ActionAid is planning to implement an innovative new governance structure to give each of its international arms a say in the composition of the board.

In what the charity believes to be a world first, it intends for each of the 50-odd ActionAid country programmes to elect a representative to a general assembly, which will then vote democratically for six of these representatives to form the board.

The six chosen board members will then be joined a further three independently nominated individuals to ensure all necessary skills and competencies are represented.

Senior management staff in the charity believe the changes will improve the charity's accountability, and that the likely victors in the board elections will be those with the most effective lobbying skills.

Full details of how the structure will operate have yet to be decided, but it is intended to be in place by next summer.

ActionAid has been working to ensure its country programmes are equal partners in the charity since the launch of the ActionAid International coalition in 2003.

It was also one of the first international NGOs to move its headquarters to the southern hemisphere - South Africa - to be closer to where it operates.