Frequently Asked Questions
We have provided below responses to common questions about how PSN operates, and about membership of and participation in the Network.
Governance and resourcing
1. Are you a registered NGO?
2. Are you an individually registered charity?
3. Who co-ordinates and controls the activities of the Network?
4. What is the role of the UN, since the Network is a UN-registered partnership?
5. How are you funded?
Membership and participation
6. Who are the Network members?
7. How far do you represent and 'speak for' your members?
8. Do you hold meetings or public events where members and others can meet?
9. How do you communicate with and report to Network members?
10. How can an organisation become a member of the Network?
11. Do members of the Network pay a fee for membership?
12. What happens if a Network member does not agree with a statement or policy?
13. What opportunities are there for individuals to get involved?
Governance and resourcing
PSN is a Network and registered UN partnership, but many of our members are registered NGOs.
2. Are you an individually registered charity?
No, but we operate under our founding sponsor the Margaret Pyke Trust (Registered Charity No. 1064672). All funding is channelled through the Trust with an independently audited procedure, and PSN reports on a quarterly basis to the Margaret Pyke Trustees.
3. Who co-ordinates and controls the activities of the Network?
The Network is coordinated from a London office, and has rapidly expanding links with a range of organisations in the UK and overseas, and is seeking to promote closer co-ordination among these.
Karen Newman is the Network Coordinator, and works with other members of the PSN staff team to carry out the day-to-day activities, including engagement with Members, both on an individual basis or collectively, such as through PSN events (see Q8)
The staff team is supported by the PSN Board which is responsible for overall policy and strategy and evaluation of progress against objectives, in conjunction with Network members. Additionally, members of PSN’s Advisory Group, comprising distinguished professionals spanning sectors key to the Network's focus areas, provide support to PSN on an individual, ad-hoc basis.
4. What is the role of the UN, since the Network is a UN-registered partnership?
The Network was launched as a UN Partnership for Sustainable Development under the UN Commission for Sustainable Development in April 2004 at the United Nations in New York. Being part of the UN system of Partnerships for Sustainable Development helps the Network to work with other UN accredited organisations.
5. How are you funded?
PSN’s founding sponsor is the Margaret Pyke Trust, which continues to provide a major part of PSN's funding. Our core funding from the Margaret Pyke Trust has enabled us to secure additional funding and donations from a range of sources, including charitable foundations, DFID, individual donors and other supporters, to whom we are extremely grateful.
Please contact us if you are interested in supporting our work. We also welcome donations from individual supporters, which can be made online.
Membership and participation
6. Who are the Network members?
PSN aims to bring together development, environment and reproductive health NGOs, government departments, policy research organisations and others to encourage cross-sector discussion and collaboration on population, consumption and sustainable development issues. Our members comprise both organisations based in the UK and overseas, with diverse specialisms but shared interests and concerns.
The full list of Network members is available here and we are keen to hear from additional organisations that support the network’s aims and are interested in becoming involved.
7. How far do you represent and 'speak for' your members?
We do not aim to represent our members directly, but rather to act as advocates for the issues and objectives expressed elsewhere on the website, which are of collective interest to Network members. The assumption is that organisations and bodies that have joined the Network broadly share the aims and objectives of the Network.
If a document is produced which does require and specify explicit support from individual members, it would be circulated for comments and approval before publication.
8. Do you hold meetings or public events where members and others can meet?
We hold various meetings and public events to communicate with our members and target audiences and raise the profile of population and consumption issues. These events provide a forum for members and others to contribute to the work of PSN and to engage in dialogue on key population and sustainability issues. Events are often held in collaboration with other organisations that are members or closely associated with the network.
Information about events is available in News & Events. To receive information about events and other opportunities to get involved please subscribe to our mailing list.
9. How do you communicate with and report to Network members?
In addition to PSN meetings and events which network members are encouraged to participate in (see Q8) above), we produce regular newsletters and correspond both individually and collectively with members in the UK and overseas about specific PSN activities, as required. Members are invited to contribute items to our newsletter, and to share information for the website.
10. How can an organisation become a member of the Network?
The Network's membership should reflect as evenly as possible the development, environment and reproductive health sectors, encompassing NGOs, academics, policy making bodies and other institutions, as well as providing wide geographical representation.
We are keen to link with other organisations which broadly share our aims and objectives and expand the Network both nationally and internationally. Organisations that subscribe to the Network's mission and aims are eligible to apply for membership. Membership requires a clear indication that the organisation is committed to the Network’s overall aims and objectives and members must be fully committed to an approach to family planning which respects and protect human rights, and which is consistent with the comprehensive vision of sexual and reproductive health and rights endorsed by 179 countries at the 1994 UN International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo.
Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a Network Member, explaining why you would like to be a member of the network, and we will be in touch.
11. Do members of the Network pay a fee for membership?
We invite members to contribute donations to the Network within their own financial capabilities, but it is not a condition of membership.
12. What happens if a Network member does not agree with a statement or policy?
As outlined in Q7, we do not aim to represent our members directly, and any documents produced which do require and specify explicit support from individual members would be circulated for comments and approval before publication. Yet if a disagreement were to arise we would discuss specific objections with members and seek to resolve the issue.
13. What opportunities are there for individuals to get involved?
As well as encouraging participation from organisations, we welcome involvement in PSN's work from individuals.
Information about PSN public events (see Q8) is available in the News & Events section, and you could also support our work by making a donation to PSN.
Please subscribe to our eNewsletter to find out about further opportunities to get involved with and support our work.