On Saturday, the 27th of August 2016, key organization leaders drawn from Churches, Christian NGO’s and Christian run businesses in Africa and beyond, came together to celebrate the official launch of The African Council for Accreditation and Accountability (AfCAA) in Nairobi.
The launch coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) – an American financial standards association representing evangelical Christian organizations with over 2,100 member organizations across America – and AfCAA.
ECFA’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, John Van Drunen, noted that this was a pivotal moment for Africa and lauded the leadership team for the progress they have made.
John also highlighted that the working relationship between the two organizations as spiritual co-labourers enhancing stewardship and trust in churches and Christian organizations and is based on respect.
“AfCAA and ECFA are spiritual co-labourers and the signed MOU signals the continued relationship between the two organizations built on mutual admiration and respect.”
AfCAA’s Executive Director, Mrs. Emily Chengo, who also serves as Treasurer and Board member of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa, expressed excitement about AfCAA’s future, saying it affirms the growing need for accountability and trust amongst Christian run organizations in the continent. Towards this effort AfCAA will be holding a capacity building seminar in Nairobi on the 13th October, 2016 to help organizations understand the seven standards of AfCAA.
AfCAA’s Board Vice Chair, Mr. Jonathan Onigbinde, said that AfCAA was an organization whose time has come. Mr. Onigbinde, who hails from Nigeria, also revealed that the first 12 organizations to successfully go through the AfCAA accreditation process in every country in Africa would receive founding charter status in the organization.
Beacon of Hope – a Faith based and community non-governmental organization addressing HIV/AIDS pandemic among women in poor communities – was the first organization to be recognized for successfully going through the AfCAA accreditation process.
AfCAA’s Board Chair, Mrs. Valentine Gitoho, made a presentation on AfCAA’s journey and gave thanks to a team of about 40 volunteers that have worked hard to see AfCAA officially launched. She also acknowledged AEA as one of the founding volunteers and instrumental Pan African umbrella bodies along with the All African Council of churches and the Organization of African Instituted Churches as being instrumental as pan African
“We have come a long way, from praying and meeting with volunteers in our homes and in verandahs over the years, to this great moment today.”
Mrs. Gitoho also explained that AfCAA was not a policing organization, but a peer accountability organization that seeks to build capacity of organizations within the continent while enhancing public trust so that they are a light to the world according to Matthew 5:16.
Former Vice President of World Vision Africa, Prof. Wilfred Mlay, was pleased to witness the birthing of a financial accountability organization in Africa.
He said, “Accreditation is letting your light shine among men and accountability is for the glory of God. Prof. Mlay added that if we don’t let others accredit us and review us externally, then ‘we are walking on self-illusion’.
AfCAA’s leadership outlined how the organization employs its expertise in awareness, advocacy and accreditation to tackle the accountability deficit in some Christian run organizations in Africa, while promoting best practice in Churches and other Christian organizations.
During the launch, Board and Committee Members of AfCAA were commissioned for service by clergy after completing a two-day training led by Rev. Dr. Gary Hoag, ECFA’s International Liaison, in Nairobi.
By AEA Communication Team
AfCAA is a peer accountability organization that seeks to enhance Public trust in Christ-centred churches, ministries and Christian owned businesses by establishing and applying seven standards of responsible stewardship to accredited organisations. AfCAA creates awareness amongst Christian organizations about the need for compliance to Biblical standards that apply to the mobilization of resources, promotes biblical values in the market place and accredits Christian organizations by giving them a seal of approval that is a sign that the organization has met requirements of membership and is in compliance with AfCAA’s standards. For more information go to www.afcaa.org