Description
The project aims to strengthen NGO capacity, increasing the efficiency and sustainability of the social responses provided by these organizations, and to adapt them to new collaboration models with the public sector, adjusted to the current socio-economic challenges. Considering this overall objective, the project specifically aims to promote and support the adoption of more sustainable business models and more efficient governance practices. An innovative methodology will be implemented, consisting of training programmes, consulting services and task forces aimed at developing networking skills. It is expected that NGOs become more participative and sustainable, more able to provide flexible services and to contribute towards more effective public policies. To ensure success, the project will involve several complementary partners, which will namely ensure the dissemination of results.
Summary of project results
The District of Santarém encompasses some 300 organisations that provide various social protection services, mainly in the areas of social assistance, education, employment and training, housing and health, and have significant impact on the living conditions of the community. According to data collected annually by Social Protection NGOs of Santarém, 67 023 users are supported. This support is essentially provided by 8 461 workers and volunteers. The diagnosis of the local NGO reality identifies 4 main problems: weak financial sustainability and little funding diversification; inability to adapt the model of financing to the reduction of public support; management structures that duplicate governance models of the public sector and are not professional; poor networking limiting the influence on public policies. The project has created 80 agents of change in 54 NGOs, potentially generating effective change. The project provided training tailored to the group's needs in key areas: strategic planning and management, marketing and fundraising, sustainable financing and human resources management, for a total of 128 hours of training. The Task Force action (64h) set up groups sharing problems and solutions, bringing together leaders who have been committed with change. This network ensured a follow-up in the elaboration and monitoring of the implementation of change in each participating NGO. The 4 consultancy actions, over 9 months, resulted in (i) redesigning two governance models, (ii) creating two business models, leading to the diversification of activities (creation of 1 social business) and the definition of a sustainability strategy (Iii) proposing funding opportunities to 3 NGOs, (iv) incorporating methods of designing solutions in 3 beneficiary NGOs with the active involvement of its stakeholders, in particular the beneficiaries, and (v) conceiving new management tools and procedures and tailor-made financial management tools in 2 NGOs. So far, 3 NGOs have diversified the activities and products provided, 3 report the implementation of good governance practices and 3 consult regularly with their stakeholders and beneficiaries about their activities. The strong network created for this project is a significant added value: social protection NGOs, a capacity-building NGO, a private consultancy company and a university joined efforts to make this project successful and want to replicate it further.
Summary of bilateral results