EFFECTIVE RESOURCE MOBILISATION MSc Programme on Integrated Drylands Management 2010 – 2011 CAREERI, Lanzhou, China 4-6 October 2010

Overview of presentation  Resource mobilisation  The ABCDE of mobilising resources  How to write successful proposals

Mobilising resources…from whom? Bilateral donors Multilateral donors Private sources (core business, corporate social responsibility projects, commercial loans, etc) International NGOs International philanthropic organizations

The ABCDE of mobilising resources A Putting your ‘house’ in order B Researching potential donors C Making contact D Managing the relationship E Proposal writing

A: Putting your house in order A strategic plan with - a clear focus - inspiring goals and strategies - clear outcomes A case statement - People in the organization who can make a clear and compelling case for SLM/UNCCD (in three minutes if you have to..!)

B: Researching potential donors Learn about them: websites, internet searches, newspapers, annual reports Analyse donor policies and priorities, incl. donor thematic areas that could be linked to SLM (water, food security, climate change, etc.) Learn about the-person-behind-the donor

C: Making contact The donor’s (unspoken) questions: Who is contacting me? How much do they want? Why do they want it? What will they do with the money? How does this fit with our own priorities? Do they have the capacity and track record? Which donor colleagues in my network knows them?

D: Managing the relationship Thank the donor within days after meeting (or receiving a grant) Create and update donor profiles, donor requirements Keep donor informed and involved Tie their interest to a recent success, to events and type of information (tailor made versus tailor- standard); send invitations Acknowledge funders in your publications

E. Writing a funding proposal Not a formula; be creative and remain flexible Your proposal needs to be well packed, persuasive and technically detailed and correct Open proposal vs. call for proposal Call for proposal: – Follow the form, the guideline, the checklist and the funder’s assessment grid, if possible in dialog with funder – Make the linkages (e.g. link SLM to a call for proposal on climate change adaptation or water)

Open proposal Title pageTitle of proposal; date; location of programme; name of agency the proposal is submitted; name and address of your organisation; name of contact person Summary pageUmbrella statement of the project; key objectives of programme; and summary of the entire proposal Statement of needsWhy this project is necessary (current problems and how the project will contribute to solve these and benefit target population or area) Project descriptionHow will the project be implemented and evaluated Budget and log frameFinancial description of the project and explanatory notes; log frame Organisation informationHistory; primary activities; audience and services ConclusionSummary of the proposal’s main points

1. Title page Title of proposal Date Location of programme Name of agency the proposal is submitted Name and address of your organisation Name of contact person

2. Summary page Problem  what is the problem you will address? Solution  short project description, incl. who will benefit, where will it operate, time line, who will operate the project Funding requirements Organisation and its expertise  brief history of history, purpose and activities of your institution, and capacity to carry out the proposal

3. Statement of needs Present facts and evidence that support the need for the project Present evidence that your institution understands the problems and therefore can reasonably address them.

4. Project description Objectives  measurable, specific outcomes of the project Methods  How, when, why Staffing/administration  # of staff, qualifications and assignments Evaluation plan  quantitative or qualitative Sustainability  Long term financial viability

5. Budget and log-frame Budget: Action plan: Activity Preparation tools for awareness raising Training of trainers Awareness raising campaign Training / Mobilsation Report writing and Evaluation ItemDescriptionCost

6. Organisation information Mission How the proposal fit the mission Organisational structure Programmes Leadership and expertise

7. Conclusion Final appeal for the programme Planned follow up activities – prepare funder for next request or – state how project will carry on without further grant support