Long-term Capacity Building

This component of the Civil Society Strengthening Programme aims to provide a highly focused programme of support to a selected number of CSOs. The participating organisations are taking an active part in shaping their own development strategies, starting with participation in the design of the methods and tools to be used. They are being accompanied by consortium consultants in their assessment and diagnosis of their organisational capacity and in the design, implementation and review of a medium-term two year development plan.

Here is what one of the local consultants had to say

"The project has been a true learning experience for consultants…at a personal level I believe that I was able to improve my consulting skills. This experience helped me to improve my interviewing and facilitation skills and increased my knowledge about organisational development and self assessment."

"The process encouraged a more in-depth understanding of the issues confronting CSOs and ways to tackle them…The relationships developed with the organisations are quite intimate and long term, which serve as catalysts for closer relationships between the CSOs and the Center (NGOSC)."

Aysel Bodi, President of the Akova Women's Association, reflects on her experience

"Being a part of the capacity building development through this programme has taught us that we must learn how to keep our volunteers motivated. We are learning how to help them to become more willing to learn while volunteering. We will have the opportunity to train them and this will help them to acquire skills that are beneficial to them as well as our organisation."