Work with civil society
Select CSOs
Use the tabs below to see the selection process for each organisational type
IDENTIFY ORGANISATIONS
- Make a request for proposals
- Take recommendations through
- networks, contacts, word of mouth
- Contact past partners
DUE DILIGENCE
- Ask organisations to write a concept note
- Review concept note (quality, alignment with AKF values and priorities) and short-list
- Complete due diligence template (finances, track record, experiences, long term vision)
- Review due diligence results for each organisation and select
SUB-GRANTING
- Agree on sub-grant amount (activities + overheads)
- Fill in partner agreement template and provide details on sub-grant (amount, frequency, reporting requirements, etc.)
- Source and attach necessary documents to partner agreement
IDENTIFY COMMUNITY GROUPS
- Contact community mobilisers to help map existing community groups in your target geography
- Liaise with community groups that were formed by the AKDN (e.g. VDOs)
- Get feedback from local government, community members, local leaders, etc., on strengths, weaknesses and overall reputation of community groups
IDENTIFY ORGANISATIONS
- Map existing networks in your target geography
- Make a request for proposals
- Take recommendations through networks, contacts, word of mouth
- Contact past partners
- Consider opportunities to bring various CSOs together as a network organisation
DUE DILIGENCE
- Ask organisations to write a concept note
- Review concept note (quality, alignment with AKF values and priorities) and short-list
- Complete due diligence template (finances, track record, experiences, long term vision)
- Review due diligence results for each organisation and select
SUB-GRANTING
- Agree on sub-grant amount (activities + overheads)
- Fill in partner agreement template and provide details on sub-grant (amount, frequency, reporting requirements, etc.)
- Source and attach necessary documents to partner agreement
IDENTIFY COMMUNITY GROUPS
- Map all professional associations (of the target profession) in the country
- Build understanding of the external environment where the professional association works
- Contact other AKDN agencies that may work with the targeted type of professional associations
Templates
Analyse Capacity
TOOL CUSTOMISATION
- Take blended learning course on OCA
- Review tool customisation workshop facilitator guide
- Conduct tool customisation workshop
- Make adjustments to facilitator guide and results sheet based on customised tool
WORKSHOP
For NGOs, Professional Associations, Networks:
- Meet with organisation management to discuss the purpose and value of OCA
- Schedule 2 days for the workshop
- Review customised tool, facilitator guide and prepare materials
- Day 1 of workshop: facilitate activities, discussion and scoring for each capacity area
- Enter data in the OCA results sheet and print results packet
- Day 2- discuss results with participants and create institutional strengthening plan
- Send scores to info@civilsocietynet.org
- Repeat every 2 years
For Community Groups:
- Meet with organisation management to discuss the purpose and value of OCA
- Schedule 1 day for the workshop (or two half-days)
- Review customised tool, facilitator guide and prepare materials
- 1st half of workshop: facilitate activities, discussion and scoring for each capacity area
- Enter data in the OCA results sheet and print results packet
- 2nd half of workshop- discuss results with participants and create institutional strengthening plan
- Send scores to info@civilsocietynet.org
- Repeat every 2 years
Measure Performance
SELECT TOOL
- Based on organisational type select the Organisational Performance Index most appropriate for the organisation
- In initial meeting with CSO, introduce the OPI tool and explain the difference between OPI and OCA
REVIEW
- Ask the organisation to score themselves and provide evidence for each sub domain
- Schedule a time to re-visit the organisation and review their scoring and evidence
- Make any changes necessary to scoring based on evidence (or lack thereof)
- Send final scores to info@civilsocietynet.org
- Repeat annually
Strengthen Organisations
Institutional strengthening plan (ISP)
- Review progress on ISP (developed on day 2 of OCA) with CSO on a quarterly basis
- Is the ISP on track? If not, what are the obstacles being faced?
Offer targeted support
- Where is additional support required? How can AKF help to support the CSO?
- Explore opportunities to utilize AKF blended learning courses to build capacity
- Identify opportunities for peer learning between CSOs
- Foster mentoring relationships with the CSO
