Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA)
Policy for avoiding conflicts of interests
For members of the Board, staff and consultants of the Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA)
The Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) is against the existence of conflicts of interests within and concerning the activities of the Association. The present document is mandatory for all Board members, employees and consultants of the BFPA.
For the purposes of this document:
Connected person is every physical and legal entity, state authority or international organization in regards to which employees, consultants and Board members have a financial connection or are members of governing bodies, directors, employees, experts or other representatives.
Transactions with connected persons are agreements of any character (incl. employment or consultation contracts) which are concluded with connected persons and create a situation of conflict of interests.
Conflict of interests is every interest or intent of employees, consultants and Board members which contradict the interests or intents of the BFPA
The aim of this policy is:
A. to not allow transactions with connected persons unless they are beneficial for the organization
B. to solve conflicts of interests in accordance with the determined procedure; and
C. to provide information to BFPA about the connections and activities of its Board members, employees and consultants which contradict the interests or purposes of the BFPA.
Basic considerations
1. Every Board member, key staff and long-term consultant is obliged to disclose in full to the BFPA all facts in respect to relations which he/she might have with other non-profit organizations as well as with organizations, institutions or persons which
i) have similar, competing or other interests which are in conflict with the purposes of the BFPA (incl. competing with BFPA in funding application);
ii) ensure funding for BFPA;
iii) are relevant to pharmaceutical or other companies which provide contraceptives, medications or equipment to BFPA or
iiii) receive funding from BFPA. The full disclosure of such facts may be limited by existing legal or other preceding confidentiality liabilities for which BFPA is timely informed.
2. Every Board member, key staff and long-term consultant is obliged to provide information for potential transactions or activities from which a conflict of interests may arise or can be defined as transactions with connected persons as well as such which are competing with BFPA’s activities and projects.
3. Every Board member, staff and consultant assumes that they will not use or disclose to third parties secret and confidential information about the BFPA, unless there exists a legal obligation for providing such information. Secrets and confidential information include, but are not limited to, details regarding BFPA’s projects and contracts and all other information concerning confidential data about BFPA’s activities.
Procedures
1. Each year the BFPA Board member, key staff and long-term consultants shall provide a written declaration about their involvement in non-profit organizations and point out possible cases of conflict of interests. They will update this information as soon as they are aware of existing or potential conflict of interests.
2. The declarations for conflict of interests of the employees and consultants will be reviewed by the Executive Director, and those of the Board members – by the Chairman of the Board who assesses the existence of conflict of interests and takes action for resolving it.
If BFPA assumes the existence of conflict of interests which ought to be resolved, the respective person undertakes the obligation to solve the conflict of interests. The Executive Director and Board may propose ways of avoiding the conflict of interests. In case the conflict of interests is not solved in a satisfactory for BFPA fashion, the organization reserves the right to undertake all legal or other actions for the purpose of removing the conflict of interests.
