Capacity strengthening for NGO sustainability

Sarah Ford, Partnership and Capacity Strengthening sarah.ford@crs.org, 410-951-7442

Why focus on individual organizations?

Sustainable institutions are essential to development
Civil society organizations provide services and hold government accountable Strong public, private, and civil society sectors lead the development of their nations

What does sustainable mean?

Long-term perspectives is applied to all actions that concern the organization and its programs Decisions meet short-term requirements, long-term viability of the organization, and continuation of program benefits

A strong organization contributes to a vibrant society, to other CSOs, and public and for-profit sectors

What describes a healthy organization*?

identity and governance strategy and planning general management external relations and partnerships sustainability organizational learning human resource management financial and physical resource management service delivery, advocacy, and impact/results

* See: http://www.crsprogramquality.org/publications/2011/10/4/institutional-strengthening-guide.html

What needs to be sustained?

Programs: responsive to need, reflect values and mission, community ownership, equity Organizational: internal capacity, qualified staff and leadership, management systems and structures Financial and resource: Operations are cost effective and competitive, diverse resource base, manage and account for resources Political: professionally credible and legitimate to communities and stakeholders

Indicators of sustainability
Achieving measurable results in reducing hunger, strengthening health, improving livelihoods, mitigating risk, reducing oppression, and improving security of poor and vulnerable people
Improvements in organizational sustainability and the quality of programs; increases in the number of people served Greater influence on unjust systems and structures

Impact on civil society

If local actors know how to develop and maintain programmatic and organizational excellence and

if they are supported in their efforts to reach a greater level of capacity, then they will provide sustainable, high quality services (including advocacy) to a greater number of people in need.

Last word
How capacity is built is of importance Ensure that improvements are lead by the expressed needs and interests of the organization Capacity is built based on evidence-based organizational and adult learning practice Strengthen both staff skills and organizational systems for sustainable change Accompaniment is essential