1% Fund  > Constitution

The Constitution

(as approved by Constituent Assembly, 17 February 1983)

ARTICLE I: Formation and registered office

  1. "The Association for the 1% for Development Fund", hereinafter referred to as "the Association" was formed on 17 February 1983 by individual staff members of organisations belonging to the United Nations system in Rome.
  2. The Association is a private, non-profit organisation, established in accordance with Article 36 et seq. of the Italian Civil Code.
  3. The Association has its registered office at FAO, viale delle Terme di Caracalla, Rome.

ARTICLE II: Aims

  1. The purpose of the Association is to give financial support to projects which can contribute to the alleviation of hunger and poverty in developing countries.

ARTICLE III: Membership

  1. Any person with a contractual relationship with an organisation belonging to the United Nations system in Rome or elsewhere may become a member of the Association by pledging to contribute to it at least 1% of his/her net salary/pension for the duration of their membership, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the Association.
  2. Any such member shall have the right to withdraw from the Association by written notification to the Steering Committee, on the understanding that amounts already contributed will not be reimbursed. Such withdrawals shall take effect 30 days after their receipt.
  3. Any member of the Association shall de facto cease to be a member upon the termination of his/her relationship with the United Nations system or when he/she ceases to be a UN pensioner.

ARTICLE IV: Income-expenditure

  1. The revenue of the Association is derived from contributions of members and of such other voluntary contributions as the Steering Committee may decide to accept.
  2. The funds thus received shall be used to support development activities in accordance with the guidelines established by the General Assembly, and to promote the objectives of the Association, on the proposals by the Steering Committee.
  3. The members of the Steering Committee shall be jointly responsible to the General Assembly for the custody of any and all funds.
  4. The financial year of the Association is from 1 January to 31 December.
  5. The Financial Regulations of the Association shall be established by the General Assembly.

ARTICLE V: Management of the Association

  1. The organs of the Association shall be:
    • The General Assembly of members
    • The Steering Committee
    • The Auditors

ARTICLE VI: The General Assembly

  1. It shall be the responsibility of the General Assembly:

      a) to approve the reports of the Steering Committee;

      b) to approve the annual budgets and accounts of the Association;

      c) to approve proposals submitted by the Steering Committee for development activities to be supported by the Association;

      d) to request information from and make suggestions to the Steering Committee on matters pertaining to its work;

      e) to elect members to the Steering Committee and to appoint the auditors;

      f) to consider matters of exceptional importance such as the revocation of the Steering Committee's mandate and to give directives to the Steering Committee thereon;

      g) to decide on amendments to the Constitution;

      h) to decide on the dissolution or voluntary liquidation of the Association, establish the principles and procedures for disposing of the assets of the Association and to appoint a liquidator for the purpose;

      i) to decide any other matters pertaining to the general policy of the Association.

  2. An ordinary General Assembly of members of the Association shall be convened by the Steering Committee twice a year.
  3. The first ordinary General Assembly shall be convened not later than the first Friday in April of each year, the second not later than the first Friday in November of each year.
  4. The accounts for the preceding year shall be considered at the first Assembly of the year, the budget for the coming year at the second General Assembly of the year.
  5. Extraordinary assemblies shall be convened by the Steering Committee whenever it considers it necessary or at the request of at least twenty-five percent of the members of the Association. In case of the latter, such extraordinary assemblies shall be convened within 21 days from the receipt of the initial request.
  6. General and extraordinary assemblies of members of the Association shall be convened by the Steering Committee by means of written notice to each member sent to his/her registered address at least 15 days before the meeting. The date, place and hour of the meeting and a list of the subjects on the agenda, and proposals and recommendations concerning financial expenditures by the Association shall be stated in the notice.
  7. The Assembly shall, except as hereinafter provided, be considered to be validly constituted on first call, when at least one-third of the members registered in the records of the Association are present, and on second call whatever number of its members are present. A second call may take place one hour after the first call.
  8. Each member of the Association shall have one vote at the General Assembly and at any other meeting of the Association. Decisions shall be taken by a majority of those present and voting, except as provided for hereinafter. A member may delegate another member to attend and vote at any meeting by means of written proxy. A member may not represent more than two other members by proxy. The Steering Committee may decide to allow members to vote by post on issues on the agenda of the General Assembly or any other meeting of the Association. voting procedures shall be established by the Steering Committee.
  9. No decision may be taken under paragraph 1.f and g of this Article at a first or second call of the General Assembly unless at least one-third of the members are present. Decisions taken in accordance with this paragraph shall require a two-thirds majority of those present and voting, unless 50% or more members are present. In the latter case, decisions shall be taken by a majority of those present and voting.
  10. No decision may be taken under paragraph 1.h of this Article at a first or second call of the Assembly, unless at least two-thirds of the members cast their vote, either at the Assembly or by post. Such decisions shall be taken by simple majority.
  11. Non-members donors to the Association may attend the General Assembly as observers without the right to vote.

ARTICLE VII: The Steering Committee

  1. The Steering Committee shall have the following functions:
    • to decide on the economic, financial, legal, and ordinary and extraordinary administrative affairs of the Association, including entering into contractual relations on its behalf, in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the Association;
    • to draw up, not later than three months after the end of the Association's fiscal year, a report on the financial position of the Association, to be submitted to the General Assembly;
    • to prepare the annual budget for submission to the General Assembly;
    • to allocate funds to particular projects in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the Association;
    • to prepare project proposals for consideration by the General Assembly;
    • to promote interest in development issues and in the 1% for Development Fund;
    • to implement the decisions of the General Assembly.
  2. The Steering Committee shall consist of eleven members who shall be elected by the General Assembly in accordance with the procedures described in paragraph 3 of this Article. Membership of the Steering Committee is honorary and there shall be no reimbursement of any personal expenses involved.
  3. The Steering Committee shall, six weeks before the first of the regular General Assemblies of the year, invite members of the Association to nominate, within three weeks, other members as candidates for election to the Steering Committee. Such nominations, duly seconded by at least two other members, shall be circulated to all members with a short biography of each candidate fifteen days before the Assembly.
  4. The terms of office of all elected members of the Steering Committee shall be two years, except for the first election where six members shall be elected for two years and five members for one year. They shall hold office until their successors are elected.
  5. The Steering Committee shall, at its first meeting after the General Assembly, elect a Chairperson, a Vice-chairperson, a Secretary and a Treasurer. their terms of office shall be one year.
  6. Members of the Steering Committee shall be eligible for election for two consecutive terms, after which one year must elapse before the member is eligible for re-election again. One year must elapse after each 4 year period.
  7. In the event a member of the Steering Committee terminates his/her membership of the Association or resigns as a member of the Committee, the vacancy shall be filled at the next General or Extraordinary Assembly, whichever comes first.
  8. The Steering Committee shall be convened by the Chairperson whenever he/she considers it necessary, but at least once a month. The meeting shall be convened by means of a written notice to each member sent to his/her registered address at least seven days before the date of the meeting. The date, place and hour of the meeting as well as the subjects on the agenda shall be indicated in the notice.
  9. Meetings shall be held when at least five members of the Committee make a request to the Chairperson, giving reasons therefore. The Chairperson shall convene the meeting within 10 days of the request.
  10. Five members of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum. Decisions shall be taken by a simple majority of those present and voting. In the event of an even number of votes in favour or against a specific resolution, the vote of the presiding member shall prevail.
  11. The Steering Committee may invite other members of the Association to carry out specific functions for its term of office. Such members may attend the Steering Committee's meetings without the right to vote.
  12. The Chairperson of the Steering Committee shall be the legal representative of the Association, and may perform and act on its behalf. Without any prejudice to the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Chairperson shall represent the Association in any legal proceedings to which the Association may be a party. The Chairperson may take action on routine matters in his/her own authority, while action on non-routine matters shall require prior approval by the Steering Committee. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee shall have the same powers as the Chairperson.
  13. The Treasurer shall maintain accounts in accordance with the Financial Regulations of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII: The Auditors

  1. The first General Assembly of each year shall appoint two auditors to audit its accounts.
  2. Such audits shall normally take place once a year and the results shall be reported in writing to the first annual General Assembly of the Association.