Delivering a project on time and on budget is important. Delivering it ethically and sustainably while creating lasting value is what separates good projects from great ones. For Irish charities, the Charities Regulator's Governance Code makes many of these principles mandatory.
Ethics
Doing the right thing, even when its difficult or costly
Sustainability
Value today without compromising tomorrow - environmental, social, economic
Governance
Clear accountability, decision rights, and oversight
SECTION 1 - ETHICS
Ethical Project Management
Every project involves ethical decisions - how you treat people, how you use resources, and what tradeoffs you make under pressure.
A five-question decision framework
When facing a difficult decision, ask:
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Is it legal? (Minimum bar)
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Is it fair to all stakeholders? Including those without a voice.
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Would I be comfortable if this was public? The transparency test.
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Does it align with our values and mission?
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What's the long-term impact? Not just short-term expedience.
If the answer to any is 'no' or 'unclear', pause and consult others.​
Irish context
The Charities Regulator can investigate complaints about misuse of funds or misconduct. Under GDPR, the Data Protection Commission can impose significant fines. Ethical lapses have reputational and legal consequences.
SECTION 2 - THE ECCSR FRAMEWORK
A holistic model for responsible
project delivery
​ECCSR is a practical framework for ensuring projects create genuine, sustainable value while maintaining ethical standards.
E - Ethical - Doing the right thing in how you conduct the project.
C - Collaborative - Working with stakeholders, not around them.
C - Creating - Producing genuine, additional value.
S - Sustainable - Value that lasts beyond the project's end.
R - Results - Measurable, meaningful outcomes — not just activity.
Use ECCSR as a checklist at key decision points: when planning, when facing difficult tradeoffs, and at closure - evaluating the project against all five dimensions, not just time and budget.
Developed by Joe Houghton in Project Management Made Easy: The ECCSR Approach (2022).
SECTION 3 - SUSTAINABILITY
The UN Sustainable Development Goals
The UN's 17 SDGs provide a global framework for sustainable development. Ireland's Project Ireland 2040 explicitly references them, and most funders now ask how projects align.
How to apply SDG's to your project
Identify relevant SDGs. Most projects align with 2–4 of the 17.
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Frame objectives in SDG language. Instead of "Create a community garden," try: "Improve community health and climate resilience by creating accessible green space (SDGs 3, 11, 13)."
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Measure against SDG indicators. The UN publishes specific indicators for each goal.
Report SDG contributions in project reports and funding applications.
SECTION 4 - GOVERNANCE
Clear accountability and decision rights
Governance is about who makes decisions, how they're made, and how accountability is ensured.
1) Clear decision rights
Document who approves what - board, finance director, PM
2) Separation of duties
The person doing the work shouldn't be the only one approving it.
3) Transparent processes
Minutes, decision logs, documented change requests.
4) Risk escalation
A clear process for when issues go to a higher authority.
The Charities Regulator's Governance Code
Mandatory for registered Irish charities. Six principles:
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Advancing charitable purpose - projects align with registered objects.
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Behaving with integrity - conflicts of interest declared and managed.
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Leading people - clear roles and responsibilities.
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Exercising control - financial controls, risk management, regular reporting.
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Working effectively - board oversight of significant projects.
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Being accountable and transparent - annual reports cover project outcomes and spending.
Non-compliance can result in warnings, investigation, or removal from the register.