Reflections on the sustainability of NGO networks

CODE-NGO conducted last March 9-10, 2010 a reflection workshop for its Board members and the executive directors of its member networks to discuss strategies in addressing its serious concern about the sustainability of NGO networks. Among the key insights from the reflection session was that a network’s sustainability does not only refer to availability of financial resources. A network is sustainable – and resources will be available – if the more important elements are in place, i.e. a system of internal governance and accountability, a critical core membership, clear mission and basis of unity and adequate and competent human resource.

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CODE-NGO conducted last March 9-10, 2010 a reflection workshop for its Board members and the executive directors of its member networks to discuss strategies in addressing its serious concern about the sustainability of NGO networks.  

Many NGO networks and organizations, including some CODE-NGO members, are currently facing serious sustainability issues, mainly characterized by inadequate resources (financial, material and human) to sustain their programs and activities and by the increasing difficulty to access grants from funding partners.  The reflection workshop aimed to provide a venue for CODE-NGO member networks to share about their experiences on sustaining their networks and exchanging effective strategies to address it.  

Former CODE-NGO Chairperson Marissa Camacho facilitated the reflection workshop, adopting a new methodology called “Emergent Learning.”  With this method, the participants:

• culled out lessons or insights from their past efforts towards sustainability,
• developed hypotheses concerning actions that will create impact on their network’s sustainability issues,
• identified opportunities in their work where these insights could be applied, and
• planned their next steps where their hypotheses can be tested.  

Among the key insights from the reflection session was that a network’s sustainability does not only refer to availability of financial resources. A network is sustainable – and resources will be available – if the more important elements are in place, i.e. a system of internal governance and accountability, a critical core membership, clear mission and basis of unity and adequate and competent human resource.  

By the end of the workshop, the member networks set out their action plans to address their sustainability concerns.  Some networks set out to make their Boards and members more actively involved in program planning and resource mobilization. While some others identified a common agenda/project for their members or specific niche based on their network’s core competencies.  The CODE-NGO Board members also committed to keep their “Peer Assist” system within a year after the workshop –  where the Board members of the more stable member networks will act as peer consultants for their colleagues who needed such assistance and will monitor the implementation of the latter’s action plans.