Well Grounded seeks to support 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, and for CSO networks to 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.
If you are a CSO and would like to receive Well Grounded’s support, please get in touch.
Identity & strategy
We 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 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 support CSOs in reflecting upon and defining the most appropriate business model that supports their work, allowing the organisation to be less dependent on one type or source of funding thereby allowing for greater flexibility and sustainability. We connect organisations to other CSOs who have innovated in how they resource their organisations. We encourage CSOs to be more creative, supporting them to explore possibilities and potentials.
Governance
We 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 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 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 support them to see the ‘big picture’, to understand their strengths, to further develop their leadership purpose and to reflect on their legacy. We also connect them to other leaders as learning partners, and we encourage peer-learning groups when there are common challenges or interests.
Partnerships
We support CSOs to understand what a partnership is and to define their expectations with regard to the different partnerships they engage in. We support them to analyse the assets they bring to different partnerships. We help them define what a win-win situation and a well-balanced partnership looks like for them.
We also create spaces for CSOs and their financial and technical partners to reflect on, analyse and ultimately improve existing partnerships.
Community-Centred Development
We support CSOs to reflect critically on how they engage with the communities they serve and the nature of their relationships. We support CSOs in reflecting upon the reasons for their commitments to their local communities. We also expose CSOs to Community Centred Approaches, connecting them to other CSOs and/or communities who employ this practice in order to share learning. We also connect CSOs to other practitioners for peer learning.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
We support CSOs in understanding the strategic use of ICT. We 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 build strong partnerships with organisations whose core business is to support teams in making strategic use of ICT.