At CADEF CAMEROON, governance is a commitment to ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability. This page explains how decisions are made, who holds responsibility, and where to find our key governance documents published as web content for public access.
Organizational Structure
CADEF operates under a three-tier structure:
General Assembly of Members
The General Assembly is CADEF’s highest decision-making body. Members set long-term strategy, approve major governance changes, and ratify the Board of Directors. The Assembly meets at least once a year and receives the annual report on programme impact, finances, and compliance.
Board of Directors
The Board provides strategic oversight and fiduciary responsibility. Responsibilities include approving the annual budget, reviewing organisational risk, monitoring policy implementation, and evaluating the Executive Director. Board members serve fixed terms, convene biannually, and meet additionally as required by emerging priorities.
Executive Management Team
The Executive Management Team translates strategy into operations. Led by the Executive Director, the team manages programme delivery, supervises staff, implements policies, maintains financial controls, and represents CADEF externally. The Executive Director reports periodically to the Board and is accountable for timely, accurate reporting to stakeholders.
Decision Making and Accountability
Decisions follow a clear delegation matrix: strategic decisions rest with the General Assembly and Board; operational decisions rest with the Executive Management Team. Major policy changes are documented, published on this site, and communicated to staff, partners, and beneficiaries through regular updates.
Published Policies
Our core governance documents are published as web pages for transparency and ease of access. Each policy is reviewed annually and updated as needed.
| Policy | Description |
|---|---|
| Code of Conduct | Defines expected behavior for staff, interns, volunteers, and partners; Read more |
| Child Protection & Safeguarding | Outlines commitments, reporting procedures, and staff responsibilities to protect children and vulnerable persons; Read more |
| Privacy & Data Protection | Explains how we collect, store, and use personal data and the rights of data subjects; Read more |
| Non-Discrimination & Inclusion | Commits to equity, diversity, and inclusive practice across programmes and staffing; Read more |
| Whistleblower Protection | Provides confidential channels for reporting misconduct, fraud, or abuse and explains investigation procedures; Read more |
| Conflict of Interest | Sets procedures to declare and manage real or perceived conflicts among staff, board members, and partners; Read more |
| Feedback & Complaints | Explains how beneficiaries, partners, staff, and the public can raise concerns and receive timely responses; Read more |
| Document Retention | Defines retention periods, secure storage, and safe disposal of organisational records; Read more |
| Partnership & Collaboration | Describes criteria, expectations, and accountability mechanisms for engaging external partners; Read more |
Policy Review and Ownership
Each policy is assigned an owner within the Executive Management Team responsible for maintaining relevance, coordinating stakeholder feedback, and scheduling reviews. The Board receives summaries of major revisions and approves significant policy changes. Stakeholder feedback is considered during reviews and incorporated to strengthen accountability and relevance.
Access, Feedback, and Requests
For governance queries, requests for clarification, or to submit feedback related to any policy, email info@cadef.org. Requests for additional governance documents or records will be acknowledged and handled in line with our Privacy & Data Protection and Document Retention policies.
Last updated: October 2025.