Governance & transparency
As an incorporated non-profit association, Senikau is accountable to its members, its partners and the public. This page sets out how decisions are made, how money is used, and how anyone can raise a concern about our conduct.
Authority rests with the annual assembly of member households, which elects a six-person executive committee for two-year terms and receives the accounts. Between assemblies the committee meets monthly and publishes its minutes at the Port Vila office. Island trustees represent member communities outside Efate and may call an extraordinary assembly on the written request of one fifth of members. Custom advisers hold a standing veto over any heritage activity that would breach community protocol.
No committee member or trustee receives a salary, fee or honorarium. Related-party transactions, including any purchase from a business connected to a committee member, must be declared in advance and are listed in the annual accounts. Staff salaries are set against a published band structure.
Income is a mix of member subscriptions, small grants from regional and bilateral donors, fee-for-service training delivered to other organisations, and the margin on craft and produce sold through our market stalls, which is returned to producers less an agreed handling share. The association holds no political funding and accepts no donation whose conditions would compromise community consent over custom knowledge.
| Year | Total income | Program delivery | Administration | Reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | VT 41,860,000 | 78% | 13% | 9% |
| 2023 | VT 36,240,000 | 76% | 14% | 10% |
| 2022 | VT 29,510,000 | 74% | 15% | 11% |
Figures are as approved by the annual assembly. Full statements, including notes and the independent reviewer's opinion, are available on request from the Port Vila office.
Annual reports
2024
Tabled and approved at the annual assembly, Port Vila, 22 March 2025. Includes program-by-program expenditure and the cyclone response account.
Printed copies available at the office; email sobhiaabdalnabi@gmail.com to request a scan.
2023
Tabled and approved at the annual assembly, Port Vila, 16 March 2024. Includes the independent reviewer's management letter and committee response.
Printed copies available at the office; email sobhiaabdalnabi@gmail.com to request a scan.
2022
Tabled and approved at the annual assembly, Luganville, 19 March 2023. First year of published safeguarding statistics.
Printed copies available at the office; email sobhiaabdalnabi@gmail.com to request a scan.
Senikau works with children and with adults at risk. All staff and volunteers sign the safeguarding code, complete an induction before any unsupervised contact, and work in pairs during youth activities. Concerns are reported to the designated safeguarding lead on the executive committee, recorded in a confidential register, and referred to the relevant authorities where a child or adult may be at risk of harm. Aggregate figures — number of concerns raised, referred and closed — are published annually.
Anyone may complain about the association's conduct, a member of staff, a volunteer or a program decision. Write to sobhiaabdalnabi@gmail.com, telephone +67823490, or leave a letter at the Kumul Hwy office. We acknowledge complaints within five working days and answer in writing within thirty days. If the complaint concerns a committee member, it is handled by the two trustees not connected to the matter. Complainants may ask the annual assembly to review the outcome.
The association keeps a register of interests for all officers and staff. Gifts above a nominal value must be declared and are ordinarily refused. Procurement above VT 250,000 requires three quotations. We do not make facilitation payments of any kind, and any request for one is reported to the committee and to the relevant authority.
Participant records are held only as long as a program requires and are never shared with third parties for marketing. Photographs and recordings are used only with signed consent, which may be withdrawn at any time. See our privacy policy for the detail.
