NGO consultancies provide advice, training, and solutions to NGOs worldwide, focusing on organizational structure, training, finance, and project management. They help new and existing NGOs function efficiently and achieve their vision and mission. Some consultancies also work with donors to assess risks when investing in NGOs.
An NGO consultancy provides advice, training and solutions to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) around the world. Consulting services include appraisals, legal advice, project advice and organizational structure. They are offered to national and international NGOs, if the NGO is willing or able to pay for the services. Each NGO consultancy is led by and staffed by people with experience in the world of non-governmental organizations and international development.
NGOs are created for many reasons. These can be social or political and can be long-term or short-term projects. They fall in the middle ground between government departments and independent, for-profit businesses. Most NGOs, therefore, are not-for-profit, funded by government or intergovernmental resources.
While NGOs first emerged in the 19th century, the number of organizations grew significantly in the second half of the 20th century. While some NGOs are created by people with experience in running such organizations or at least in running government departments or independent businesses, many others are not. This opened up a gap in the market for every NGO consultancy to exploit. The services offered by an NGO consultancy can be divided into four sectors: organization, training, finance and project management.
Advice and organizational assistance is naturally aimed at new NGOs, but can also be effective for NGOs wishing to function more efficiently. Services tend to focus first on structure, ensuring the NGO works well, has the necessary staff and systems, and does what it was set up to do. The latter comes from NGO consulting, helping the NGO to focus on its vision and mission. Other organizational help offered by consultancies includes training, improvement planning and organizational culture development.
The training board is aimed at two sections of the NGO. First, upper management is trained in the organization and administration of organizations, and second, employees are trained to do their jobs. Training covers many aspects of an organization, from team building to recruitment policy. Needs-based training covers details of the NGO’s stated vision and mission. Other training schemes look at fundraising methods and strategies and improve communication and networking strategies.
Financial advice from an NGO consultancy focuses on areas such as fundraising and accounting. As a result, the consultancy offers services that help NGOs with grant applications, obtaining tax exemptions and account management. They also provide legal advice to NGOs in domestic and foreign environments.
Project management encompasses the planning, execution, and evaluation of a specific field event or project. Planning ranges from design sketching to organizing logistics. Project management usually includes monitoring and evaluation of an ongoing project by the NGO consultancy. They also look for aspects of a project such as community involvement, impact, and public relations.
Several NGO consultancies also work with donors. They help donors assess the risks when choosing which NGO to invest in. This means that the donor can be confident that the NGO exists and does the work it claims.
Asset Smart.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
