OUR MANAGEMENT AND EVALUATION
How do we manage our portfolio (incl. explicit criteria for selection and prioritisation) and ensure adherence to the quality standards:
In early days of our organization, we focused on improving and implementing our own initiatives (trainings, methodologies, partnerships), while applying for announced competitions, writing projects, receiving grants, implementing projects, and getting results. The Fundraising Department monitors the announced competitions and we apply if it meets our main strategic development priorities and we have the appropriate qualified staff and resources to use. Today, recognizing our experience, many international donor organizations are offering us to be a partner for the programs and projects implementation.
The projects implemented by our organization make up the project portfolio. Each project has its own management system in accordance with CSDF procedures and taking into account the policies, procedures, and requirements of the donor/partner. The organization plans its activities: weekly, monthly, yearly, taking into account the timing of the project implementation. Project/idea management includes ongoing control and monitoring. We hold operational meetings every week. This allows us to respond flexibly to challenges, problems, calculate and avoid risks, take into account the changing environment, and take timely measures. Our motto is “doing the right thing”.
We strive to implement and adhere to the standards of the ISO 21504:2022 Project, program and portfolio management “Guidance on Portfolio Management”.
CSDF’s management and operations are based primarily on a virtual office, using modern innovative methods. The organization is implementing a knowledge management system to preserve institutional memory and the ability to develop and improve the knowledge and skills of specialists.
How we consider and meet beneficiary needs throughout the project development continuum:
CSDF has developed a special digital unique matrix (besed on metod DIY4Chane) for identifying stakeholders, the importance and influence of stakeholders. This matrix is user-friendly and customized to the requirements of government authorities and non-government organizations. The main categories of beneficiaries in our organization are: the initiator of the idea within the organization is interested in the implementation of the idea; the service customer – in the provision of quality services and results/impact; the project manager and project team – in achieving project success indicators; the community – in new knowledge, skills and project results, the use of new products; the government – in political and socio-economic efficiency, the implementation of good governance, compliance with international principles, standards and formats.
We prioritize understanding the expectations of the beneficiaries, providing an implementation model and delivering results with an impact assessment.
In addition, CSDF has developed a special monitoring and evaluation system – MiO Solve – an applied methodology for monitoring and evaluating participatory processes and public participation tools, which was tested in 2023 in a study of public participation tools of 18 Council of Europe partner communities.
Our strategy to ensuring equitable access to our project deliverables:
One of our approaches to managing the organization is to work through a virtual office, applying modern innovative methods. The organization is implementing a knowledge management system to preserve institutional memory and the ability to develop and improve the knowledge and skills of specialists. We actively use Google tools, which are also taught to stakeholders simultaneously with the implementation of projects and initiatives. All our techniques, results, most presentations, and products are publicly available. During the implementation of projects/initiatives, we also create separate digital spaces using our methodology.
Results of the independent evaluation
Each our project and initiative begins with a survey of key stakeholders and target audiences to determine their needs and expectations. We collect feedback on the results of our joint activities and measure, for example, the level of knowledge/skills/competencies of our participants, and create an “Audience Portrait.”
Some of our digital/electronic products even contain special blocks for testing the level of knowledge, obtaining certificates using a special methodology, for example:
- AABC development: Advanced Advocacy Boot Camps for 40 researches, think tank, transparency advocates from the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan. Three categories: budget data, citizen budget, budget advocacy/advocacy
- the first in the world interactive course on the proper identification of ultimate beneficial owners.
The financial position and financial management are carried out by a consulting company. Therefore, we are confident in compliance with Ukrainian legislation and a proper financial management culture. In addition, the organization has an Audit Commission.
We set a high standard for the implementation of ideas, initiatives, and projects, adhering to the principles and standards of good governance. The most important things for us are quality, timeliness, results, and real impact.
Our partners can speak for us best, as shown in an extract from a gratitude letter of Azaliya Daiirbekova, Chief of Party at USAID Social Innovation in Central Asia: “Your team has shown high professionalism, responsible attitude to work, kindness, and has clearly met all the agreed deadlines for the program. We hope that in the future our partnership will become even more fruitful and long-lasting. I sincerely wish you further professional growth, financial stability and reliable partners.”