Objectives: Identify potential local partners of Danish Church Aid in the country, analyze their institutional capacities and prepare a reference proposal for the development of the capacities of these actors.
Work done: The methodology was finalized after reviewing DCA's policies and tools for partnership management. A mapping of local humanitarian NGOs was carried out from which to identify a set of potential organizations to consider. The HUCAM methodology (http://www.fernandoalmansa.com/) was adapted to carry out the analysis of humanitarian capacities and applied to the analysis of 8 pre-selected local humanitarian NGOs. The strategies for capacity development of the selected organizations were identified, articulated in capacity development plans.
Results: Map of humanitarian actors in the country, Analysis of the capacities of 8 local humanitarian NGOs, Reference capacity development plan.
Date of completion: February - April 2022
Objectives: To build a basic vision of the current moment of the Association and of the strategic and organizational orientation for the coming ears, developing tools to help manage the change process.
Work done: We started with a basic training of the members of the management team in the concepts and tools to use. We divided the consultancy into 5 phases, each of which gave rise to a final product. Firstly, the analysis of the institutional capacity, based on a methodology adapted to the association where the capacity was organized into 5 dimensions and 24 aspects. Secondly, the characterization of 4 sectors of intervention and perspectives in the coming years (Agro-Ecological Production, Healthy Food, Eco-Natural Cosmetics, Sustainable Clothes), based on the knowledge of the AVS team. Thirdly, a first definition of the strategic framework for the next 4 years (vision, mission, values; approaches; objectives, results and strategies by sector; organizational objectives and results and strategies to achieve them). Fourthly, a first definition of the organizational model, including the management model, the definition of the unique program and the organizational structure. Finally, in fifth place, we assisted AVS in collecting data from the fairs in Barcelona and La Coruña, systematizing the results and analysing the coherence of the fair's model with the strategic framework.
Results: Five final products: Analysis of the institutional capacity of the association Vida Sana; External context: characterization of the sectors and guiding framework of action; AVS Strategic framework 2023-26; AVS organizational model for the period 2023-26; Systematization of the evaluation data for the Biocultura fairs in Barcelona and La Coruña in 2022
Date: September 2021 – June 2022
Objectives: Analyse the capacity of the humanitarian actors of the country, including public institutions and civil society actors, stimulating national humanitarian NGOs to lead processes for the development and leadership of the country's actors.
Work done: The work is part of an Oxfam initiative started in 2014 to strive for the reorientation of the international humanitarian system towards the capacity and leadership of national/local actors. Within this framework, similar studies were carried out in different countries of Africa, Asia and America. Baobab took care of four of these studies (Burkina Faso, in 2015; Central African Republic, in 2016; Uganda, in 2016; Chad, in 2019), following the HUCOCA methodology (“Humanitarian Country Capacity Analysis”) developed by a expert consultant, Fernando Almansa (http://www.fernandoalmansa.com). To carry out each study, we adapted the methodology to the context and specificities of each country, we selected around 15 interested actors in each country and we proceeded to the analysis of their capacities. We processed the preliminary results of the analysis to present them in a workshop with around 30 humanitarian actors in the country, including national and local actors and international actors (international NGOs, humanitarian agencies and the United Nations system). During these workshops, an indicative plan for strengthening national and local capacities was prepared in a participatory manner. Finally, we produced the study for each country, including the characterization of the humanitarian context of the country, the typology of actors, the analysis of the capacity of the governmental structures, the analysis of the capacity of the humanitarian NGOs of the country, the indicative plan and recommendations for its implementation.
Results: 4 studies to analyse the local/national humanitarian capacity in Chad, Uganda, Central African Republic and Chad. The study for Uganda was published: https://cng-cdn.oxfam.org/uganda.oxfam.org/s3fs-public/file_attachments/ELNHA%20REPORT.pdf
Date: Chad, March-April 2019; Uganda, May-July 2016; Central African Republic, March-April 2016; Burkina Faso, November-December 2015
Objectives: To analyse the organizational development of 5 agricultural associations and cooperatives during the last 5 years and to derive from that analysis a model applicable to other organizations.
Work done: We started from the review of the support to the 5 organizations during the last 5 years, with particular attention to learning collected in the projects evaluations, and the analysis of the main influencing contextual factors. We prepared a specific methodology to analyse the change in the capacities of the organizations, organizing the capacities in 8 dimensions and 21 areas, with tools to collect the information in an agile and practical way. We complemented the work in each of the organizations with interviews and contributions from other actors. Based on the analysis of the information collected, we characterized the model of capacity building that comes from the experience and the features of the territorial and national context. We carried out the work with a Dominican expert in rural development.
Results: An study describing capacity-building model, where: we explain the influencing factors of the territory and the country; we analyse the reinforcement achieved by each of the organizations; we compile the lessons learned, good practices and elements of innovation for each of the dimensions of the organizational capacity; we propose a model, including objectives, indicators, strategies and resources. The model is described in a publication by the authors made with the support of AECID: https://bibliotecadigital.aecid.es/bibliodig/i18n/catalogo_imagenes/grupo.cmd?path=1018826
Date: January-February 2016
Objectives: Establish criteria and tools to monitor the decentralization of the cycle of programs/projects to country offices and analyze their implementation.
Work done: The context of the organization was studied and the objectives of the decentralization were established, contrasting the analysis with the results of a previous consultancy; the program/project management system was reviewed to adapt it to the decentralization, developing a new model and proposing changes in the processes with respect to the current dynamics; the necessary variables were estimated to measure the changes in the organizational structure; the new organizational structure and the DPT of the main jobs affected were drawn up. To carry out the work, the documentation on program/project management was reviewed; meetings were held with members of the MdM management team; A wide sample of the associative and operational team was interviewed, both at the central headquarters and at territorial headquarters in Spain and in the countries; the MdM teams in El Salvador and Guatemala were visited; the objectives of decentralization were socialized; the reference model for program/project management was produced involving the middle managers.
Results: A study was prepared that contains the analysis carried out, the proposed tools and a decentralization implementation plan and monitoring table.
Date: June-October 2015
Purpose: To accompany the Oxfam team in the understanding and implementation of changes in organisational culture and ways of working resulting from the move towards a Single Management Structure (SMS).
Work process: After determining the team's departure point, we traced a roadmap for change consisting in four phases: (I) preparatory, (II) characterisation of the desired change: what we want to achieve, (III) moving towards the goal of "more Oxfam" and (IV) evaluation and learning.
Results: The accompaniment lasted 12 months. Having determined the areas for improvement we wanted to address, we used the roadmap for change to measure progress. We conducted three workshops in phases I, II and IV and did distance monitoring during Phase III.
Date: March 2012 to March 2014
Purpose: To carry out all preparatory work for the successful development of the retreat, including the facilitation of the 2 day retreat itself.
Work process: We managed all the preparatory work for the retreat including coordinating retreat presenters through a planning committee. We developed a facilitation plan defining the objectives and expected results per session, assigned roles, identified materials needed per session and also revised presentations to ensure strategic alignment and adherence to time allocations. Finally we facilitated the 2 day retreat held on October 3rd-4th in Boston, Massachusetts, with 35 participants.
Results: A 3 page report was presented after the end of the retreat with an overview of each session’s objectives and outcomes, including decision points, agreements on commitments and requests.
Date: September - October 2013
Purpose: To systematize SI's experience in local government capacity building and to develop a proposal for a regional strategy.
Work process: To carry out this mandate we put together a 3 member team: one of baobab's associates, a consultant from El Salvador and one from Nicaragua. First of all we systematized SI's experience in the field of capacity building of local governments in 4 countries (Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador). We organized workshops, focal groups and interviews with those who had participated in them and used the lessons learnt from this exercise to reconstruct each one of the experiences, which were then validated by the participants in workshops. Afterwards, at the strategy development phase, we reviewed literature and interviewed experts, authorities and relevant institutions, both in Central America and in Spain.
Results: The last stage of the process consisted of a workshop with SI's staff, held in Guatemala, in which the proposal for a regional strategy was presented and discussed.
Date: September 2009 - February 2010.
Objectives: Contribute to produce changes in people’s believes, values and attitudes in relation to the situation of injustice and inequality in the African continent.
Work process: Several lectures were done about the development of the African continent and its challenges, and also about the role of NGOs in Africa:
- Fundació Autònoma Solidària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (April 2011)
- University classroom for third age people, Fundació Universitària Martí L’Humà (January 08, April 08, March 09, September 2011)
- Justícia i Pau (April 08)
- University classroom for third age people of Osona, University of Vic (November 08)
Results: Lectures have been done with open discussion with the publi. Participation was between 120 and 300 people.
Date: On-going.
Purpose: Contribute to the training and capacity building of the international development actors in Spain.
Work process: participation as speakers and trainers on the following places:
• Seminar about cooperation strategies with Subsaharan Africa, within the master “Globalization, development and cooperation”, Món-3 –University of Barcelona (April 08 to April 2012).
• Seminar about the African reality and the work of the NGOs in Africa, Sevilla Town Council (May 08).
• Seminars about NGOs, cooperation and solidarity movements, within the master of SETEM and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (July 08).
• Course by the Association for the United Nations about renovation of the international aid in Africa (October 08).
Results: Training packages were developed, addressed to professionals and people interested on international development, and training sessions were done with participation between 20 and 60 people.
Date: On-going.
Purpose: Design and coordination of a training program addressed to development NGOs to stimulate their role in the local development councils.
Work process: The project gathers information on the development activity of about 50 municipalities in Catalonia. From the analysis of that information, 8 municipalities are identified in order to implement a pilot training program addressed to the organisations who participate in each municipalities' development council. The program is designed taking into account the needs and priorities of each municipality.
Results: The project will allow to know the current state of those municipality cooperation councils in Catalonia Region, produce a radiography of the municipal cooperation system and, based on it, to identify the training priorities. By means of a training program in 8 pilot municipality councils, it will be possible to assess if a program of such nature may contribute towards an international cooperation with increased efficacy and better articulation between the different actors.
Date: July 2008 to December 2009.
Purpose: To provide an introduction to conflict resolution and mediation within an intercultural environment.
Work process: We coordinated the implementation of the course which implied the drawing of reports on the advance of the course, the follow up of the teachers, accompanying the students and evaluating its development with the organizing institutions.
Results: 20 unemployed women were trained as mediators.
Date: April and May 2008.
Purpose: To carry out a seminar on migration.
Work process: For this project we drew the seminar's program, suggested the panel of speakers, and defined guidelines for their contributions that would guarantee the coherence and complementarity of their interventions. We also developed a guide of migration-related research groups and organisations that exist within the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
This work was carried out by consulting experts, academics, local governments, leaders of the migrant community and organisations that provide services to migrants.
Results: The seminar was conducted on the 19th and 20th of November 2007 and over 220 people took part in it.
Date: July to November 2007.