How The Landscape Will Change for us Partnership Professionals
Venatius Tsi Fon
Strategic Partnership /External Relations /Resource Mobilization Expert
As partnership experts, we really need to shift our focus from resource mobilization to partnerships. The funding landscape will become tougher for us all with different governments cutting their funding.
We must really diversify our partnerships by engaging more high-net-worth individuals. I mean Dangote in Nigeria alone can cover funding gaps for any programmes in Nigeria.
If you include Tony of UBA bank and the others, then partnership specialists in Nigeria for example can easily start practicing strategic local partnerships with high-net-worth individuals, private sector, with the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as leveraging funding from IFIs and others including the Nigerian Diaspora.
We must have a paradigm shift in the way we strategically engage, because it’s not going to be business as usual. We must step up our advocacy game especially in countries where funding is available locally from the government. We should ensure we advocate that these funds are channeled to the right social sectors.
In lower and upper middle-income countries, we must tap into the middle class to fund local initiatives. We must develop win- win partnership that are monetary and non-monetary with local businesses, foundations , philanthropists and high net worth individuals.
We must in country where there is a big diaspora population engage them in program developments. This is so they can co-fund programmes in their respective countries/communities and ensure that there is ownership and sustainability of programmes.
When drafting sustainability components in all proposals, we really need to ensure that the sustainability approach is strong, smart and feasible.
It's going to be tough, but programme countries MUST also start filling the gaps with local funding. The governments in the programme countries must really sit up. Development is for the people and the local governments really need to fulfil their own responsibilities for their people.
As we navigate this difficult landscape, my thoughts are with those who have lost their jobs. I am also available to review CVS and cover letters of colleagues who are applying just to support them in this process and show that they are not alone.
We are in this together, we will thrive because this too shall pass.
Ven
Facilitator/Moderator, Author/Ghostwriter, Podcaster, Learning Resource Design. Facilitator: ECB, UNICEF, UN Women, UNHCR; Author - 20 Books - for Pearson Education, BBC. Podcaster for Scott-Bradbury.
5moA UNICEF office I am working with currently is looking at 'who do we know?' and Stakeholder Mapping. Larger country offices with hundreds of staff must have amazing connections with high net-worth individuals and big businesses. Every staff member needs to see themselves as part of a PR/Marketing/Promotions team. The capacity of a UN Country Office to survive will increasingly depend on its autonomous ability to raise funds.
Marketing Communications Professional | Public Relations Expert Empowering Brands & Businesses is my goal | Driving Growth & Impact | Storyteller & PR Strategist | Dynamic Entrepreneur | Collaborative Team Player
6moA very timely article, thanks for sharing Sir
Managing Partner, VV-SamNdim and Partners. CEO Trade and Investment Assistance Center.
6moThis Is required reading. Our conversations with partners have to be for mutual gain. We have private investors burdened with high interest loans. We need constructive joint ventures with financial partners to pay off high interest loans stalling growth and use new finance to scale productivity.The engine of economomic growth.
Head of Office @ LUKMEF | MBA, PROSCI ®(Change Management)
6moInsightful
--Project Manager
6moInsightful