Free guidance to help international development charities to diversify their income has been published.
Bond has put together a collection of case studies to help INGOs consider alternatives to a traditional grant funding model, to generate their own income and avoid funder restrictions whilst shifting both income and power to local communities.
The case studies aim to highlight examples of “innovative and sustainable income streams bypassing the limitations that funders place on them”, while helping to build equitable relationships with communities in lower- and middle-income countries.
Stephanie Draper, chief executive at Bond, said: “We hope that these case studies will inspire and inform INGOs to diversify their business models to shift power to local communities so they can generate their own income.”
Case studies
One case study, Restless Development: the consulting model, mentors and connects young people to lead change.
Where possible, young people deliver consultancy work based on their expertise without having to bring in external consultants, which generates income for Restless Development and helps to achieve strategic objectives to champion the power of young people, redefine expertise and restore power to communities.
The initiative supports young people to provide regular advice and guidance to institutions, governments, partners and corporations on how to develop strategies and approaches that include youth perspectives.
Another case study is Ripple Effect, which has been working with farming communities across East and Southern Africa since 1988.
After encountering increased challenges by relying on the traditional grant model, Ripple Effect embedded a more entrepreneurial mindset in the organisation in an attempt to drive sustainability.
It adapted its traditional grant-funded programme from community farmers volunteering their time to a paid-for service that generates an income for farmers.
Ripple Effect directly trains and upskills farmers to become peer farmer trainers, rather than using a consultant who does not understand the context.
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