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Introducing the new Effectiveness Toolkit – 2021 version!

Organisational effectiveness is increasingly important to ensure the sustainability of the critical work carried out by Scottish NGOs across the world.

To support this, the Alliance’s Effectiveness Toolkit has now been updated in line with global developments and contextual changes. The Effectiveness Toolkit is a valuable development tool that guides and supports organisations to review their work against a set of international development and organisational good practice principles 

The Effectiveness Toolkit, originally produced by NIDOS in 2014, and has been a valuable tool for member organisations interested in conducting a self-assessment enabling them to review their work against a set of principles of good practice in international development and benchmarks of good operational practice.  

This updated edition was developed with the support of key stakeholders based on their experiences of using the Effectiveness Toolkit. These member stakeholders told us they wanted a shorter, sharper, focused Toolkit, that would help organisations easily assess priority areas for action and plan for continuous improvement, with useful tips, resources and signposting. This has resulted in a shorter, sharper, focused Toolkit in five core areas: Purpose, Governance, Impact, Sustainability & Development 

The new version aims to be as relevant, accessible and practical as possible, ensuring the long-term effectiveness of international development organisations in Scotland. The toolkit was produced in collaboration with Jen Curran and Graeme Reekie from The Lasting Difference consultancy, consistent with principles from the Lasting Difference Toolkit. 

The Toolkit is aimed at small to medium-sized non-profit organisations (NGOs) based in Scotland working in international development. It is particularly suitable for board members and managers, but it will be useful for others, such as volunteers or project workers and is most useful when it involves key players from different parts of the organisation. 

Check out the Toolkit here

You can also join us for an online workshop introducing the new Effectiveness Toolkit  on Wednesday 13 October at 10 am.  

The session will cover:

  • Introducing the Effectiveness Toolkit (Jen Curran, The Lasting Difference consultancy) 

  •  How it evolved  

  • What it is and what it contains 

  • How to use it: ideas from experience (Ceris Jones, Alliance Mentor) 

  • Getting to know the Effectiveness Toolkit 

  • Exploring the Toolkit: finding your way around – what’s in it and how it can help your organisation or project 

Registration and further details here

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