Published: June 23, 2020

Our dear colleague and Technical Advisor Lisa Nixdorf has brought into being a new Community of Practice for TAs working in the field of Social Enterprise. Lisa works with our Partner Organisation ANPPCAN – the African Network for the Prevention and Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect – in Kenya. She assists the network in expanding their commercial activities in order to foster their financial independence.

She found there was a need for this CoP, since there is very little literature and research to be found on the topic and only recently have donors and development partners startet to focus more on the topic. However, more and more TAs are working in this field – or related ones as e.g. Resource Mobilisation, Financial Sustainability, Fundraising and/or Business Partnering – and see themselves confronted with a lack of related practical reports, methods and/or tools etc. That’s the reason why the global CoP seemed like a great idea to her in order to create a space where TAs can exchange knowledge and experiences as well as elements of “peer coaching” concerning their assignments.

Her initiative was quite successful so far – but see for yourself:

This is what Lisa told us:

“The first webinar of the Community of Practice “Social Enterprise” took place on May, 14th 2020. The Community of Practice has been brought into being in order to connect Technical Advisors working in the area of Social Enterprise. Networks like these are very important, as the topic, over the last couple of years, has gained specific relevance as a resource mobilisation strategy for Non-Governmental Organisations of the Global South. In the scope of the CoP eight HORIZONT3000 Technical Advisors from seven different countries of assignment across the globe meet up on a monthly basis, in order to exchange experiences and discuss certain topics regarding Social Enterprise. Besides, the CoP organises webinars for Partner Organisations and other interested Technical Advisors to inform them about aspects and strategies of Social Enterprise.

To make a start I moderated the first webinar, which focussed on the definition of Social Enterprise, possible legal structures and challenges in the restructuring of an NGO into a Social Enterprise. Next month we are going to dig deeper into the institutional processes of the transformation.”

By now, a second webinar has been held on June 18. Our colleagues Agnes Koechl, who works as a TA in Uganda, and Martina Luger, Programme Coordinator Mozambique and Klima Kollekte, facilited the exchange on “Organisational Change Mangement for Social Enterprise” and discussed organisational change processes necessary for NGOs transitioning to social enterprises. We appreciate Lisa’s initiative and are looking forward to the upcoming events and exchanges.

For our virtual Community of Practice (CoP) on Systematization Method, the corona crisis has not had major impacts. We still meet regularly (every 2 months) virtually and exchange and learn about the use of the systematisation method. Our colleagues Annika Witte and Jana Ongoma Schwerdtfeger have carried out an evaluation of the promotion and use of the systematisation method in East Africa during the last months. Interested? Click here and download the evaluation. Our CoP is planning to adapt and revise our HORIZONT3000 experience capitalisation process by integrating a clear strategy and guidance for the promotion and use of systematisation method for experience capitalisation.

Most of the winners of our last KNOWLYMPICS have already decided on how to use their prize money! The Catholic Dioceses of Daru-Kiunga in Papua New Guinea (find their Rainwater Management experience by clicking the button below) will invest in computer equipment and training courses for their staff. In El Salvador, FSM will use their prize to produce videos in order to share their knowledge on organic farming and horticultures with others; and FUNDESYRAM will invest in medicinal plant gardens and wood saving cooking stoves. One organisation still has to decide on how to invest their prize money. We wish all partners a successful implementation of the selected initiatives.

Two Partner Organisations in East Africa (AFIRD in Uganda and GROOTS Kenya) have had an online introductory training to Knowledge Management and they are motivated to further improve their Knowledge Management processes! Annika Witte (TA for KM in East Africa) together with Petra Herout are elaborating a KM self-assessment tool and testing it with these two organisations. Stay informed and let us know if you are interested in running a self-assessment on KM!