Financial overview

In 2009, the focus of the finance unit was on streamlining its processes to ensure greater transparency and efficiency.

Main sources of funding

As in previous years, IICD’s main funder in 2009 was the Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS) of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. IICD was also supported by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). IICD also continued working closely with several prominent non-governmental Dutch organisations (NGOs) in 2009, such as HIVOS, Cordaid and PSO with whom IICD co-funds a number of long-term ICT initiatives.

Due to the global economic crisis IICD received less income from public and private organisations and non-Dutch NGOs, than expected. Incomes were contributions in kind (staff time) as well as computers and other hardware or software donated by private sector companies Motorola Foundation, Inter Access, Altran, TNO, Atos Origin and KPN, and the non-Dutch NGOs such as Close the Gap and SPIDER.

Additional services

In addition to bookkeeping, the finance department provides a full range of other financial and administrative services, including project administration, annual reporting, Quality Control, and a monthly time-registration system whereby IICD staff members record all the hours they have worked on a specific activity.

Financial accountability

Transparency and accountability are the hallmarks of a sterling accounting system. The quality of IICD’s financial accountability is therefore fiercely guarded by a series of checks and balances which are continuously improved and refined. In 2009, these consisted of

• Monthly reports of operating income and expenses;
• Quarterly financial reports submitted by local partner organisations;
• A quarterly statement of operating income and expenses, plus a balance sheet;
• Written explanations of deviations from any budgets or expectations;
• A full annual institutional audit; and
• Up-to-date information on the status of all programmes, expenditures and commitments, which is available online for all staff members (24/7).