Asking a donor for funding can be both difficult and stressful. Merely getting a response from donors can be difficult and it is easy to get discouraged. Approaching a new donor can feel very impersonal; it is hard to picture the person on the other end who will receive your message. Even after you make a contact, maintaining that contact takes a lot of work. To successfully build and maintain relationships with donors, it is very important to get into their shoes and understand their perspective. Here is our list of top ideas to remind yourself each time you approach a donor.
1. Donors are human.
Donors just like you and me, have their own ideas, their own lives as well as their own likes and dislikes. Do not think of networking as trying to manipulate some exotic species, but instead as having a good conversation with another person about important work. Donors typically respond best to people who share their interest in changing the world rather than people who clearly have their own agenda.
Donors want to accomplish something with their funding. Often it is personal experience, passion for a certain cause or a moral obligation that inspire donors to be donors. Understanding what motivates each donor and what they want to accomplish is key in structuring your approach. Donors often have their own goals and you need to make sure your goals and the goals of the donor align.
2. Donors give money for a reason.
Donors are not required to give, but do so of their own volition. Donors want to accomplish something with their funding. Often it is personal experience, passion for a certain cause or a moral obligation that inspire donors to be donors. Understanding what motivates each donor and what they want to accomplish is key in structuring your approach. Donors often have their own goals and you need to make sure your goals and the goals of the donor align.
3. Donors are busy.
Donors sometimes have hundreds or even thousands of people asking for support, and as such they cannot give their full attention to all of them. Thus make it easy for donors to work with you! Be patient, do not waste their time, keep emails concise, let conversations be to the point, have all necessary information ready and easily accessible by the donor. Do not ask donors basic or vague questions that you could easily find answers to in a quick online search. Building rapport is really great, but first feel out if the other party has the time and is interested.
4. Donors have their own way of doing things.
Donors typically manage multiple grants at once and so like to have some consistency in the way applications are submitted, how accounts are kept, how monitoring and evaluation is run etc. While a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for all projects, try to work within the donor’s parameters as much as possible. Research the donor beforehand so you know what to expect from them. If some of their requirements do not suit your project, explain to them the difficulties and try to reach a solution.
5. Donors have worries of their own. Donors may have to make reports to their government, tax authority, accountants, board members, the public etc. Donors are often expected to be transparent, show improvement and maintain a good public image. Because of this, many donors are very risk-adverse, maintain high due diligence requirements and set high reporting standards. While this can make donors very bureaucratic, slow and at times difficult to work with, it is important to understand why these steps are in place and try to be as honest and helpful as possible. Donors will appreciate it.
6. Donors are not ATMs. Do not approach donors only when you need money. Long-term relationships are not built by only receiving checks. Keep donors updated with the work you are doing- both success and set-backs. Donors have a lot of experience in seeing projects to completion, so they may have some suggestions for you. Additionally, you may have valuable local information donors are interested in knowing. Donors often keep track of macro trends, but they may be lacking in the local knowledge or know-how that you are privy to. Relationships should be mutually beneficial, so think of ways you can provide information or support back to donors.
7. Donors can give more than just money.
Funding is only a part of what good donors can offer you. Many donors are field experts and can advise you on current trends as well as on the technical aspects of running a project. Donors are often well-connected and may be able to recommend other potential partner NGOs consultants, and sometimes even other donors. Donors may also be willing to lend their credibility to you. They may be willing to let you use their name, write a recommendation, advertise for you or even sometimes fundraise on your behalf. Always ask first before assuming what a donor can or cannot do.
8. Donors care about the results.
This can be hard to swallow, but new donors tend to care little about your NGO; they care about making a change or improving the lives of the beneficiaries, and your NGO is just the vehicle for these results. Still, once a donor agrees to fund you, they are now interested in your success. Use this chance to prove to the donor that it was their support and your team that was able to bring about the desired results. Once donors see your effectiveness firsthand, they will start to care more about your NGO. This can result in more willingness to give follow-up grants, core support, and sometimes even fund capital investments.
9. Donors cannot read your mind.
While many donors are field experts, you should never assume all donors understand the exact context your NGO is operating in. For applications, it always helps to give some relevant background information. Do not just explain the project, but why the project is important. Try to avoid using acronyms or jargon unless you know for a fact who your readers are and what their experience level in your field is. Even for experts, writing that in simple form and to the point is often appreciated.
10. Donors like to have fun too.
Like most people, donors enjoy the feeling of doing good. Make sure they feel good about funding your NGO; write thank-you letters send them updates, and maybe even invite them to the field. When writing applications, make sure the content is engaging. Your project is important and exciting, however project applications often read as dry and dull. You can easily fix this by adding pictures, making the formatting more inviting, including stories or interesting facts, changing the tone of the application to a less rigid and more engaging one.
Following the latest political developments in the country, some representatives from the churches, Civil Society Organisations, Social Movements and Labour have met to kick start dialogue amongst all citizens through the National Envisioning Platform. As one of our key stakeholders in the Civil Society Sector we do hereby invite you to a one day National People’s Convention which is guided by the following objectives:
Our understanding of the Military Assisted Transition
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces has played a decisive role in catalysing the demise of President Robert Mugabe’s rule, a role roundly endorsed by Zimbabweans through public marches held on Saturday the 18th of November. This military intervention has occurred at the intersection of succession battles within ZANU PF and the widespread suffering and despair of many Zimbabweans after years of social and economic decline and political repression. However welcome the MAT, the resulting transitional process should be determined by citizens and not exclusively by ZANU PF, the army, or international forces to accommodate the views and perspectives of all Zimbabweans.
Towards a people driven transition
All Zimbabweans must have a voice in light of this transition. Such an inclusive transitional process characterised by principles of broad consultation, constitutionalism, safeguarding of fundamental freedoms and respect for human dignity is important as we determine the country’s future.
Participation in the National People’s Convention
The National Envisioning Platform therefore calls upon all Zimbabweans of good will to embrace this moment as a window of opportunity to author a new direction for Zimbabwe. Let us therefore allow ourselves to collectively pursue this dream.
Date: Friday 24 November 2017
Venue: Harare International Conference Centre
Time: 0800
RSVP: The National Association for Non-Governmental Organisations: Joy or Charity on 708761 or charity@nango.org.zw
The Zimbabwe Council of Churches
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe
Sincerely,
Mr. Leonard Mandishara Acting Executive Director.
he National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO), the umbrella body of NGOs operating in Zimbabwe, notes with concern the current political developments in the nation, which impacts on the peace and stability of the country. We call on all stakeholders to remain focused, composed and guided by the Constitution. Zimbabweans are a peace-loving people, a heritage that we cherish.
Of note, we have observed in the past few months, the escalation of seeming hostilities within the political landscape and the current intervention by the military in the current political environment. We stress the need to amicably resolve these differences.
As civil society in Zimbabwe, we note the supremacy of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and call upon the concerned parties to uphold, respect and abide by its provisions. In this regard, we invite the people of Zimbabwe to join us in calling for unity, peace, tranquility, respect to the sanctity of human life and stability, which we are so renowned for as Zimbabweans.
We are one people! We are one Zimbabwe! Lets Stand United.
27 Oct 2017
1. Background
Could it be that collective work towards a national vision for Zimbabwe is the missing link in the development discourse in Zimbabwe?. In 2017, the political, social and economic environment continued to play a decisive role in determining the extent to which the citizens can or cannot realize their social, economic and political rights. The economic recession, coupled with cyclic abuse of power, impunity, social economic and political exclusion has seen the majority of the population particularly the marginalized susceptible to hunger, social dislocation of families, high levels of poverty, unemployment and underemployment, violations of human rights, not withstanding the severe shrinking of NGOs operation spaces.
Zimbabwe is currently implementing the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation (ZIMASSET) which is the economic blue print guiding the country for the period 2013-2018. Agenda 2030, Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper whilst and consultations are underway for ZIMASSET 2, Special Economic Zones and how to harmonize Investment laws in Zimbabwe. What has been the major challenge is the limited or lack of involvement of non-state actors in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of national development policies and programs. The mammoth task ahead of Zimbabwe on the economic, social and political sphere demands more structured multi stakeholder collaborations and partnerships between government and non-state actors on actions and activities, which are crucial in addressing these challenges bedeviling the country. The critical role those non-state actors can play in aiding development and social economic protection of citizens is not debatable. It is therefore imperative that the NGO Directors Summer School brings together government, development partners, Commissions and other non-state actors I order to strengthen relations and chat a common way forward for Zimbabwe.
The relationship between government and non-state actors has not been smooth in the last decade with counter accusations over the years that have led to reduced engagement and collaboration levels on development issues between government and CSOs. This has compromised development and further marginalized vulnerable groups and communities.
2017 has been one of the most difficult years for government, non-state actors and even political parties. As the country gears for another harmonized election in 2018, government continues to experience tight fiscal constraint envisaged by lack of cash, and escalating costs of living amid suppressed salaries for the bulk of the labor force. For non-state actors, 2017 has seen intensification in shrinking of operating spaces, outright human rights violations targeting both the general citizenry and some human rights defenders, and massive donor flight. This has resulted in scaling down of programming work the most hit being Community Based Organizations. On the political arena the increase disjointed pressure groupings that are openly calling for various government reforms has not made any meaningful. This comes amid incessant corruption in government, unemployment, increasing poverty, poor service delivery, decline in health care and education systems, and the general contempt for the rule of law by the police. Whilst intra and inter political party violence and discord increases at the expense of national development discourses thus further disenfranchising the already marginalized communities.
It is therefore crucial for the Directors of NGOs to meet and develop a precise strategic plan that will determine alternative pathways for non-state actors. It is also necessary for NGO Directors to deliberate, discuss and agree on definitive thematic cluster priority actions and gaps, determine the engagement processes with the government and other key stakeholders, develop synergies, mechanisms and response systems to the prolonged closing up of the operating environment for NGOs and the effects of the run up to 2018 elections. This year’s summer school is aimed at dialogue towards a National Vision for Zimbabwe that promotes Transformation and Sustainable Resilient Societies
2. Why the Summer School?
NANGO is a meeting place of the hopes and aspirations of millions of men and women in their capacities as the disabled, the vulnerable, the displaced, the oppressed and a host of other marginalized groups. Concomitantly NANGO bears the responsibility of unifying these various concerns by creating spaces for collaboration, mutual support and the development of common best practices. One of these spaces is the annual NGO Directors Summer School, a platform created for senior leadership in the NGO Sector to meet and share knowledge and information with development partners, government and the corporate community. One of the aims being to facilitate dialogue and creation of synergies amongst various stakeholders in an endeavor to bridge the gap between the general citizenry and policy makers for meaningful realization of national development.
3. Objectives of the 2017 NGO Directors Summer School
4. Expected Outputs
5. Stakeholders to the Conference
It is expected that the strategic planning meeting will bring together 100 NGO Directors from across the country. Also the following stakeholders have been invited as well to share experiences and knowledge: Government Ministries and Institutions, Labor, Development Partners, >Private Sector and >the Church
6. Methodology/Activities
DAY 1>: 9 November 2017: NGO 2017 Update, state of civil society: “ towards a National Vision for Zimbabwe”
The first day will be a working session for stakeholders whose main purpose is to assess implementation progress for 2017, define NGO engagement strategy within the current context and define the role of non state actors in Agenda 2030, peaceful 2018 elections and towards a National Vision for Zimbabwe. This will inform and enrich the multi-stakeholder donor, government and business discussions that will take place the next day.
DAY 2: >10 November 2017: Multi-stakeholder Dialogue: “ Promoting transformation and sustainable resilient societies”
Day two will focus on dialogue between civil society, development partners, government and business. The day will explore critical development ideas, good governance and explore opportunities for partnerships between state and non-state actors. It will be a platform for different stakeholders to dialogue on measures necessary to ensure that Zimbabweans, both state and non- state actors work towards promoting transformation and sustainable resilient societies. Stakeholders shall be drawn from a variety of sectors.
7. Conference Schedule and Venue
The meeting will take place from 9-10 November 2017 as follows.
9 November 2017: NGO 2017 Update, state of civil society: “ towards a National Vision for Zimbabwe”
10 November 2017: Multi-stakeholder Dialogue: “ Promoting transformation and sustainable resilient societies”
The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ), a network of women rights activists and women’s rights organizations joins the world in commemorating International Women’s Day. WCoZ further proclaim the Month of March as Women’s Month for action towards a society where women and girls rights are respected and protected.
Despite various laws, policies, new constitution, regional and international instruments that Zimbabwe committed to advance women’s rights, the country continues to experience deficits in the full implementation of commitments, allocation of adequate resources and political will to enable a conducive socio-economic and political environment for advancement of the agenda for women and girls to enjoy and assert their rights.
19 Jun 2017
It is our sincere hope that we all celebrated the Day of the African Child very well. NANGO joined the like-minded organisations in celebrating the day. As NANGO we believe in the best interest of the child as provided for in the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) article 3 and in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) article 4. NANGO also encourages Government and all other stakeholders in the fight for the fulfilment of the rights of the child to do it in line with the four pillars of children’s rights namely;
The constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the rights of children in section 81. It is important to note that in celebrating these provisions in our constitution as they could be used as tool to claim the rights of a child. This was the case with the banning of girl child marriages recently by the High Court. More efforts need to employed by the like minded stakeholders if respect and enjoyment of human rights were to be achieved. Children’s rights are human rights.
NANGO congratulates Childline Zimbabwe, His Excellency the Junior Mayor of Harare, Nigel Mharapara, and Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children for their statements celebrating the day shared we us.
3 Jul 2017
Many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe today are involved in humanitarian and development work, democracy and governance issues, and the promotion and protection of human rights. The work of CSOs in involved in the promotion and protection of human rights is found in different thematic areas that include civil and political rights, economic, social and cultural rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, the rights of people with disabilities, the media and environment. For instance the National Association of Non Governmental Organisation (NANGO) has ten thematic areas that its member organisations are clustered in to effectively deal with the ills, peculiarities and challenges of human rights in these different thematic areas.
Civil society work in human rights involves, among other interventions and activities;
Target groups for CSOs include among others women, children, the youth, the underprivileged, marginalised and vulnerable, victims of abuse such as sexual abuse and so forth. Some CSOs work with the government at central government level and also at local government level. Normally they work with line ministries, departments or agencies in their respective thematic areas and with local governments structures, including the local political and traditional leadership.
In Zimbabwe, while most organisations produce reports on their activities, usual on an annual basis, which usual is shared with other CSOs, funding partners and other stakeholders, very few organisations produce reports on the human rights situation in the country, be it reports on the overall human rights situation or on the specific thematic areas or issues. The exceptional few include Zimbawe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZHLR) NGO Forum and Childline. Also, not many CSOs systematically monitor and document the implementation of human rights generally and human rights violations in particular (the like of Counselling Services Unity (CSU). Most of the organisations that monitor and document human rights either rely on tools developed by other stakeholders, such as the United Nations (UN).
This article was inserted and flighted by the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO)
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) is the official coordinating umbrella body of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in Zimbabwe. Its aim is to strengthen, represent, and coordinate the work of NGOs in Zimbabwe by creating space dialogue and engagement to enable the fulfilment of members ‘visions and missions. For comments and feedback please reach us through: director.nango@gmail.com.
19 Jun 2017
As the world moves towards the realization of the benefits associated with investing in young people; the youth in Zimbabwe have taken upon themselves through the concept of Leave No Youth Behind that seeks to empower, facilitate participation and equip young people to demand accountability. In line with Section 20 of the Zimbabwe Constitution and the Zimbabwe Youth Policy; young people should participate in political, social, economic and cultural development of our country.
Through the oncoming EU-Africa Summit due to take place in November 2017, in Ivory Coast; NANGO as the coordinating body of CSOs in Zimbabwe and National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO), the youth sector representative and umbrella board for youth in Zimbabwe are spearheading and coordinating actions ahead of the EU-Africa Summit and coordinate the voice and issues of the youth so that their voice is head and the actions to be discussed and implemented are defined by the youth. To broaden the scope of the intervention a national task force that include key representatives of the young people was established, taking into account the young people living with disability, young women, youth from churches, youth in business, students, youth from the Media and rural youth among other. The task force will spearhead the national consultation and develop a road-map for the EU-Africa Summit in order to make sure all the views from the youth are included, consolidated and help to shape our policies at national and continental level.
The theme for the EU-AU Summit is centered on youth in a context of African demographic trends creating major challenges for young people in terms of migration, security and employment. The E.U through their New European Consensus on Development is working with key partners including the youth; which will empower and ensure that the youth are brought to the mainstream of economic and development, this is being done with key focus on supporting youth and improving their future prospects; increase quality employment and entrepreneurship, supporting effective education, vocational training, skills development, and access to digital technologies and services and lastly strengthening youth empowerment and participation in local economies, societies, and decision making.
In line with the Agenda 2063 of the Africa Union, youth inclusion and empowerment is at the center of AU taking youth not only as beneficiaries but also as leaders and key stakeholders in national development processes.
The EU-AU Summit will assist the Zimbabwean youth to lobby for concrete empowerment and inclusion mechanisms that enable young people to utilize, develop their skills and have decent work. A Youth Development strategy that is line with Zimbabwe economic policies will be mooted in order to allow practical ways of dealing with youth challenges such as unemployment, lack of participation in policy, suppression of freedoms among other.
Meanwhile, the youth will be using key social media handles towards the buildup of the conference in Abidjan these include #LeaveNoYouthBehind #RoadToAbidjan.
19 Jun 2017
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known, as global goals are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The Heads of State and Government, in 2015 unveiled the 17 SDGs building on the successes and lessons of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), while including new areas such as climate, economic, inequality, innovation, sustainable energy consumption, peace and justice among other priorities. The goals are interconnected; often the key to success on one will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another.
The SDGs came into effect in January 2016 and they will continue to guide global developmental agenda for 15 years up to 2030. The legacy of the MDGs provides nations with valuable lessons and experience to work on the SDGs. But for millions of people around the world the MDGs remains unfinished business. For instance Zimbabwe need to go the last mile on ending hunger, achieving full gender equality, improving health services and getting every child into school beyond primary. The SDGs are therefore an urgent call to shift the world onto a more inclusive sustainable development path.
At regional level, progress on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was not uniform, however there was notable progress in others areas such as improvement in enrolments children in primary schools, particularly girls, increasing the representations of women in parliament, and reducing child and maternal deaths and the proportions of people infected by HIV. Building on this progress, several African countries are taking steps to translate the ambitions articulated in the 2030 agenda into tangible outcomes for their people through integrating the SDGs into their national visions and plans.
SDGs Prioritization in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has since developed the Country Position Paper on SDGs, which articulates the roadmap the country has developed to ensure that the country will effectively implement and coordinate programs around the SDGs. The position paper highlights that the government has decided that it will implement all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as they are all important to the country. The prioritization exercise is said to be guided by the country’s vision, the need to focus on enabling Goals, resource availability and our unfinished business in the MDG’s.
However, in terms of focus and prioritisation, Government has decided that it will focus and prioritise the following ten SDGs:
· Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment;
· Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all;
· Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture;
· Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation;
· Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all;
· Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts;
· Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development;
· Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages;
· Goal4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all; and
· Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
Achieving the SDGs requires the partnership of governments, private sector, civil society and general citizens alike to make sure that No One Is Left Behind and that whatever benefits that are realised out of this development initiative at global, regional and national levels are enjoyed by everyone. As such the National Association of Non Governmental Organisations (NANGO) feels Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has more role to play in complementing the efforts of the government in achieving the SDGs; and also in playing their traditional watchdog role to ensure that the government delivers its developmental obligations and promises to the people. In this regard, NANGO has since developed a framework to enhance the monitoring and programming of members around the SDGs. The role of CSOs is key in ensuring that by 2030 the country will achieve the majority of the SDGs and its ultimate objective.
19 Dec 2016
Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa presented a US$4 billion budget on the 8 December 2016 and pledged to cut government expenditure further next year after a US$520 million overrun in 2016. Below are highlights:
