Purpose
The Paradigm for Social Justice and Development (PSD) acting through its Board of Directors is committed to ensuring that financial and material resources mobilized in the name of achieving PSD’s mission and vision are put to this use and not diverted to serve personal or material interests. To this end, we have put in place systems and structures to prevent, detect and investigate fraud, corruption, misconduct and malpractice.
This statement encourages staff and other partners to raise concerns about possible fraudulent or corrupt bahaviour rather than overlook them for fear of retaliation. Whistleblowing, will enable the organization to promptly investigate allegations and take appropriate corrective action to address incidents that might otherwise be undetected. No person who acts in good faith and whistle-blows shall suffer harassment, retaliation or any adverse consequences. Employees can report suspected fraud, corruption or misconduct;
- Directly to their supervisors.
- to the Executive Director
- To the Chairperson of the Board
Alternately, to facilitate reporting of suspected violations, where the reporter wishes to remain anonymous, a written statement may be submitted to: Physical address: Plot no 2522, Bombo Road, Kawempe. Opposite Kawempe Police Station.
Consultants, grantee partners and any other external person who wishes to report any suspected cases of fraud, corruption or malpractice or any inappropriate activity directly, anonymously, confidentially or otherwise should report through the following channels;
Email: info@paradigmforjustice.org
Telephone: +256 393 194 573
Postal Address: P.O BOX 6305 Kampala
Physical address: Plot no 2522, Bombo Road, Kawempe. Opposite Kawempe Police Station.
Who is a Whistleblower?
A person who is either an employee, consultant, volunteer or any person who informs a supervisor or the Executive Director or a Board member about an activity relating to PSD which that person believes to be fraudulent or contrary to PSD’s values, principles or mission
What is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing refers to the process of disclosing suspected incidents of fraud, corruption, malpractice or misconduct, (whether financial or ethical), as well as illegal acts or omissions by PSD staff or PSD’s external partners, including sub-grantees, consultants or service providers.
What is fraudulent or dishonest conduct?
A deliberate act or failure to act with the intention of obtaining an unauthorized benefit.
Examples of such conduct include;
- Repeated ill treatment of a staff member/organizational partner despite a complaint being made
- A criminal offence has been committed, is being committed or is likely to be committed
- Suspected fraud
- Disregard for legislation, particularly in relation to health and safety at work
- Breach of the organization’s financial administration policies
- Showing undue favour over a contractual matter or to a job applicant
- A breach of the organization’s code of conduct
- Forgery or alteration of documents
- Unauthorized alteration or manipulation of computer files to conceal information
- Fraudulent financial reporting
- Pursuit of a benefit or advantage in violation of PSD’s Conflict-of-Interest Policy
- Misappropriation or misuse of PSD’s resources, such as funds, supplies, or other assets
- Authorizing or receiving compensation for goods not received or services not performed
- Using remarks or actions of a sexual nature that are not welcome and are likely to be viewed as personally offensive, including sexual flirtations; unwelcome physical or verbal advances; sexual propositions; verbal abuse of a sexual nature; the display of sexually suggestive objects, cartoons, or pictures; and physical contact of a sexual or particularly personal nature.
- Using insults, negative stereotyping, and threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts that relate to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability.
- Circulating or posting written or graphic material in the workplace that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group because of race, colour, religion, gender, nationality, age, or disability
- Discriminating against an employee or potential employee due to a person’s race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental impairment
- Facilitating or concealing any of the above or similar actions.
Who can Whistleblower?
Staff, board members, consultants, volunteers, visitors and the general public are encouraged to report suspected fraudulent or dishonest conduct (i.e., to act as “whistleblower”, pursuant to the procedures set forth below.
How do I Whistleblow?
You can Whistleblow in writing or orally, by telephone, email, letter or in person.
To whom Should I Whistleblow?
A person’s concerns about possible fraudulent or dishonest use or misuse of resources or property should be reported through the following channels. Alternately, to facilitate reporting of suspected violations where the reporter wishes to remain anonymous, a written statement may be submitted to one of the following reporting channels.
Email: info@paradigmforjustice.org
Telephone: +256 393 194 573
Postal Address: P.O BOX 6305 Kampala
Physical address: Plot no 2522, Bombo Road, Kawempe Opposite Kawempe Police Station.
Internally, staff members should report suspected cases of fraud to their supervisor or, if suspected by a volunteer, to the staff member supporting the volunteer’s work. If, for any reason, a person finds it difficult to report her or his concerns to a supervisor or staff member supporting the volunteer’s work, the person may report the concerns directly to the Executive Director.
Do I Have a right to Whistleblow?
As an employee, you have the right to report suspected fraudulent or dishonest behaviour in the organization.
Supervisors are required to report suspected fraudulent or dishonest conduct to the Executive Director, except in cases involving the Executive Director in which case the report should go to the board. Reasonable care should be taken in dealing with suspected misconduct to avoid;
- Baseless allegations.
- Premature notice to persons suspected of misconduct and/or disclosure of suspected
misconduct to others not involved with the investigation. - Violations of a person’s rights under law.
Due to the important yet sensitive nature of the suspected violations, effective professional follow-up is critical. Supervisors, while appropriately concerned about “getting to the bottom”
of such issues, should not in any circumstances perform any investigative or other follow-up steps on their own. Accordingly, a supervisor who becomes aware of suspected misconduct
- Should not contact the person suspected to further investigate the matter or demand restitution
- Should not discuss the case with the media, or anyone other than the Executive Director
- Should not report the case to an authorized law enforcement officer without first discussing the case with the Executive Director or the board.
What should the report include?
Employees and others may communicate suspected cases of fraud, corruption or malpractice or other wrongdoing or alleged retaliation by contacting PSD. If you wish to remain anonymous, it is not necessary that you give your name or position in any notification.
Whether or not you identify yourself, for a proper investigation to be conducted, please provide PSD with as much information as you can, sufficient to do a proper investigation, including where and when the incident occurred, names and titles of the individuals involved, and as much other detail as you can provide.
What principles apply when dealing with such cases?
- All reports are to be taken seriously
- All reports are dealt with immediately
- The Whistleblower may choose to remain anonymous
- Anonymous sources can be as valuable as open sources
- The various methods of whistleblowing are to be given equal weight
- Reports are to be dealt with confidentially
- The whistle blower should be given feedback within reasonable time unless he or she choose to remain anonymous
Will I get feedback?
The compliance officer will notify the sender and acknowledge receipt of the reported violation or suspected violation within 5 working days.
Who Deals with the report and what is the procedure?
All reports will be promptly investigated and appropriate corrective action will be taken if warranted by the investigation.
Will I put myself at risk?
No director, officer, or employee who in good faith reports a violation of the Code, financial or illegal malpractices shall suffer harassment, retaliation, or adverse employment consequence.
An employee who retaliates against someone who has reported a violation in good faith is subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment. This Whistleblower statement is intended to encourage and enable employees and others to raise serious concerns within the organization prior to seeking resolution outside the organization.
How about the person who has been reported?
All persons’ who have been reported will be made aware of the allegations against them and given the opportunity to also present their version of the issue at stake. After the investigations are concluded the person who has been reported will be informed immediately regardless of the outcome.
Dated: June 2023
