Common Questions

What is Shia?

Shia is a religious and party political unattached non-profit-making association with 30 member organizations. The association was established in 1981 during the UN’s international disability year.

The member organisations are Swedish organisations which are run by persons with disability, who are active in international development co-operation. All work takes place in co-operation between the Swedish member organisations and their sister organisations in Bolivia, Bosnia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and Tanzania. There are also some global and regional projects which include other countries.

How is Shia’s work financed?

Most of the project work is financed by Sida, Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency, and through own contributions which are paid for by the Swedish organisations themselves. Shia also collects money for the project and programme activities in the countries we co-operate with.

Who can be members?

All Swedish disability organisations which are run by persons with disability can apply for membership. The annual general meeting, where every member organisation has a vote, makes the decision about new members.

What is meant by programme?

At the present time Shia has a programme in seven countries. In Bolivia, Bosnia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Rwanda and Tanzania. In the programmes all the disability organisations which Shia is working with in the country co-operate. All goals and intermediate goals within individual projects will lead to the fulfillment of the programme goals.

The goal for Shia’s work is poverty reduction through organisation development. Within all the programmes Shia works with three strategies.

• To strengthen the capacity of organisations of persons with disability in order to make the members and potential members more aware about their rights and opportunities.
• To strengthen the internal capacity of organisations of persons with disability with regard to administration, leadership, strategic planning and democracy among members.
• To strengthen the capacity and work of organisations of persons with disability in running advocacy work.

What is a project?

• A project has a beginning and an end.
• A project should build on a co-operation between two or more organizations.
• A project should be deeply rooted in the organisation and in the group.
• A project should have a clear goal and lead to a long-term change. Every project should contribute to the overriding programme goal being attained.
• A project should have a clearly defined goal group.
• A project should have a clear division of responsibility within and between the organisations which are co-operating.
• A project should have an activity plan and its own budget.
• A project should be followed up both with the aim of learning from it and for reporting.

What does a programme officer do?

Shia’s officers work at the Shia office in Stockholm. They make sure that the project cycle is followed (often in co-operation with country co-ordinators), receive applications, write review PMs, prepare and send out agreements with appendices to country co-ordinators, follow up agreements, update the database and archive project and programme material.

The officers communicate with member organisations, country co-ordinators and partner organisations. Programme officers co-ordinate the country groups in Sweden.

What does a country co-ordinator do?

The country co-ordinators are employed by Shia’s office and are responsible for the economic follow up of projects. Depending on which form of agreement applies for the project the country co-ordinators provide different forms of support. Country co-ordinators co-ordinate the programme, call country group meetings and are responsible for the capacity development which is planned within the programme.

In those projects where Shia is responsible for the administration the country co-ordinator is responsible for strengthening the administrative capacity of the partner organisation.

What is a country group?

There are country groups both in Sweden and in the partner countries. Country groups in Sweden consist of persons from Shia’s member organisations who are active in the projects. The Swedish country group gives support in the planning, the implementation and the following up of the country programme. It is the reference group for the country group in the partner country.

The country groups in the partner countries have the task of planning. Implementing and following up the country programme.

How do you make an application?

An application to Shia means that you are applying for financial support for a certain project. In the application the co-operating organisations should describe what they want to do, why you think that it is important and what results you expect to achieve through carrying out the activities you are planning. Before you make an application it is important to familiarise yourself thoroughly with “Shia’s instructions”. There you will find what a project must contain and how the application should be made.

How is the application judged?

When the application has been received and registered, it is checked through and assessed by the programme officers at Shia’s office. After this Shia’s board makes an assessment whether the applications are granted or rejected. The assessment is based on a rights perspective, the overriding goals about poverty reduction and how the project’s goals will lead to the achievement of the programme’s joint goal.

What is an audit?

An audit is carried out by an auditor and means an independent check and verification of the organisation’s or association’s yearly accounts, book-keeping and the administration of the management. The audit checks that the organisation’s book-keeping is correct and drawn up according to the demands which the law prescribes.

How much time does Shia need from receiving an application for payment, a requisition, before making the payment?

The requisition must have been received at Shia’s office one week before the planned payment.

Who should sign the annual report and final report?

The annual report should be signed by the person who is authorised by the organisation to sign for the organisation and the auditor. The final report does not need to be signed by anyone.