dignity Health Care Centers (DHCC)

Dignity United Action for Sustainable Peace and Development

Youths Entrepreneurial Scheme (YES)

ICT Bridging Council Project

Door-to-Door Volunteers for Voters Education (DOVVE)

Heidi/Stecher African Child Fund

Dignity Institute of Technology,  Projects, Business and Management

 

 

Specialized centers are located in areas of project identification in Cameroon.

 

GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS UNITS 

 

Located in all councils controlling the   sub divisional office are charged with:

Planning and carrying out grassroots campaigns on DIFI programs in council areas for the benefit of grassroots population in collaboration with Community Based organizations/institutions.

Carry out feasibility studies and implement projects of DIFI in council areas in particular and in the sub division in general.

Mobilize natural, material and financial resources for the implementation of grassroots projects in the council areas.

Discharge other duties that are assigned by the Board of directors or the general assembly.

Each Council coordinator shall control sub programs heads of DIFI with Field Assistants heading such programs.

 

REGIONAL COORDINATIONS 

The regional bureaus are the coordinating centers for DIFI in the region and serve as a liaison offices for the implementation of policies at the grassroots.

Regional Coordination shall act as focal points for the  training and recycling of DIFI council officials in each region for DIFI activities.

Regional Coordination shall mobilize regional projects and programs for effective follow up and implementation.

Meeting.

The Regional Coordination shall meet monthly for evaluation and can be less than a month depending on the urgency of work strategic needs.

Reports 

Regional Coordination shall channel monthly evaluation and project activities to the National Bureau.

 

Mandate of Bureau

A Regional Coordination bureau shall be elected for a three years mandate renewable once and can be eligible only after ten years.

 

Functioning and running of Regional Bureaus.

The Regional Coordination shall be headed by regional chief of Bureau with field assistants/coordinators. 

The various departments shall relocate their respective programs heads in council areas headed by Field assistants controlled by coordinators under the supervision of regional bureau chief.

The regional bureau shall relay all national programs from programs directors or Directors of Operations.

Programs of DIFI in regions shall be controlled by the regional bureaus.

 

 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Board shall coordinates grassroots program units located in every village, regional and other offices.

It shall elaborate and enforce programs of DIFI

It shall be charged with the running of the DIFI.

The decisions of the board shall be taken by consensus, failing which they shall be made by a simple majority of the members present and voting provided that two thirds (2/3) of the members are present.

 

Meetings 

 The National Executive Board shall hold two ordinary sessions a year; one in November and the other in July each year. 

 It may also be convened in extraordinary sessions by the chairperson or at the behest of a simple majority of its members 

 Mandate

The National Executive Board shall have three years mandate renewable through elections as laid down by the internal rules and regulations.

The mandate shall be confirmed by the General Assembly in ordinary session.

The functioning of the Board shall be governed by internal rules and regulations.

 

 BOARD OF DIRECTORS (BoD)

Persons who supports the mission, and objectives of DIFI and is willing to assume all the responsibilities of a director of contributing financial and material quotas for the success of the projects of DIFI.

The functioning, rights and obligation of DIFI board of directors shall be laid down internal rules and regulations.

The board shall not be more than twelve (12) and shall not be less than two (02) persons.

The term of office of the board is two years renewable through election.

BOD shall hold two ordinary sessions per year (December and the other in October) each year.  

All board members of DIFI shall be bound by the laws of DIFI and international rules and regulations.

 It may also be convened in extraordinary sessions by the chairperson or at the behest of a simple majority of its members.

 

 

 

FOUNDING BOARD OF DIRECTORS (FOBD)

These are persons who names and signatures appeal on certificate of registration or who have been admitted into the board after compliance with the internal rules and regulations of DIFI.

Meetings 

 The Founding Board shall hold one session per a year (at the end of fiscal year) to take socks and vote new policies and budget for coming year.

 It is convened in extraordinary sessions by the chairperson or at the behest of a simple majority of its members 

Mandate

The Founding Board has a lifetime mandate and expires upon death, resignation and or dismissals of member be members of board as stipulated in the internal rules and regulations.

 

 

 

 GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

COMPOSITION 

The members of general assembly shall consist of: all executive members and two elected member from Village, regional and national coordination represented by a Coordinator, Secretary of each coordination.

 

 FUNCTION 

The general assembly is the supreme decision-making body of DIFI. In this capacity, it: 

Determines the policy of The National Executive Board shall

Provides guidelines for activities for the association; 

Review and adopts the constitution, by-laws and for Internal Rules and Regulation 

Approves the organization policies; administrative and operational structures and organs of the association; 

Confirms members of the National Executive Board and relay staff.

Adopts and approves the annual budget of DIFI.

Hold the last power to decide on life of the association

 

MEETINGS:

The general assembly shall hold two ordinary sessions a year,  in January and in December and extra-ordinary sessions when convened by its Executive Director or two third of the general assembly meeting and voting.

 

DECISION The decisions of the general assembly shall be taken by a simply majority of the delegates present and voting.

 

ORGANS OF DIFI 

The organs shall be composed of:

 

Executives of Grassroots Programs Unit,

Executives of Regional Executive Board, 

Executives of National Executive Board, 

DIFI Foreign offices (Bureaus/Affiliates)

 

 

I) GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS UNIT 

 

DIFI Council Coordinator.

DIFI Council Field Assistants

DIFI Council Administrative Secretary

 

 

II) THE REGIONAL BUREAU 

 

The Regional bureau shall have four (4) Officers, namely: a 

a) A Regional Coordinator 

b) A Regional Secretary 

c) A Regional Treasurer 

d) A Regional Financial Secretary

 

 

III) NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD 

 

Officials of DIFI shall consist of the following: 

 

Executive Director 

Deputy Directors in charge of Operations

Director of Dignity Health Care Center

Director of Programs. 

Director Administrative and Technical Affairs 

Director of Public Affairs and Funds .

Managers of Specialized centers

Director of Budget. 

Director Co-operations and Foreign Offices/Bureaus

Advisers (Legal, programs and senior advisory bureaus)

Consultants