Accord and Codes of Good Practice
	The Accord
	The Codes
	Using the Accord and Codes
	Best Practice Examples
	To Obtain Copies of the Accord and Codes

The Accord and Codes of Good Practice

The Accord

The Accord between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector was developed in 2001 as part of the Government's commitment to formalize the working relationship between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector. The Accord was developed by the Joint Accord Table, one of seven Tables created during the first phase of the ( Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI).

The purpose of the Accord is to clearly define the values, principles, and commitments to action that the Voluntary Sector and the Government of Canada will adhere to in any of their working relationships. The existence of the document allows for more open, transparent, consistent, and collaborative relationships, and enables both parties to better serve Canadians.

More information about the history of the Accord is available on the Voluntary Sector Initiative website .

See below for information on downloading or ordering a copy of the Accord between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector.

The Codes of Good Practice on Funding and Policy Dialogue

The Codes of Good Practice on Funding and Policy Dialogue were developed in October 2002, in response to the Accord's provision that the Voluntary Sector and the Government must develop "Codes or standards of good practice to help guide interactions between government departments and voluntary sector organizations on the aspects of the relationship such as policy dialogue, funding, and other issues as identified;..." (An Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector, page 10).

Each Code of Good Practice focuses on making good practices common practice throughout the Government and the Voluntary Sector. They are meant to evolve, and require review, analysis, evaluation and reporting on their use as a tool in meeting the Accord's goals.

More information about the Codes of Good Practice on Funding and Policy Dialogue is available on the Voluntary Sector Initiative website .

See below for information on downloading or ordering a copy of the Code of Good Practice on Funding and/or the Code of Good Practice on Policy Dialogue.

Using the Accord and Codes of Good Practice

One of the key aspects of the Accord is a commitment to monitoring and reporting on the implementation and use of the Accord and Codes of Good Practice in both the Government of Canada, and in the Voluntary Sector.

The Joint Steering Committee, which was developed to help coordinate and oversee the work of the Voluntary Sector Initiative, has published several reports on the implementation of the Accord and Codes. To see a list of these reports, and to obtain copies of them, please visit the Voluntary Sector Initiative website .

Best Practice Examples in the Office of the Voluntary Sector

Health Canada published an annual report on the implementation of the Accord and Codes, entitled "The Year in Review (2002-2003)". Click here to download this report in PDF format.

Public Health Agency of Canada has taken up the task of disseminating this information annually. Click here ( 316 kb. PDF format) to access the 2003-2004 report, entitled Working Together .

The Office of the Voluntary Sector has compiled its own list of "best practice" examples of collaborative work between the Voluntary Health Sector and the Government of Canada, based on the progress reports submitted by Health Canada in 2003 and 2004. The following document provides a sampling of Health Canada projects during the 2002 - 2004 period that reflect the commitments of the Government and Voluntary Sector Accord and the Codes of Good Practice on Funding and on Policy Dialogue. Click here (284kb.) to download this report in PDF format.

To Obtain a Copy of the Accord and Codes

An Accord Between the Government of Canada and the Voluntary Sector , the Codes of Good Practice on Funding and Policy Dialogue, and several related tools and reports are available for download from the:
Voluntary Sector Initiative website.