National Workshop, New Delhi, 18-19 February 2010

Nurturing Partnerships for Developing Sustainable CSOs,

RECAP OF DAY 1 (18-2-2010)

RECAP OF DAY 1 (18-2-2010)

• Such Capacity Building (Training) initiatives are needed • Costs should be affordable by small CSOs (Rs. 7,500/- is very high)• CSO Governance is an issue; total / too much reliance on the leader / promoter

(one man show)• Government needs good partners; credibility is an issue, need for assessing

partnerships (mechanism for grading, rating, accreditations)• CSOs known for innovations, experimentation, piloting, and demonstrations.

This needs to be encouraged and supported. • Trend towards conformity decreasing space for disagreements; need for

respecting disagreements.• CSOs weak in Documentation & Dissemination; needs serious attention. • After demonstrating performance and thus building credibility, it is possible to

work with Government on your own terms / negotiated terms. • Certain government programmes provide for establishment costs (e.g. NREGA,

Special SGSY)• Sustained communication and engagement with donors (Sponsors) is key for

resource mobilization • Consultancy services in demand when provided with high level of technical

competence.

RECAP OF DAY 1 (18-2-2010)……………………………….. Contd.

• Partnership with Academic / Research institutions possible when CSOs have something substantial to contribute, e.g. in designing the curricula, field research.

• Partnership with media not possible (easy?), but relationship building is a must.

• Unlike Associations of corporate houses (CII, FICCI), Media does not have access to such bodies of CSOs for information gathering.

• CSOs could explore starting a separate TV Channel, in association with media.

• CSOs partnership with corporate / CSR is promising; both sides have to provide space to each other; mutuality / trust needed in building sustained relationships.

• CSR of industries do need to take care of their neighbourhood for development; Corporate Foundations have flexibility in choosing areas of work (geographic as well as thematic.

• WIN WIN situation is a must for a successful partnership.