This Code of Conduct aims to uphold our standards of behaviour. It applies to board members, staff, associates, trainees, volunteers and honorary volunteers; in this document, we will use the term ‘staff’ to refer to all the individuals mentioned above. It aims to uphold the high standards of independence, effectiveness and impact to which Coopération Nord- Sud (CNS) aspires.

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CNS and its staff undertake to:

• To uphold the following fundamental values and principles: respect for fundamental human rights, social justice and human dignity, as well as equal rights for men and women;

• To actively promote adherence to the principles of international refugee law, international human rights law and international humanitarian law;

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Respect and consideration for beneficiaries and stakeholders

We will adopt a professional attitude towards all beneficiaries and stakeholders in our projects and respect their culture, beliefs and background. CNS and its staff are committed to supporting the fullest possible participation of those affected – as individuals, families and communities – in decisions that affect their lives. CNS and its staff will respect the dignity and worth of every person, encourage and practise understanding, respect, compassion and tolerance, and exercise discretion whilst maintaining confidentiality where necessary.

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CNS and its staff will aim to establish constructive and respectful working relationships with their partners, will constantly seek to improve their performance, and will foster a climate that encourages learning, positive change and the application of lessons learnt from experience.

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CNS and its staff will show respect towards all people, regardless of race, gender, religion, colour, national or ethnic origin, language, marital status, sexual orientation, age, socio-economic status, disability, political beliefs or any other distinguishing characteristic. They will endeavour to remove all barriers to equality.

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Respect for culture and customs

CNS and its staff shall respect the cultures, customs and traditions of all peoples and shall endeavour to avoid any behaviour that is unacceptable in a particular cultural context. This entails reasonable deference to cultural norms regarding dress codes, abstinence from alcohol and other restrictions.

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However, where a tradition or practice is considered to be in direct conflict with an international human rights instrument or standard, CNS and its staff will refer to the applicable human rights instrument or standard. Through its projects, CNS promotes change towards a fairer society. CNS aims to foster a safe learning environment where participants feel comfortable approaching us, bearing in mind that training sessions can be emotionally challenging.

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Controversial topics (such as drugs, abortion, faith and politics) must be handled with sensitivity.

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Representation of the organisation

As a member of the CNS team, everyone is automatically a representative of the organisation. Team members will act as ‘ambassadors’ as well as trainers or consultants.

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When travelling internationally on behalf of CNS, their behaviour will be closely scrutinised both by the NGO’s staff and by the general public in the ‘host community’. CNS staff members shall never engage in exploitative relationships – whether emotional, financial or work-related – with affected persons. They shall act responsibly when hiring or commissioning private services from affected persons and shall report in writing to their line manager on the nature and conditions of such employment.

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CNS is actively committed to preventing and protecting against harassment, exploitation and sexual abuse. The organisation requires its staff to respect the dignity and integrity of every person they encounter in the course of their work.

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In the event of a breach of these rules, CNS reserves the right to unilaterally terminate the contract and to take any other measures deemed necessary.

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Staff are also required to report any abuse brought to their attention or which they have witnessed to: wecare@cns-asbI.org

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Teamwork

CNS staff members shall respect all their colleagues, regardless of their status or position, and shall give everyone the opportunity to express themselves and contribute to collective efforts through their knowledge and experience.

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They will communicate openly and share relevant information (subject to confidentiality requirements) with other colleagues and endeavour to respond promptly to requests.

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They will seek to resolve disputes and address issues as soon as they arise, and will contribute to a constructive dialogue, guided by mutual respect and an open and positive approach, between management and staff representatives.

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Promoting staff health and safety

CNS staff members will comply with all guidelines designed to protect their health, wellbeing and safety.

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Staff safety must always be taken into account in operational decisions. If there is any doubt about an instruction that is perceived as posing a threat to anyone’s safety, this must be reported immediately to the manager.

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CNS managers will endeavour to ensure that the health and wellbeing of staff and their families are not exposed to unjustified risks.

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Luxembourg, 26 February 2025

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