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ICOPAD

Partner Governance Framework

Clarity, fairness, and institutional integrity

1. Purpose of Partner Governance

Partnerships are not symbolic listings. They reflect active alignment with ICOPAD's mandate and way of working.

These governance rules exist to:

  • Maintain clarity of roles
  • Protect ICOPAD's independence and credibility
  • Ensure fairness and consistency
  • Avoid confusion between coordination, representation, and endorsement

2. Who Can Be Listed as a Partner

An organisation may be listed on the Partners page if it:

  • Is a legally recognised or clearly identifiable organisation or network
  • Works on issues relevant to communities of African descent
  • Aligns with ICOPAD's coordination-focused mandate
  • Agrees to be listed under a clearly defined partner type
  • Accepts ICOPAD's neutrality and independence

Being listed as a partner does NOT imply:

  • Formal representation by ICOPAD
  • Endorsement of all activities
  • Decision-making authority within ICOPAD

3. Partner Categories (Publicly Visible)

Partners are listed under one of the following categories:

Network Partner
Community Partner
Youth Partner
Cultural Partner
Professional Network

Categories are assigned by ICOPAD to clarify the nature of the collaboration, not the importance of the organisation.

4. How Partners Are Added

Partners are added through one of the following routes:

  • Invitation by ICOPAD
  • Submission via the Become a Partner form
  • Existing collaboration formalised for transparency

All partner listings are:

  • Reviewed centrally
  • Approved by an Admin or Moderator
  • Published only after basic verification

ICOPAD reserves the right to:

  • Request clarifications or adjustments
  • Decline listings that do not align with its mandate

5. What Partner Listing Means (and Does Not Mean)

A partner listing MEANS:

  • The organisation is part of ICOPAD's collaboration ecosystem
  • There is or has been meaningful engagement or alignment
  • The organisation contributes to coordination, knowledge, or engagement

A partner listing does NOT mean:

  • ICOPAD speaks on behalf of the organisation
  • The organisation speaks on behalf of ICOPAD
  • Endorsement of positions, campaigns, or funding requests
  • Automatic participation in all ICOPAD activities

This distinction is essential and non-negotiable.

6. Responsibilities of Partners

Partners are expected to:

  • Communicate accurately about their relationship with ICOPAD
  • Respect ICOPAD's coordination role
  • Avoid misrepresentation of ICOPAD's mandate or positions
  • Inform ICOPAD if their organisational status changes

Partners are NOT required to:

  • Pay fees
  • Publicly endorse ICOPAD
  • Participate in every initiative

7. Review & Maintenance of the Partners Page

To keep the page accurate and credible:

  • Partner listings are reviewed periodically (e.g. annually)
  • ICOPAD may update descriptions, categories, or links
  • Partners may be contacted to confirm continued relevance

ICOPAD may remove or update a partner listing if:

  • The organisation is inactive
  • The information is outdated
  • There is misalignment with ICOPAD's mandate
  • The organisation requests removal

Removal does not imply wrongdoing; it reflects governance hygiene.

8. Transparency & Public Communication

ICOPAD commits to:

  • Listing partners transparently
  • Clearly describing the nature of collaboration
  • Avoiding inflated or misleading partnership claims

The Partners page is a reference tool, not a ranking or endorsement platform.

9. Internal Roles & Decision-Making

  • Admins: final responsibility for partner governance
  • Moderators: review, verification, and content maintenance
  • All decisions are guided by ICOPAD's mandate and principles
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