Capacity Building in Practice: Challenges and Lessons Learned Dr. Jennifer Clarke, Capacity Building Programme Coordinator Bodossaki Foundation

The Bodossaki Foundation One of the largest Greek philanthropic Foundations Founded in 1973 Main areas of activity: -Education -Health -Environment -Civil Society 29/03/20142Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

The Bodossaki Foundation & Capacity Building Capacity building in order to strengthen Greek civil society in crisis context Most comprehensive NGO Capacity Building Programme in Greece to date - EEA Grants NGO Programme ‘We Are All Citizens’ ‘Social Dynamo’ – sustainable hub for NGO capacity building, in partnership with Athens municipality & private sector actors 29/03/20143Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

Challenge 1: Designing a capacity building strategy 29/03/20144Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη Institutional levelSectoral levelOrganisational levelIndividual level

Challenge 1: Designing a capacity building strategy -‘Opportunities structures’ approaches (originally to understand success/ failure of political parties -Eg Koopmans et al (2005). Apart from organisational & human resources, NGOs capacities affected by: -Predominant values/ beliefs -Institutions -Policies -Coalition structures -Public discourse 29/03/20145Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη Source: Koopmans et al (2005) Contested Citizenship: Immigration and Cultural Diversity in Europe. Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press

Challenge 1: Designing a capacity building strategy 29/03/20146Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη Opportunity structure ‘level’ Eg of relevance to Greek NGOs Predominant values/ beliefs State/ family as main welfare providers Christian philanthropy InstitutionsLack of NGO regulatory body, lack of NGO register PoliciesFailure to promote volunteerism, rare consultation of NGOs in policymaking Coalition structures Lack of umbrella/ 2 nd tier organisations Lack of collaborations Public discourseMistrust of NGO sector Some positive discourse since crisis Organisational resources Lack of funding, lack of professional/ technical know how Individual resources Lack of educational/ opportunities for professional development

The NGO Capacity Building Programme: Part of a broader Capacity Development strategy Institutional level NGO Sectoral level Individual/organisational level Training & mentoring Promotion of networking, coalition building Advocacy at top governmental levels to create legal framework for volunteering

Challenge 1: Designing a capacity building strategy -Brainstorming session: What are the factors affecting the capacity of your target group? Where is it realistic for you to intervene? 29/03/20148Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

Challenge 2: Tailoring a capacity building programme to reflect specific needs and assets 29/03/20149Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

29/03/201410Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη Challenge 2: Tailoring a capacity building programme to reflect specific needs & assets Our approach: Stage 1: Sector wide needs assessment: review of literature, interviews with key stakeholders Stage 2: Individual assessment of the capacity levels of each organisation

Our ‘CB Map’, provides a visual mapping of an NGO’s capacity levels, including areas of need and areas of existing assets/good practices

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Challenge 2: Tailoring a capacity building programme to reflect specific needs & assets Group exercise: -How can you assess the specific needs and assets of your target group? -How can you prioritise the areas of need in your capacity building programme? -How can you build on and share the existing assets/ good practices? 29/03/201415Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

Challenge 3. How can you build partnerships/ coalitions for capacity building? 29/03/201416Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη Pool of speakers/ collaborators Pro bono network CB Network

Challenge 3. How can you build partnerships/ coalitions for capacity building? Brainstorming session: -Who are your potential partners/ collaborators? -How can they be included in capacity building? 29/03/201417Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

Challenge 4. How can you make capacity building sustainable? Sustainable inputs: -Online resources, e-learning platform, video seminars -Partnerships – inc. with public & private sector Sustainable results - Engagement of leadership figures to ensure organisational change -Combination of training and mentoring -Importance of baseline assessment to measure results 29/03/201418Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

Challenge 4. How can you make capacity building sustainable? Group work: -What steps can you take to make your capacity building sustainable? 29/03/201419Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη

Q&As 29/03/201420Ίδρυμα Μποδοσάκη