Organizational Development
We help outstanding African conservation organizations become even better.
We do that by providing organizational support through a customized, multi-year process that responds to the unique needs of an individual organization, while also following a consistent and systematic service delivery approach.
Assess
You can’t fix a problem that you don’t know exists, which is why we carry out an organizational assessment process with our partners. The organizational barriers they face often aren’t as obvious as they seem. To gain a deeper understanding we engage in conversations with partners, stakeholders, and staff; carry out a customized Maliasili organizational assessment survey and workshop; and maintain a constant dialogue with our partner’s leadership team.
Design
Once we know the change we seek, we design a multi-year process to help us get there, building in room to adapt as needed. At an annual level we develop a joint organizational strengthening plan that identifies priorities to focus on each year. These priorities depend on the partner’s needs, but we always start with strategic planning and leadership development as these are foundational to strong organizations and essential for successful growth. In the first year we focus on the foundations: strategic planning and leadership development.
Support
This is our core work and what we love doing. We facilitate our partners to develop the tools, systems, plans and strategies they need to become more effective as an organization, and then we make sure they work in practice. We believe that Strategy, People, and Action are three key building blocks for organizational performance.
Our 4 year Organizational Development Process
WATCH: how we work - our support to local organizations
Our Support Services →
Strategy + People + Action = Impact
The following are the support services we offer our partners. We have methodologies for each of these support areas that guide our support, but we always tailor our approach to meet our partners’ needs.
Strategy
Strategy is about understanding what needs to get done and designing the right path to do it. It involves big thinking yet practical solutions. We ask tough questions and help our partners find the right answers so they can gain focus and clarity on what they need to do to achieve their goals and create lasting change.
Strategic planning: Facilitating the development, review, and assessment of strategic plans (learn more about our strategic planning support here)
Impact Models: Designing the best approach to deliver and scale conservation outcomes, based on behavioral change, policy reforms, and market incentives
People
An organization’s most important resource is its people. They bring the ideas, skills, and energy to drive change. Whether visionaries, technicians, or work-horses, we help organizations get the most out of their teams, relationships, and networks to achieve optimal performance.
Team Development: Defining and cultivating an organization’s values and culture; building and managing teams through effective recruitment, organizational structure, systems and support; and promoting dynamic team relationships for optimal results
Management: Building skills and knowledge around management, and supporting with the development of management systems and structures to unlock individual potential for greater team performance
Leadership: Developing visionary leaders who build effective teams, lead organizations, and facilitate collaborations
Board Governance: Improving board governance and guidance to most effectively support an organization
Relationships: Advising and facilitating the development of strong partnerships, collaborations, and networks that allow organizations to build influence and leverage resource
Action
Action is how a team brings a strategy to life. It’s how it raises money to make things happen, plans its activities to stay focused, measures its progress, or lets others know what it’s doing and why it matters. We help organizations design their systems and strategies so they can get things done.
Work Planning: Creating prioritized, realistic, and time bound plans based on clear goals and targets
Budgeting: Allocating funds to most effectively implement plans and cover the true costs of operations
Financial Management: Building organizational systems to effectively manage funds
Monitoring & Evaluation: Tracking outcomes and impacts, and ensuring that learning and reflections inform future strategies, decisions and plans
Communications: Helping an organization tell its story, share its impact, and engage with its key stakeholders
Fundraising: Generating the revenue that an organization needs to operate, by identifying needs, cultivating relationships, and securing funding.
