Governance
VIDO is legally registered under the FDRE ACSO Proclamation No. 1113/2019. Our governance framework ensures transparency, accountability and community ownership at every level — from the General Assembly to the field office.
Organogram
The governance hierarchy flows from the supreme body through the board to daily operational leadership.
The highest authority of VIDO. Comprised of all founding and general members who set the strategic direction, elect the Executive Board and approve annual plans and budgets.
Nine-member board responsible for governance, policy approval, financial oversight and ensuring mission alignment. Board members serve staggered terms and meet quarterly.
Appointed by the Executive Board, the Executive Director leads day-to-day operations, oversees all thematic programs, manages staff and ensures implementation of board decisions across nine regions.
Board Members
The Executive Board brings together expertise in governance, health, education, finance, law and community development.
Senior governance and policy advisor with extensive experience in civil society board leadership. Brings strategic foresight and fiduciary oversight to the Executive Board.
Gender equity advocate and former government health administrator. Champions community voice and inclusive program design across all thematic axes.
Legal professional specialized in non-profit law and ACSO compliance. Ensures all board proceedings meet the standards of Proclamation No. 1113/2019.
Finance and audit expert with decades of experience in non-profit financial governance. Leads the board's oversight on zero-leakage disbursement.
Community development practitioner with deep roots in SNNP and Oromia rural programming. Brings field-level accountability to strategic board decisions.
Water resources engineer and WASH sector specialist. Advises on borehole sustainability, water quality monitoring and community-managed infrastructure.
Public health physician with expertise in primary healthcare, HIV/AIDS programming and maternal-child nutrition. Ensures health interventions meet national protocols.
Educator and early childhood development specialist. Guides the board on alternative education pathways and youth-skills programming.
Peacebuilding and governance practitioner with experience in elder-led reconciliation. Strengthens the board's engagement with community peace councils.
Departments
Programs and operations are delivered through five specialized departments, each led by a department head reporting to the Executive Director.
Primary healthcare, HIV/AIDS, maternal & child nutrition, WASH in schools, ECD, alternative education pathways.
Climate-resilient agriculture, indigenous seed banks, conservation farming, watershed restoration, renewable energy.
Community peace councils, youth entrepreneurship, digital literacy, women's leadership, human rights awareness.
Financial management, payroll, procurement, human resources, asset management, compliance reporting.
Donor engagement, grant writing, diaspora window, MEAL framework, quarterly reporting, impact evaluation.
Governance Principles
Four pillars that guide every decision, program and partnership.
All board proceedings, financial reports and program evaluations are documented and accessible. Quarterly reports are published and reviewed by the Executive Board.
Every expenditure is tracked against program objectives under a zero-leakage disbursement policy. The board conducts annual fiduciary audits.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning governs every program cycle. Community feedback loops ensure programs adapt to on-the-ground realities.
Communities are represented in planning, implementation and evaluation. Beneficiary feedback mechanisms are embedded in every project design.
Legal & Compliance
VIDO is fully registered with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia's Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) under Proclamation No. 1113/2019. This legal framework governs all aspects of our operations — from financial reporting and board composition to program implementation and partnership agreements.
Transparency in action
VIDO's governance documents, annual reports and board resolutions are available for review by partners, donors and the public. We believe that transparency is not a policy — it is a practice.