Mango chairs a UK networking group called "OSSIG". The name stands for "Overseas Special Interest Group". It is a branch of the Charity Finance Directors Group.

OSSIG meets three or four times a year in London and runs an email discussion group.

The meetings are open to any NGO staff involved in the financial management of international operations. They are regularly attended by 20 - 50 people, from a wide range of large and small NGOs. Meetings include presentations from expert speakers and focused discussion groups. 

The next meetings are scheduled for:

• 25th September 2008, on Donor Reporting
• 29th January 2009 on Financial Controls & Internal Audit
• 14th May 2009 on Creating & Using Management Accounts (in international finance teams)
• 8th October 2009, subject to be confirmed

All meetings run from 2 - 5pm in central London. Contact Margaret Waterfield for more information or to book your place. Please let us know if you have any other suggestions for meeting topics.

OSSIG also runs a lively email discussion group for over 200 NGO finance professionals. Throughout the year, they ask questions and receive answers on subjects like:

• Tax rates in Romania,
• Accounting software for Mozambique,
• Structuring NGO finance departments,
• Per diem rates,
• and many others.

A record of all discussions is held on Google. Please contact Margaret Waterfield if you would like to join the discussion group.

OSSIG is run on a voluntary basis by the following steering committee:

• Alex Jacobs, Mango (Chair)
• Emily Gerrard, ADD
• Margaret Waterfield, CFDG
• Richard Callaghan, ActionAid
• Sara Holloway, Mango
• Sue Rooke, Hope and Homes for Children

Mango is a registered charity, no: 1081406
and a limited company registered in England and Wales, no: 3986178