1. Asian Alumni Association The Opportunities and Challenges of Alumni Networking
Arun Balamatti
Executive Director, AME Foundation
Bangalore
ARTES
Presented at
Policies and Strategies to Mitigate Climate Change and Energy Poverty in South East Asia and China
Hanoi and Halong Bay, Vietnam
5-9 October 2009

2. Asian Alumni Association
Idea first mooted in Bali, November 2006
Discussed again in Nepal, May 2008
The first forward step in action - individual volunteers identified from a few Asian countries to study the proposition in their country context
This presentation presents ideas on setting up the AAA in India as an NGO/I-NGO
Inspiration – FAEM, Nepal

3. Asian Alumni Association
The Extraordinary Purpose of the AAA
Exchange of professional experiences eminently initiated by SESAM Institute - generous support from the DAAD – Bangkok (2002) - Bonn+Flensburg (2004) - Bali (2006) - Nepal (2008) - Vietnam (2009)
Next step: To take this initiative forward - bring together the competencies and professional experiences of large number of alumni
One institutional umbrella

4. Asian Alumni Association
The Extraordinary Purpose of the AAA
An ideal platform for the alumni to exchange professional experience on RE & RD issues in the interest of the Asian rural communities
Exclusive and excellent career option for the alumni to develop organic relationship among themselves and with the alma mater
Opportunity for the seniors to guide RE professionals
A place of pride for SESAM for having given birth to a transnational and cross-cultural institution
A wonderful site for social networking
An opportunity not many dream of

5. Asian Alumni Association
AAA in India – The Process & The Pitfalls
Starting a NGO/NPO, in India or elsewhere, can be,
a lengthy
time consuming process
Difficulties can be minimised
with preparation

6. Asian Alumni Association
LOCATION
Could be in any Asian county
The key: Political stability & the legalities
India: Reasonably stable political atmosphere, simplistic legalities for NGO, but not necessarily for an I- NGO
Somewhat conservative policy on international development cooperation, deliberate attempt to encourage local initiatives
NGO – Yes, I-NGO – Not really…

7. Asian Alumni Association
Type of the organization
Many classifications of NGO/NPOs as determined by individual country's laws and regulations
In India non profit / public charitable organisations can be registered as
Trusts, (the Indian Trusts Act)
Societies, (the Societies Registration Act, 1860), or
A private limited non profit company, under section-25 (the Companies Act, 1956)
Setting up of an I- NGO the same as any other NGO in India

8. Asian Alumni Association
Type of the organization
NGO/NPO in India
exist independently of the state;
are self-governed by a board of trustees or ‘managing committee’/ governing council, comprising individuals who generally serve in a fiduciary capacity;
produce benefits for others, generally outside the membership of the organisation; and
are ‘non-profit-making’, in as much as they are prohibited from distributing a monetary residual to their own members.
What do we want? Lucrative profession? or
RE based rural livelihoods as means of our livelihood?

9. Asian Alumni Association
Type of the organization
NGO/NPO in India
The Income Tax Act gives all categories equal treatment, in terms of exempting their income and granting 80G certificates, whereby donors may claim a rebate against donations made.
Foreign contributions to non-profits are governed by FC(R)A regulations & Home Ministry
‘Income’ to be applied only for charitable purposes

10. Asian Alumni Association
Mandate/ scope of operations
Individual operational NGOs vary enormously according to their purpose, philosophy, sectoral expertise and scope of activities
NGOs are classified according to whether they are
more relief or development-oriented;
religious or secular;
stress service delivery or participation, and
whether they are more public or private-oriented
AAA-Development Oriented, public, secular, service organisation

11. Asian Alumni Association
Mandate/ scope of operations
In the context of the World Bank-financed activities, national or I - NGOs are normally contracted to deliver services, design projects or conduct research
Nepal discussion – Activities fall broadly under delivering services, designing and executing RE projects and undertaking research and evaluation studies
Add professional & cultural exchange

12. Asian Alumni Association
Membership, type, roles
Critical that a new NGO/NPO is properly registered with the public authorities of the country
Even more important to 'register' with its target community - in terms of ensuring acceptability, building trust, programme and project effectiveness, and bringing about real change
Destination: Poor & the poverty in South Asia

13. Asian Alumni Association
Membership, type, roles
First establish a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board and develop the organization's mission
Board members have trustee & legal responsibility for the actions & operation of the organization.
There are minimum levels of involvement required of board members in organizational and operational management
Indian Alumni Association with international advisory group?

14. Asian Alumni Association
Membership, type, roles:
Foreigners as Board Members:
Society - The Societies’ Registration Act, 1860 does not prohibit a foreigner to be a member of the Board
Certain case laws say “even if all members of the Board are foreigners then also the society shall remain Indian if it is registered in India”
However, the society shall not be Indian if all the members are Indian but it has been registered in a foreign country
Similarly, in case of Trust, no prohibition on foreigners becoming Trustees
‘Yes’ on paper, many ‘No’s in practice

15. Asian Alumni Association
Handling international assignments
FCRA  Registration is a must
For FCRA Registration the organisation must have been registered for a period of not less than 3 years
Till then it can receive  foreign  funds by getting a prior permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs
Getting FCRA Registration shall be difficult with foreigners on Board!

16. Asian Alumni Association
Handling international assignments
Inter charity donations
IT Act: Income applied for activities outside India is not eligible for exemption unless the following conditions are satisfied:
The organisation is a Trust registered before or it is engaged in the promotion of International Welfare, in which India is interested,
Central Board of Direct Taxes has by general or special order granted the exemption
Prime driver: Serving the purpose for which the organisation is established

17. Asian Alumni Association
CONCLUSION
India can be a favoured location for setting up AAA
However, the NGO status seems more a workable proposition than an I-NGO
Unless there are other more favourable country locations, AAA as an Indian NGO seems practical
Indian NGO – Yes
International NGO – Needs more homework & expert consultation

18. THANK YOU