The global development sector faces significant challenges, and many organisations are unsure how to respond.
To better understand organisational responses, SRI Executive, a leading Executive Search and Consulting practice, invited over 150 board chairs, board members, and senior executives of international NGOs to share their perspectives.
These were large organisations: 45% have a budget of between $10 -100 million, and 32% have more than $100 million. Geographically, they were evenly spread across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, with less representation from South America and the Pacific. Sectorally, they work across all areas of global development.
Current market sentiment is negative and expected to remain so for the next 12 months. Respondents recognise the challenges and are ready to respond with the right understanding, approaches, skills, leadership, and governance. Already, organisations are responding by refreshing their funding and resource mobilisation strategies and making organisational improvements.
Given the magnitude of the challenge, many are going further to reevaluate their organisational strategy and/or programme focus and scope, and look to redesign their organisation and/or operating model. Some are considering mergers and alliances to cope with recent upheavals.
With change happening so fast and many people’s friends, families and communities affected, time and organisational bandwidth are constraints.