Members of Advocacy Core Groups (ACGs) and Media Forum were on May 5 trained on key components of
Resource Mobilisation.
The intensive training which was also attended by Mrs Patricia Osazuwa, Edo State RH Coordinator, took place at the DHSP Hall, off Airport Road, Benin City.
The duo of Dr Bernard Emonena, Technical Support Lead, TCI and Dr Jude Obasanmi, ACG Coordinator, Edo state took participants through the fundamentals of social innovation, fund mobilisation and the intricacies of proposal writing, and the theory of change, using the USAID, DFID, EU Donor Database as illustration.
In his welcome remark, Dr Jude Obasanmi stated that the training was informed by the need for Advocacy Core Groups to have a well laid down procedure for fundraising to keep the organization functioning at optimal level.
He commended the programme facilitator, TCI, for bringing participants together to be trained on Resource Mobilisation and expressed hope that knowledge gained from the training will be properly used to enrich organisations’ initiatives.
Taking participants on Introduction to Resource Mobilisation, with sub-topics on Resource Mobilisation and Organization Functions, sources and truths of resource mobilisation,
Dr Emonena Bernard, pointed out that the delivery of services and products by an organization depends on a continual process of resource Mobilisation and supported by new business development by the organisation.
He stated that in this case, the business of ACG and Media Groups is Adolescents and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health, AYSRH, and that there is no gain reiterating the obvious fact that funding is a valuable resource in driving meaningful initiatives.
He further stated that securing men and additional resources is as important as making better use of, and maximising existing ones.
“Resources include financial, human and materials, and in New Business Development, all activities involved in achieving new business opportunities for your organization – including selling of goods and services, client fees, are to be put in their proper perspectives. ”
He further stated that social innovators have a mission to tackle global issues such as alleviating hunger, improving education and combating client challenge. He admonished ACGs to design
empathy maps to help them in understanding how people experienced a problem in their communities and their perspectives about finding solutions or responding to requests for proposals, whether solicited or unsolicited.
In the functions of Resource Mobilisation, he stated that finding “new business opportunities” is same as proposal development, and after action, review process followed before project implementation. He however cautioned that service provision to clients should not be discontinued but that organisational sustainability will help scale up goods and services the organisation currently provides.
He listed resource Mobilisation sources to include members contribution, sale of goods and services for user fees, foundation contributions, government contracts, grants, national and international donors, amongst others.
Dr Emonena noted that there were certain truths about resource Mobilisation, and they included that organisations are not entitled to supports but that it depended on what organisations bring to the table, and that gaining trust/confidence will aid search for supports.
“Successful Resource Mobilisation requires a lot of work and takes a lot of time. Organisations need to be thoroughly prepared. If your organization needs additional revenue in one year, start today!’ he stated emphatically.
He admonished participants to be ready, willing and able to sell the programme they are raising fund for and be sure that fund mobilisation efforts are in alliance with organization’s mission, objectives and strategic plans. He however noted that fundraising is also about the needs of the prospective donor.
“You must understand the needs of your constituents or markets and apply an evidence-based research on what works. Your organisational performance today impacts on your ability to generate resources tomorrow.”
Organizational, programmatic, industrial and financial sustainability, according to Dr Emonena, are key for organizational optimal performance.
On his part, Dr Jude Obasanmi took participants through an organizational development
checklist, which includes need for self assessment, action planning, development of Resource Mobilisation Plan and the internal/external Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats(SWOT), including
Leadership and Governance, stating that organisations must be governed by documented constitution, constituted CSO Board and meeting, visible NGO vision, mission and value statement, organizational chart, NGO strategy plan, and so forth.
“Social Innovation has a new formula for success, and it is combining capital with a do- good mentality.” Dr Obasanmi stated.
The training also considered the process of proposal development from formation of team and calendar, technical approach, methodology and project description, monitoring and evaluation plan, among other sub-titles, including the Theory of Change,
Networking and referral systems.
Highpoint of the training was the distribution of a sample of an Organization Resource Mobilisation Plan, 2021-2023 to participants, and it included Projected Resource Needs for FP/AYSRH, 2021 to 2023, a three-year planning map.
