Canadian Association of International Development Consultants

(CAIDC)

 

Code of Professional Conduct

 

Purpose

The purpose of this Code is to identify the elements of professional conduct to which members of CAIDC
commit themselves. These are intended to protect the client in particular and the public in general. The
Code is also designed to identify clearly the expectations of members with respect to other members and the
profession.

Responsibilities

Members will maintain the highest standards of professional conduct and personal integrity in all their
dealings with their clients and in all assignments they carry out. In particular, they will:
1. Compete with fairness and integrity, respecting the competence and work of others;
2. In promoting their qualifications, avoid inaccuracies or misleading statements and refrain from
adopting any method of obtaining business that detracts from the professional image of CAIDC or its
members;
3. Before accepting an assignment, reach a mutual understanding with the client as to the assignment
objectives, scope, duration, work plan, costs and expected outputs;
4. Give the client a clear understanding of the effect their other commitments and variables that may
have an impact on their ability to carry out their obligations to the client;
5. Not undertake assignments or make statements which may involve conflict of interest or which may
compromise professional integrity or the interests of the client;
6. Accept only those assignments that they know they are competent to perform, being forthright in
making clear to clients any limits of their experience, capacity and knowledge in the area concerned or
any interests which could have an impact on the performance of the assignment;
7. Provide the contracted services at the best level of their abilities;
8. Give the interests of the client highest priority, providing prompt, honest, objective and timely service;
9. Not make recommendations for the procurement of goods or services to a client from which they may
knowingly benefit directly;
10. Treat all client information as confidential where necessary;
11. Obey all laws and accept total responsibility for their actions;
12. Undertake work without bias as to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or national
origin;
13. In carrying out any assignment, accept to have their performance evaluated according to an
appropriate process and by a qualified person or persons.