HomeStarting a project is easy. All the more it’s easier to register an NGO or a civil society organization after identifying the need because of the passion that burns within. It takes less effort to begin a project than to sustain it long-term.
There is a difference between organizations that last a long time and those that wither and disappear into oblivion along the way. The difference is that the successful ones started with sustainability in mind. Even as they were meeting immediate needs they thought about laying the foundation and crafting strategies that will outlast the length of time.
First of all what makes civil societies fail?
- Lack of maintenance
Some NGOs do well to start nice projects and raise funds for the same. They go ahead and implement the programs and run the projects and start realizing the pre-conceived outcome.
However, when you assess those same programs three to five years in you discover that they died and the momentum snuffed out like a consumed wick. The reason is that there was no maintenance. The communities that were charged with ensuring the continuity of those programmes had not been trained. This tragedy happens when capacity building is not done satisfactorily.
Second of all, there is little follow up done by the organization to check if the programmes are working. With time then it’s hard to secure funds for more projects because donors decide to move to more sustainable organizations.
How do you solve this problem?
Hire the right staff. You need project managers and programme specialists who will specialize in those particular programmes. They will also be in charge of looking for extension officers who will do the fieldwork.
You also need these project professionals to ensure that there are funds available all the time to facilitate their activities. These people also should organize those departments in such a way that there is constant technical support. The target communities also need to be trained and the organization should build their capacity.
2. Taking on too many projects at once
There are organizations that take on too many projects at once or concurrently. With time they end up achieving temporary results because of the demanding nature that comes with taking on all that.
As a result, the organization’s resources are strained and donors start pulling out. When they see that there is no longevity or the success that was promised they start shying away from giving grants.
Solution
Take on a few projects that you can manage and see to the end. You can use them as portfolios to secure more funds and grants for other projects to come.
3. Lack of strategic planning
When you set out to achieve certain goals, sometimes NGOs tend to veer off course because of changes that hadn’t been anticipated. Failing to come up with effective strategies that will help you stay on course eventually grinds every other thing to a halt.
Solution
Come up with clear strategies that will accommodate all kinds of scenarios and angles. It doesn’t matter what challenges you face. As long as you had made plans and even prepared for emergencies, the organization will pull through any storm.
4. Lack of sufficient funds
Just as fuel is to a car so are funds to an NGO. Every organization needs funds to run operations, and projects, pay administration costs, pay salaries and so much more. However, when organizations become complacent and stop looking for additional donors and partners, they stumble.
Solution
Always be on the lookout for new funding opportunities. If there are grants being announced, the organization should look into them. Your communications department should also ensure that they are constantly crafting good proposals and sending them out to potential partners and donors. Lastly, maintain a good rapport and relationship with partners so that you can sustain the organization for generations.
