bond.org.uk Supporting NGO effectiveness Sarah Mistry June 2014

bond.org.uk 2 Supporting NGO Effectiveness and fostering social accountability Introduction 1. A quick introduction to Bond 2. Why do NGOs need to be more effective? 3. What are the levers of change to improve NGO effectiveness? 4. Case study: Evidence Principles 5. What does the future hold? 6. Transferable lessons

bond.org.uk 3 About Bond The membership body for UK international development organizations: Founded 1993 by 61 NGOs 400+ members Our strategy is to: Connect Influence Strengthen Image by Jerry Wang

bond.org.uk 4 What do we do? Effectiveness & Learning Policy & Advocacy Membership & Communications Connect Influence Strengthen

bond.org.uk 5 Why effectiveness focus? More impact (quality, reach, influence) Better value for money Performance improvement Adaptive learning Accountability, communication of value Sustainability (of outcomes not organization)

bond.org.uk 6 Theory of Change Why is Bond well placed to help NGOs improve their effectiveness? Accountability LearningFunding Planning Measuring and communicating results Learning and adaptation Value for money Transparency and accountability Funding practices

bond.org.uk 7 Levels of change In order to bring about change Bond is working at multiple levels: Individuals – to seed good practice Organizations – to enable and embed good practice Sector – to share and establish good practice Donors – to enable, incentivize and reward good practice

bond.org.uk 8 Effectiveness activities Effectiveness services Funding policy Transparency & accountability Evidence & learning Sector effectiveness This translates into effectiveness activities centered on five areas:

bond.org.uk 9 Case study: The Evidence Principles Principles and checklist are for assessing and improving the quality of evidence. Practical tool used when commissioning, designing and reviewing evidence-based work. Being used in 6 ways; 85% of organisations report positive change. Also a ‘line in the sand’ – a locus for conversation with donors on evidence. Download:

bond.org.uk 10 Case study: The Evidence Principles Weak evidenceStrong evidence 1. Voice and Inclusion Are the perspectives of beneficiaries included in the evidence? No beneficiary perspectives presented... Beneficiary perspectives presented and integrated into analysis, and beneficiaries have validated the findings; the evidence is strongly grounded in the voices of the poor Are the perspectives of the most excluded and marginalised groups included in the evidence? Perspectives from most excluded groups not presented clearly... Perspectives from most excluded groups presented clearly and integrated into analysis, and excluded groups have validated the findings; the evidence is strongly grounded in the voices of the most excluded Are the findings disaggregated according to sex, disability and other relevant social differences? No disaggregation of findings by social differences... Findings are disaggregated according to all social differences relevant to the intervention, and why these have been chosen has been clearly explained Did beneficiaries play an active role in the assessment process? Beneficiaries had no involvement in the assessment process... Beneficiaries had involvement in all of the following: (1) designing the process (2) analysing the data (3) formulating the conclusions

bond.org.uk 11 Case study: The Evidence Principles Enables NGOs to communicate the value of their work Practical tool that can be applied by individuals Shared understanding in sector of good practice A mechanism to influence donor practice How the Evidence Principles utilize the levers and levels for change.

bond.org.uk 12 What does the future hold? But it’s not business as usual. Bond is initiating a Futures Program to help our members adapt: Changing global environment- different locations of poverty Shifting power dynamics – southern leadership, civil society New actors eg private sector New funding models Conflict, climate change Public support, democracy, disintermediation… This calls for radical adaptation and transformative thinking

bond.org.uk 13 Transferable lessons Understand your theory of change, levers for change The value of networks, collective action The urgency of adapting to a changing environment Strategic leadership combined with practical approaches Peer to peer knowledge sharing Learning, failing, learning again People, cultures, relationships - real world / real lives What can we learn from each other?

bond.org.uk 14 Regent’s Wharf 8 All Saints Street London N1 9RL United Kingdom +44 (0) bond.org.uk