Work In Partnership Towards Sustainable Development
Information For Partners On Terms Of Cooperation
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- © CBM
CBM's future emphasis will be on partner development rather than direct service delivery, so that, over time, the partners can grow and develop and thereby reach more communities and clients with quality services. CBM cooperates with about 700 partner organisations in developing countries throughout the world. The transfer of knowledge and skills, both professional and managerial, contributes to the development of these partners.
CBM cooperates with three kinds of partners
- Local level: Implementing partners—whether church, local governments, or nongovernmental organisations—that provide services to persons with disabilities.
- National level: Planning partners—health and other departments of government ministries and organisations of people with disabilities.
- International level: Policy partners—United Nations' agencies, international nongovernmental development organisations, universities and similar institutions, and the commercial/industrial sector.
Further information on the Policy or Alliance partners of CBM: Cooperations and Campaigns
In which way does CBM support partners?
CBM services to the various partners consist of the following:
- Funding for project implementation;
- Provision of equipment and consumables for project implementation;
- Training of the staff of the partner organisations (human resource development);
- Technical advice on professional/technical aspects of project work;
- Management advice concerning the project or programme;
- Dispatch of foreign experts (coworkers);
- Capacity building in fundraising;
- Advocacy—promotion of human rights and inclusive practices;
- Information;
- Global programme development (such as VISION 2020);
- Research; and
- Development of appropriate technologies for the use in developing countries.
Criteria for Partner Assessment
CBM has developed the criteria below to assess a potential partner organisation or monitor the performance of an already existing partner.
- The partner is legally registered in the country.
- The partner organisation is legally represented by a functioning body (board).
- The partner organisation uses an officially recognised accounting system.
- The partner organisation has a clear internal control and reporting system.
- The partner organisation provides annually audited accounts by a CBM-accepted auditor.
- The partner organisation has a transparent medium to long-term financial strategy or vision with a cost recovery strategy.
- The partner organisation implements efforts to decrease financial dependency and thereby increase institutional sustainability.
- The partner organisation has a project plan with clearly specified time-bound objectives, results, and activities that can be measured.
- The mandate of the partner organisation is compatible with CBM’s field of work: The partner organisation is involved and has a genuine interest in services / activities consistent with or adaptable to CBM’s core mandate.
- The partner organisation satisfies a priority need in CBM’s regional / country strategies.
- The partner organisation can provide evidence that the services provided are of good quality / technical standard
- Partner organisation provides the structures and personnel to efficiently and effectively implement CBM-supported interventions.
- The partner organisation has the competency to plan, implement, and evaluate activities.
- The partner organisation has a good name, credibility, and accountability within the target groups, community, and other donors.
- The partner organisation works within national policies and strategies.
- The partner organisation actively networks with related organisations.
- The services provided by the partner organisation are accessible to the very poor.
- The partner organisation understands CBM’s child protection policy and is committed to the protection of vulnerable children and adults.
- The above-mentioned criteria vary in terms of their application. They have to be handled flexibly because of country-specific conditions. The criteria are meant as guidelines in terms of development towards their fulfillment, i.e., to identify areas of development and to arrange "capacity development" plans together with partner organisations. At the same time, these criteria can be used for risk assessment when entering into a new partnership.
- A partnership contract regulates all rights and liabilities in a legally binding way. In addition, in most cases, a project contract fixes perennial project activities in a legally binding way.
Monitoring Mechanisms
The following mechanisms help CBM to assess the development of their partner organisations:
Further information: Regional Offices - Key Role in Partner Development and Sustainability
- Narrative monitoring report about implemented activities and fulfilled targets.
- Review of quantitative statistics.
- Regular financial reports.
- Annual audit of accounts by an independent auditor accepted by CBM.
- Regular project visits by regional directors, staff of CBM’s regional offices, or CBM’s professional advisors.
- Evaluation of selected project activities: In the future, an evaluation of every project is scheduled subsequent to the fulfillment of 3- to 5-year plans.
Further information: Regional Offices - Key Role in Partner Development and Sustainability
