This document is a project proposal by Gerson Bergeth to build the capacity of small and medium NGOs. It notes that many NGOs lack administrative, technical, and advocacy skills which limits their access to funding and their ability to partner with other organizations. The proposed project would develop training modules and a handbook to provide NGOs with skills in areas like administration, technical capacity, monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, and advocacy in order to empower communities and strengthen civil society. The training materials would be developed over 11 months and include user testing, an e-learning version, and monitoring and evaluation of the program.

1. Building NGO Capacity and Achieving
High Performance for Civil Society
Project Proposal
Gerson Bergeth
1

2. Summary: Small & medium size NGO’s
require support
•
NGO’s are a key component of social response
•
Growing number of NGO’s
•
Organizations in capitals get majority of funds
•
Small/medium NGO struggle to create partnerships
2
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

3. Background: civil society lack skills
•
Transition from advocacy to technical competence is slow
•
Administrative practices are elementary
•
Government agencies & international partners are frustrated
3
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

4. General challenges: limited resources
•
•
•
Staff do not have technical/ professional training
Limited funding patterns challenge operations
Confusion over legislative and regulatory procedures
4
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

5. Specific challenges: low capacity
•
Cannot access funding opportunities
•
Inability to create proposals, budgets and documentation
•
Focus on short-term results
•
Limited technical skills required to interact with partners
5
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

6. Partner frustrations: limited number of
on-the-ground actors
•
Limited list of partners - focus on the ‘big’ NGO’s
•
Lack of understanding of on-the-ground realities of NGO’s
6
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

7. Internal capacity of NGO’s equals external
access to funding and resources
7
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

8. Providing a solution: Training on
Administration
•
Official compliance: annual reports, registration, HR structure, etc
•
Logistics and infrastructure: capacity to deliver
•
Financial competence: budgets, balance sheet and bank accounts
8
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

9. Providing a solution: Skill-transfer on
Technical Capacity
•
Academic and evidence-based mentality
•
Monitoring and evaluation: baselines and data collection
•
Communications in English: written and spoken
9
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

10. Providing a solution: Training on
Advocacy
•
Community influence: communications plan and public and private
contacts
•
Demonstrate track record: reports and evidence of impact
10
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

11. Providing a solution: Timeline
Month (in
Deliverable
relation to start
of work)
1. Draft Handbook and Modules
2
2. User Testing of Modules
3-7
Comment
Draft version in parallel with user testing
3 events with 90 participants
3. Monitoring and Evaluation: Structure and System
8
Monitoring at the modular level and across
entire package
4. Digital (e-Learning) Version of Modules
11
Complement standard training or as standalone
5. Final Version of Handbook and Modules
11
Printed materials to be distributed to trainers
11
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

12. Conclusion: Capable NGO’s result in
empowered communities
12
Project Proposal - By Gerson Bergeth

13. Building NGO Capacity and Achieving
High Performance for Civil Society
Project Proposal
Gerson Bergeth
13