 Guatemala To further contribute to grantee partners’ growth and development, GFC offers various value-added services in addition to its program support grants. Organizational development support GFC understands that strengthening the organizational capacity of its grantee partners not only optimizes their use of grant funding but also makes them more sustainable over the long term. In 2005, GFC therefore began offering customized organizational development and management support to individual grantee partners, via regional consultants. Over the course of one year of intense assessment, consultation, and assistance, GFC’s regional consultants provide guidance in areas such as strategic planning, financial and management information systems, evaluation, fundraising, and advocacy. Working hand in hand with staff, management, and beneficiaries, they work with grantee partners to assess needs and establish a realistic work plan. Leveraging additional funding GFC works with its grantee partners to identify and pursue opportunities for additional funding from other sources as a means of promoting sustainability and growth. Leveraging encompasses a broad range of activities. On the most basic level, grantee partners report that simply referencing GFC support adds to their credibility with other international and institutional donors. On a more proactive level, GFC connects grantee partners to donors within its peer network based on the potential for shared priorities and objectives through direct referrals as well as facilitation of site visits and other networking opportunities. GFC also plays a role in leveraging government and multilateral support in grantee partners’ home countries by facilitating introductions, assisting in the navigation of bureaucratic processes, and advocating for greater support for the types of work that its grantee partners are doing. To date, GFC has leveraged over $1 million for its grantee partners from funders both abroad and within the grantee partners’ home countries. In addition to connecting grantee partners with new financial support, GFC facilitates relationships between individuals and organizations, resulting in in-kind support, volunteer services, and professional consulting. Because support from GFC often represents a grantee partner’s first significant contact with the international funding community, these leveraging efforts can prove crucial to an organization’s growth and sustainability. Legal referral Through an exciting collaboration with the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, GFC grantee partners are eligible to be referred to Lex Mundi’s global network of top-tier independent law firms for pro bono legal services and counsel. The Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation offers this referral service to a prescreened group of social enterprises and has chosen the Global Fund for Children’s grantee partners as beneficiaries of this valuable service. GFC facilitates the relationship between its partners and the foundation. The available legal support varies in scope and complexity and includes assistance with such things as lease agreements, labor disputes, and the finer legal points of advocacy and policy change. Exchange visits and peer learning GFC supports a limited number of exchange and exposure visits between grantee partners as a means of promoting peer learning. Visits are carefully structured to meet specific objectives. Exchange visits have been piloted in South Asia with positive results, and are now being institutionalized and expanded to other regions. Conference and training support Conferences and training workshops allow grantee partners to share experiences and practices with others, acquire useful skills and knowledge, increase their visibility, and build a network of relationships beyond their own communities. GFC helps grantee partners to seize such opportunities by providing limited support for travel, lodging, accommodations, and/or fees.
|
