As provided for by the constitution, these internal rules seek to enhance a better understanding of certain articles in the constitution, as well as serve as a regulatory barometer of the entire Forum when issues and decision taking concerning these articles are concerned.

SECTION ONE: MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION

Article I : MEMBERSHIP

Group membership, management by objectives and Networking are the binding force of IFCHA.

Those wishing to contribute to IFCHA's initiatives must constitute a group of like minded individuals varying between 5 and up to 50 persons. The IFCHA Chapter promoters must address Chapter registration forms to the IFCHA Headquarters Secretariat.

Article II: REGISTRATION

To be a member of IFCHA, groups and associations must pay a non refundable fee of ------- which shall be shared as follows:

• Registration:
• Membership card:
• All registrations must be initiated at a recognized IFCHA Chapter.

SECTION TWO: ACTIVITIES OF FORUM MEMBERS

Article I: Regular meetings monthly, bimonthly and quarterly – to discuss local Health issues and where appropriate propose facilitative actions.

Article II: Focus on Community Health issues, Community participation and support to District and Local Health Services.

Article III: Specific emphasis on Community HIV Prevention, Mutual Health Trusts (Micro Health Insurance Schemes) and affordable Local Health Technologies.

Article IV: Expert groups would in addition assist with Management Improvement, Partnership Arrangements and Community Health Development. 

SECTION THREE: CONTRIBUTIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS

Article I: The fundamental principle of IFCHA's management is self-financing. Chapter members will pay regular subscriptions monthly/quarterly/yearly which will be fixed by themselves, although IFCHA indicates a flat rate for uniformity and equity.

Article II: These funds must be transparently managed, lodged in Bank Accounts and audited yearly. The annual contribution of each Chapter is the same independent of the number of members.

Article III: CONTRIBUTIONS

• Local Chapter: Local Chapters contribute the sum of 50.000fcfa (Fifty thousand francs) or its equivalent in euro/dollars per annum.
• 50% of this amount stays with the local Chapter;
• 30% goes to the National Chapter to help create new chapters;
• And the remaining 20% goes to the International Headquarters.

  National Chapters : They will determine their contribution, but again IFCHA proposes the equivalent of 100.000fcfa (one hundred thousand francs) per annum.

• They keep 50% for current expenses;
• Send 30% as support to local Chapters;
• And 20% to IFCHA Headquarters.

Chapters in the Diaspora: Chapters in the Diaspora will determine the level of contribution. It is suggested that this should not be less than the equivalence of 200.000fcfa (two hundred thousand francs) per annum.

• of this amount, they will keep 20%;
• send 30% to IFCHA Headquarters
• And send 50% as support to local Health Systems.

Article IV: Individual Diaspora Chapters may if they wish, not withstanding the annual levy, wish to give direct support to local Health Services of their choice – by providing expertise, material/equipment or financial grants.

Article V: These operations will be published on the IFCHA website and the quarterly/monthly bulletin in the interest of transparency.

Article VI: In addition to the above mentioned inputs, representing the efforts of IFCHA members, IFCHA will welcome gifts/request and other contributions from individuals, groups, organizations and African Governments, with a view to:

• Support to students and young graduates researching theses and dissertations in Health related development areas.
•   Support to senior research fellows responsible for their supervision.
• Funds for the organization of competition between Health Districts in countries and at the African regional level.
• Also support for Chapters undertaken initiatives and experiencing Community Health Financing, Community Health HIV control and Community Health Technology.
• All such funds would be properly accounted for.

SECTION FOUR: BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

Article I: By group membership, individuals benefit from exchange of experiences and solidarity in action. An individual needs not disburse more than 1000fcfa annually in a group of 50.

Article II: Access to organized groups involved in priority interventions such as HIV prevention, treatment and control, micro health insurance schemes, traditional and other health practices.

Article III: Assistance in preparing applications for Community Health Grants and other financing.

Article IV: Groups would compete for funded Health projects, experts would have assistance in joining existing or new groups.

Article V: Access to Health information via monthly/quarterly news bulletin, local radio broadcasts, as well as online website.

Article VI: Use of IFCHA website and other communication channels for information exchanges on viability needs of Health Districts with a view to identifying donor support within Africa or in the Diaspora.

SECTION FIVE: ELECTIONS

Article I: Elections shall be conducted for all elective posts.

Article II: ELECTORAL COMMISSION

Members shall nominate an ad hoc Committee to be dissolved immediately after elections.

• The Ad hoc Committee shall comprise of:
• i. A Returning Officer
•  ii. Two Forum members
• iii. One Chief whip
• iv. The committee shall not stand for elections.

Article III: ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTIONS

Candidates wishing to contest elections must fulfill the following conditions:

• Must be endorsed by a Forum member organization/chapter, which shall not be in arrears in payment of annual contributions.
• Must be at least ------------------- years old on election date.
• Provided that not withstanding the provisions of sub article (a) above, promoters and founding members may stand for elections.

Article IV: CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

• Elections shall be by secret ballot.
• A candidate shall be declared winner by simple majority vote of members voting.
• In case of a tie, the Returning Officer breaks the tie by casting the determining vote.
• Voting by “proxy” (to be agreed upon)
• The returning officer confers the mantle of power on the new Board/Executive during a handing over ceremony.

Article V: HANDING OVER

• The handing over of documents from the old to the new Executive must be done within 24hours.
• Handing over notes will be signed.
• There shall be a handing over ceremony to be presided by the Returning Officer.

SECTION VI: ETHICS AND DISCIPLINE

Giving that the Forum is built on group membership, financial management and with the objective of attaining the millennium development goals, members are expected to be of exemplary behavior and good attitudes.

Article I: SANCTIONS

The following sanctions in ascending order of gravity may be applied to a member organization/chapter found guilty of misconduct:

•  i. Reprimand (Verbal)
•  ii. Warning (written)
•  iii. Suspension for a period not exceeding six to twelve months.
• iv. Expulsion from the Forum

SECTION VII: INFORMATION SHARING AND NETWORKING 

Article I: IFCHA being a loose Global Network of Autonomous Chapters, its activities are based on information exchange and Networking.

Article II: IFCHA Chapters would help identify needs of viable local health services. They may be posted on the website so that a potential donor may decide to act.

Article III: It is envisaged that certain Diaspora groups/chapters may wish to focus on the local Health Services of their place of origin.

Article IV: The IFCHA Headquarters will endeavour to act on behalf of and fill the gaps in those local services that might be initially neglected.

Article V: The IFCHA website would be a market place where health Care providers, beneficiaries, investors/promoters, and manufacturers meet. Local Councils with responsibilities for health matters as well as their supervisory Governments would also be interested in the website.

Article VI: Information on the element of local Health System would also be posted.

Article VII: Such information exchange would be vital for the organization of African Health Competitions and the attainment of the Millennium Development goals.

SECTION VIII: SPECIFIC COMMITTEES

Article I: THE FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

• The committee shall consist of ---------------- members -------- of whom shall be appointed by the board. The Chairperson shall be the Financial Secretary without the power to vote except in case of a tie.
• It shall elect a vice Chairperson
• It shall have a quorum ------------- members
• It shall meet at least --------- every ---------- year (s)
• It shall report to the next meeting of the Board and General Assembly.

TERMS OF REFERENCE

• It shall receive a financial statement at each meeting and consider all matters relating to finance.
• It shall recommend to the Board an annual budget, prepared by the president for approval by the General Assembly.
• It shall consider any other matters referred to it by the Board.

Article II: THE PROJECT COMMITTEE

• The committee shall consist of --------- members, --------- shall be appointed by the Board. The Chairperson to be elected by the General Assembly without the power to vote except in case of tie.
• It shall elect a Vice Chairperson
• It shall have a quorum of -------- members
• It shall meet as required
• It shall report to the next meeting of the Board and General Assembly.
• May consult with advisers when necessary and may invite them to attend meetings without the powers to vote.

TERMS OF REFERENCE 

•  i. It shall be responsible for assessing projects submitted by member organizations/chapters.
•  ii. It shall recommend appropriate projects for support from donor agencies. Projects selected will take account of the objectives of IFCHA and the availability of funds.
•  iii. The committee has a special responsibility for IFCHA project activities and shall advise the Board thereon.
•  iv. It shall be responsible for attracting donations and co-funding from National and International agencies, foundations and trusts and for presenting reports to donor agencies required.
•  v. It shall exercise the most appropriate methods to evaluate and monitor projects and initiate relevant research to reporting back to donor agencies as specified in their criteria for project reporting.
• vi. It shall consider any other matter referred to it by the Board.

Article III: PROMOTION AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

• The committee shall be made up of --------- members, --------- of whom shall be appointed by the Board, and Chairperson elected by the General Assembly, without the power to vote except in case of a tie.
•   It shall elect a Vice President.
•   It shall have a quorum of ---------- members.
• It shall meet when necessary
•   It shall report to the next meeting of the Board and General Assembly.
• May consult advisers when necessary and may invite them to attend meetings without the power to vote.

TERMS OF REFERENCE 

•  i. To continue examining and recommending ways of improving the image of IFCHA.
•  ii. To be responsible for promotion and publication.
• iii. It shall be responsible for raising funds (other than recurrent income), for example sales items, sponsorship.
• iv. It shall endeavour to establish standard designs and approaches to be used by IFCHA.
• v. It shall make recommendations to the Board on all items involving expenditure of funds.
• vi. It shall consider any other matters referred to it by the Board.

Article IV: HEALTH DISTRICT COMPETITIONS .

• The Committee shall be made up of ---------------- members ------- of whom shall be appointed by the Board because of their expertise on the subject matter.
• The Chairperson is selected by the General Assembly without the power to vote except in case of a tie.
• The committee shall elect a Vice President.
• It shall have a quorum of -------------- members.
• It shall meet when necessary.
• It shall make known their findings to the Board and the General Assembly.
• May consult advisers when necessary and may invite them to attend meetings without the power to vote.

TERMS OF REFERENCE 

•  i. It shall be responsible for assisting in the monitoring of progress in local communities and countries.
•  ii. It shall research and recommend the appropriate indicators for monitoring of progress locally and nationally.
• iii. In line with the Millennium Development Goals, is responsible for proposing the framework for the competitions.
•  iv. It shall make use of most appropriate methods to monitor and access progress in local and national chapters.
•  v. Amongst elements of the Millennium Development Goals, emphasis on monitoring of progress shall be on infant mortality, maternal mortality, young adults mortality and access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, food security and health literacy.
• vi. It shall have a special responsibility for IFCHA competitions and shall advise the Board thereon.
•  vii. May establish standard formats for monitoring of progress for use by local and national chapters, as well as in the organization of competitions.
• viii. It shall consider any other matter referred to it by the Board.

Article V: THE HEADQUARTERS STANDING COMMITTEE

• It shall be made up of ------------- members ----------- of whom shall be appointed by the Board. The Chairperson is elected by the General Assembly, without the power to vote except in case of a tie.
• It shall elect the vice president.
• It shall have a quorum of ------------- members.
• It shall meet when necessary.
• It shall report to the next meeting of the Board and the General Assembly.
• May consult advisers when necessary and may invite them to attend meetings without the powers to vote.

TERMS OF REFRENCE 

•  i. It shall be responsible for the nurturing of the idea of the Forum locally and nationally.
• ii. It shall ensure the gradual growth of the Forum by making the necessary inputs to guarantee its survival.
• iii. Work towards the capacity development and sustainability of the Forum locally and nationally.
• iv. Develop a global partnership for development in Africa .
• v. It shall constitute a working group which can be sent by the Board to serve as backup in local and national chapters within countries.