NGO accounting: making a difference in Africa

World Aids Day parade, Kalongo

Helping rebuild societies in poor countries is a great way to use your skills. By Janet Humphreys ACMA, financial controller, GOAL Uganda.

In my last article, I talked about terminology in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) sector and how much of the basic accounting work is the same in NGOs as in other business sectors.

But the type of work and activities NGOs support is very different. In this article, I discuss the work that GOAL (the NGO that I work for) is doing in Uganda.

What does GOAL do?

GOAL has run relief and development programmes in Uganda since the 1979 famine in Karamoja.

Uganda is one of the poorest countries in the world. Life expectancy at birth is around 49 years and population growth at 3.3% remains one of the highest in the world.

The last two decades have been marked by relative peace, but Uganda’s social and economic indicators still reflect the need for some intervention. For example, in Northern Uganda 90% of the population was displaced by a brutal 20-year insurgency. Over the last 18 months, the situation has improved and progress has been made with peace talks.

People have started moving back closer to their original homes and land. So programmes like GOAL’s are changing from emergency assistance to crisis recovery as people pick up their lives again.

The GOAL Uganda programme focuses on five areas:

Emergency response and crises

The emergency response and crisis recovery programme is based in Pader District. It focuses on areas like maternal and child health, disease surveillance and prevention, outbreak response to diseases like cholera, providing clean water sources and sanitation.

HIV/AIDS and disabilities

Working closely with community organisations, GOAL’s HIV/AIDS and disability programmes in Bugiri, Hoima and Bundibugyo Districts aim to help provide HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support, and mitigation, and a comprehensive package for disability services.

The programme began in late 2001 and has made great strides in service delivery for people living with HIV/AIDS and disability. We are involved in home based care, peer education, provision of seeds, tools and animals and vocational training. The programmes reach 45,000 people.

Child protection

Our mainstreaming project on child protection aims to ensure staff and partners are fully aware of child protection issues and that children are not subject to abuse.

Housing support

In Masaka district, GOAL is implementing a housing programme that will benefit 14,000 vulnerable people who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. The programme will provide 500 new houses and rehabilitating houses.

Who is involved?
I work in Kampala with a team of four national staff - including two ACCA qualified accountants. There is a finance and administration officer in each field location. They are responsible for the day to day cash management, preparation of monthly cashbooks and other administration duties.

Does GOAL really help?
Some people asked me if I think GOAL and other NGOs make a difference. My response is absolutely.

We reach many individuals and their families through our work. It is also empowering people to work with the local authorities to rebuild society and improve the quality of their lives.

It’s a million miles away from the profit seeking corporate world I left behind. I’m looking forward to working alongside my colleagues in GOAL and the NGO sector for many years to come

If you are interested in working with GOAL, send your CV and covering letter to applications@goal-uk.org, or check our website for information.

Useful links

Using your skills to make a difference

Articles from the GOAL series in June, August and October 2007 Insight.

February 2008

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What did you think of this article? Email tim.cooper@cimaglobal.com.