1.3. Your organisation
Assess capacity
Whether you are a project rookie or experienced project implementer, it proves useful to review your organisation’s capacity to run complex projects for your beneficiaries. We recommend that you do not make it a complex and burdensome process. Do not create pages and pages of “strategic” documents. A short review session with your core team, a flipchart might suffice.
Capacity | Area | Questions to Ask |
---|---|---|
Governance | Mission and Vision | Are they clearly defined? |
Management | Long-term planning | Do you actually do it? |
Strategic plan | Does it exist? Is it valid? | |
Management changes | How do you handle them? | |
Administration | Operational procedures | Do they exist? Does the staff follow them? |
Procurement | Do you have specific, repeatable procedures in place? | |
Project management | Community | Have you conducted a needs assessment? |
Project implementation | Can you plan and execute in a consistent manner | |
Project monitoring procedures | Are monitoring procedures sound, efficient and functional? | |
Quality assurance | How do you validate project results? | |
Human resources | Staffing | Is your team optimal in size and skill? |
Performance management | How do you ensure your team members deliver? | |
Volunteer network | Can you rely on substantial volunteer work? | |
Financial management | Financial systems and policies | Do you have policies in places that your staff knows and follows? |
Internal controls | Have you set up regular internal financial audits? | |
Planning and sustainability | Are financial flows stable with sufficient reserves? Can you sustain several months of funding shortage? |
Project – a capacity building opportunity
Do you feel you do not have the capacity to run a complex project? Do you have good access to your target group and you know the beneficiary needs? You should not feel discouraged. Get acquainted with the funding mechanism requirements. Ask questions – communicate with the managing authorities, use the Helpdesk platform. It is often the intention of the funding entity to support not only the target groups but also extend the capabilities of the organisations that have a solid base capacity level.