WHY BECOME A NEP MEMBER?

By becoming a member of NEP, your organization will access a wide range of benefits, having access to the full range of NEP resources.

Firstly, you will be joining 75 other International and Local NGOs, committed to working together for the development of Education in Cambodia. The primary mission of NEP is to provide a mechanism to promote dialogue among its own members and between government, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports, donors, and NGOs in order to improve the quality of education for all in a spirit of cooperation.

This role has expanded to assist NGOs in working with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, donors and bi-lateral and multi lateral development partners. NEP and its members are recognized by the Royal Government of Cambodia and donors as a key Education-NGO coordination body.

TANGIBLE BENEFITS

Capacity Building

·       Every year, NEP provides training courses on different topics, including government policy on education, for its members, in order to strengthen their capacity and to ensure that the activities of the members are compatible with the government policy.

Research on Education

·      Once a year, NEP conducts a research on Education-Related Topic and shares this with government, development partner and NGOs working on education.  The research purpose is to provide the real picture of education in Cambodia, so that all relevant stakeholders are able to shape their project activities to meet the real needs of the children.

INTANGIBLE BENEFITS

A Collective Voice for NGOs

·         NEP members recognize that working together increases their voice and representation on Education issues.

• NEP represents its membership base on issues of common concern of education. Members meet every two months, and NEP provides a forum for discussion, and can then provide follow-up and action.
• NEP also helps to coordinate the NGO Statement and representation to the Government-Donor Consultative Group Meeting (GDCC) and Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum (CDCF) - ensuring NGO perspective on Cambodia's Education situation is heard.

Networking and Information Exchange

• NEP provides opportunities for organization to form network in order to foster ideas and share lessons learnt through NEP meetings and contacts with sectoral and networking groups.
• NEP is committed to assisting the dissemination of information amongst NEP Member and throughout the NGO community generally.
• With NEP as a liaison, members receive information on current Ministry issues and program so as to allow them to implement field activities consistent with policy directions of the ministry and the Royal Government of Cambodia. 

Representation and Advice on Government Issues

• NEP has regular contact with government officials from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, development partners and others, and can advice the members on different education-related issues.

 
Basic criteria for NEP membership are as follows:

• All non-profit making humanitarian associations and non-profit making non-government organisations (NGOs) operating in Cambodia and working in the Education sector.
• All other bodies which represent parts of civil society and whose strongest link with the government would be through the NEP.

Process for NEP membership

• Organisations that fulfil the criteria above can apply to join the NEP by completing the membership application form. Applications for membership will be reviewed by the NEP Board.

The membership fee

• The fee agreed upon by the majority of members is US$120.00 for international NGOs and $30.00 for local NGOs per annum.

Rights and duties of NEP members

• Member organisations are entitled to one vote in every election for positions on the NEP Board, and on every issue placed before quorum meetings of the NEP Annual Meeting. Nominations to fill NEP Board vacancies between Annual General Meetings shall be accepted at regular monthly meetings, with elections following one month later by post to all members.
• Individuals employed by member organisations shall be eligible to stand for election to positions on the NEP Board. They stand as representatives of their NGO. Therefore only one person from an organisation may be elected to the NEP Board at any one time.
• NEP members may nominate any person of a member organisation to stand for election to the NEP Board with the consent of the individual and their organization, by writing to the NEP Board.
• Member organisations shall have the right to raise issues, provide comment and offer recommendations to NEP Board on all matters relevant to the activities and operation of the NEP.
• Annual reports shall be published and copies provided to all member organisations after approval at the Annual General Meeting.

Membership shall be discontinued under the following circumstances

• A two-thirds majority of members resolving that a given member organisation's activities and/or objectives are not in accordance with the objectives of NEP or are detrimental to the collective effort by members of NEP.
• Notification in writing from the member organisation advising of their intention to withdraw from the NEP.
• A resolution passed by a 75% majority of members dissolving NEP.