The diagnostic I use at the start of every engagement, published free because most institutions cannot afford to find out the hard way.
Ten weighted questions covering the governance dimensions that predict whether an institution survives a shock, drawn from the regulatory standards of Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and from the evidence on what distinguishes a functioning board. Every question requires evidence. You score what you can show, not what you intend.
Every director meets the regulator's criteria, and there is a succession plan reviewed at least annually.
Written limits such as NPL below 5% and liquidity above 15%, tracked monthly with trigger actions.
A live register with documented recusals for lending, procurement and HR decisions.
Directors trained in the last twelve months, and a board-level committee with explicit oversight.
Core policies board-approved, version-controlled, accessible to staff and reviewed annually.
Unrestricted access to board packs and audit findings, reporting to members rather than to the board.
A board-reviewed policy, with complaints tracked and reported monthly.
Audited financials filed within three months of year end, with a regulator-approved auditor.
Strategy and risk items dominating the agenda, and minutes showing constructive dissent.
A board-approved scorecard tied to CAMEL and social indicators, plus emergency succession.
A regulatory takeover is likely within twelve months. Immediate board session and external governance support.
Compliance gaps surface in the next audit. A 90-day remediation plan with a board champion per weak question.
Functional but vulnerable to shocks. An annual governance refresh and benchmarking against top quartile.
Investor ready and regulator trusted. Maintain it, and publish a governance summary in your annual report.
In 2010, funded by IFAD, I developed a SACCO mentoring guide and a financial diagnostic tool for the cooperative sector in Uganda. Boards across the region still use it.
The Governance Scorecard is the same instrument rebuilt for the regulations that apply today: CAMEL oversight, fit-and-proper criteria, AML accountability, and the client protection standards funders now test. I use it in engagements. When I am hired, it is usually the first week's work. You can run it yourself.
Board pack template
Internal control checklist
Credit governance checklist
Fraud risk checklist
Compliance calendar
Audit finding follow-up tracker
The full toolset is provided to Academy members and in engagements.