Well Grounded are seeking to help CSOs, including networks, to become autonomous, strategic & guided by their values. We want CSOs to have a clear understanding of what the organisation aspires to achieve with networks which provide an environment that enables members to advance a common agenda.
Well Grounded expects a strong and conscious commitment from CSOs to engage in an organisation development process over 2-3 years. Interested CSOs should be aware of the positive change they seek to effect. The result of the support will be a deep shift within the organisation and a greater sense of ownership focusing on the areas outlined below.
Identity & strategy
We will facilitate processes that help CSOs to define their identity (i.e. vision, mission, values, target groups, membership guiding principles, etc.) and to develop a strategic focus that will guide their work. We will support CSOs in developing the confidence to mobilise and utilise resources effectively in addition to guiding and negotiating their partnerships with global development actors.
Business model
We will support CSOs in reflecting upon and defining the most appropriate business model that will support their work, allowing the organisation to be less dependent on one type or source of funding thereby allowing for greater flexibility and sustainability. We will connect organisations to other CSOs who have innovated in how they resource their organisations. We will encourage CSOs to be more creative, supporting them to explore possibilities and potentials.
Governance
We will help organisations to objectively question their structure and governance model, analysing whether the decision-making model, and roles and responsibility sharing serve the organisation’s purpose and effectiveness. We will support them in reflecting upon power, understanding the power each of them holds and how it affects their personal leadership development and their capacities to implement their assigned roles and responsibilities.
Leadership
We will create one-to-one spaces for leaders and senior managers with professional coaches, which they can use to better understand their leadership style and its impact on their effectiveness and on the organisational culture. We will support them to see the ‘big picture’, to understand their strengths, to further develop their leadership purpose and to reflect on their legacy. We will also connect them to other leaders as learning partners, and we will encourage peer-learning groups when there are common challenges or interests.
Partnerships
We will support CSOs to understand what a partnership is and to define their expectations with regard to the different partnerships they engage in. We will support them to analyse the assets they bring to different partnerships. We will help them define what a win-win situation and a well-balanced partnership looks like for them.
We will also create spaces for CSOs and their financial and technical partners to reflect on, analyse and ultimately improve existing partnerships.
Community-Centred Development
We will support CSOs to reflect critically on how they engage with the communities they serve and the nature of their relationships. We will support CSOs in reflecting upon the reasons for their commitments to their local communities. We will also expose CSOs to Community Centred Approaches, connecting them to other CSOs and/or communities who employ this practice in order to share learning. WG will also connect CSOs to other practitioners for peer learning.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
We will support CSOs in understanding the strategic use of ICT. We will expose them to tools and technologies that are accessible and available to support them in meeting their strategic objectives and improving information sharing among the team. Availability and accessibility covers a range of factors, including infrastructure, costs, intellectual property, etc… We will build strong partnerships with organisations whose core business is to support teams in making strategic use of ICT.