Online Learning Overview: What the course environment is like.
Video: Intro to the Online Courses
Module 140: Creating a World Class Organization
OL 142 From Local Actor to International Professional. Aligning your organization to the world of impact.
6 Weeks.
Prerequisite for taking this course: OL 141 Getting the Job Done
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From Local Actor to International Professional: Aligning your organization to the world of impact. We will define impact, learn why it is important, and investigate what is working in development and under what circumstances. Discover the value of using global resources for your programming models and evidence-based field interventions. |
To learn about course fees and to register please go to the bottom of this page.
From Local Actor to International Professional: Aligning your organization to the world of impact. All organizations are busy. Many courses are academic rather than practical in nature. CSDi workshops are designed to provide organizational tools that yield rapid results, are easy to understand and utilize, and quick to implement.
Aligning your organizational programming to the world of impact.
In this workshop we will focus on getting your programming aligned to standards practiced by the international development community. The workshop is designed to improve your understanding of the complexities of community development and how your organization is positioned in the development world.
We will define impact–-and learn why it is important. We will investigate what is working in development and under what circumstances. You will discover the value of using global resources that can provide you with impact-oriented programming models and evidence-based field interventions. You will learn how your organization can embrace professional standards of practice utilized within the development community, and how collaborating with colleagues can increase impact.
The world of development.
Internationally Agreed Development Goals—IADGs, and Millennium Development Goals—MDGs. What are they and where did they come from? We will explore aligning mission and programming to international standards and discover where to find source materials for programming and operational best practices.
What is impact?
Definitions of outcomes and impact. Why is impact important? Why is it important now? We will learn how to clearly define the outcomes and the impact you hope to achieve through your organizational programming, and how to align your goals and outcomes with international goals so that you are in support of and contributing to a larger cause.
What works in development?
Common wisdom vs. scientific evidence. We will learn about randomized control trials, and explore the logic behind what works, under what circumstances, and at what cost. We will explore why it is important to use evidence-based project activities.
How can partnering increase regional impact?
We will argue that collaborating with other NGOs can support and complement each other’s work rather than duplicate efforts and compete for resources. Learn to present your project concepts to the beneficiary community (one of your partners!) for feedback and for continuing the process of developing community ownership. We will see how sharing your concepts with donors for their input can forge partnerships and fostering their sense of ownership in the project concept.
Each class assignment is a concrete step in aligning with the international community. We will connect class assignments to your organization by looking at key strategies that your organization practices in the light of internationally recognized development standards – identify areas that can use some fine tuning – and look at available tools for raising your organization’s bar.
We supply two levels of mentoring. Each week’s assignment will be accompanied by a clear, professional example of what we want you to achieve that week. It is yours to use as a template for your assignment. We will also provide comments, suggestions and encouragement for each one of your assignments individually. We want you to develop high quality outputs, and we also want you to understand the hows and whys.
The classes are designed to be fun and interactive: you will be collaborating with colleagues from around the globe. Who should attend? Southern and Northern development students, field staff, grant writers, project managers, directors, and donor staff.
king in development and under what circumstances. Discover the value of using global resources for impact-oriented programming models and evidence-based field interventions.
What Students Think About the Online Courses
Course Syllabus
Week 1. The World of Development
Internationally Agreed Development Goals—IADGs, and Millennium Development Goals—MDGs. What are they and where did they come from?
Aligning your mission and programming to professional standards practiced in the international development community.
Improve your understanding of the complexities of community development and how your organization is positioned in the development world.
Aligning your goals and outcomes with international goals so that you are in support of and contributing to a larger cause.
Week 2. What is Impact?
We will define impact–- learn why it is important – and why it is important now.
We will look at the relationship between outputs, outcomes and impact.
How to clearly define the outcomes and the impact you hope to achieve through your organizational programming.
Week 3. What works in development?
Common wisdom vs. scientific evidence.
Investigate what is working in development
Randomized control trials; explore the logic behind what works, under what circumstances, and at what cost.
Why is it important to use evidence-based project activities?
Discover the value of using global resources that can provide you with models for impact-oriented programming and evidence-based field interventions.
Planning for community engagement, empowerment and disengagement
Week 4. Learning
The importance of conducting baseline surveys
Putting a monitoring and evaluation plan into place to facilitate learning and gain a better understanding of impact
Develop a community feedback mechanism that allows field staff to know if information is understood -- and for continuing the process of developing community ownership
Incorporate lessons learned as the project continues
At project milestones, keep donors and evaluators informed.
Week 5. Wild Rogue or Team Player: Regional Partnerships
Collaborating with other INGOs in order to support and complement each other’s work rather than duplicating efforts and competing for resources.
Forging Partnerships: share your concepts with donors for their input and for fostering their sense of ownership in the project concept.
How collaborating with colleagues can increase regional impact.
Week 6. A Plan for Your International Vision:
Compare how your organizational vision relates to internationally recognized development goals
Are staff members properly trained for their positions with a basis in international standards?
What international support, tools and training are available to them?
What strategies are you currently using to fulfill your organizational vision: international ones?
Locating source materials for programming and operational best practices.
The Course will also Provides the Following Resources
Documents on course topics by contemporary experts.
Books, posters and manuals available online for download.
Internet development links organized by sector.
Class blog for sharing your stories and photos from the field.
Class forum for posting questions to your classmates.
There are no books to buy—all course materials can be linked to, or downloaded from the course site.
Course Fees
There is a prerequisite for taking this course: OL 141 Getting the Job Done. Please don’t sign up for this course if you haven’t successfully completed the prerequisites.
The 6-week course is $95.00 for citizens of developing nations living in a developing country (which includes an automatic $50.00 discount), and $145.00 for citizens/residents of developed countries if paid before July 16. If you have a question don't hesitate to contact us at: Online.Learning@csd-i.org .
Choose which price fits your profile and look for the corresponding number (1., 2., 3., etc.) in the dropdown payment menu.
1. $95.00 for developing country citizens: Early Bird Discount - register by July 16
2. $125.00 for normal registration after July 16
3. $145.00 for developed country citizens: Early Bird Discount - register by July 16
4. $175.00 for normal registration after July 16
Registration and Payment; there are only 2 steps for enrolling in the course:
1. Pay the course fee.
2. Fill out and email the Student Information Sheet to us.
We will send you a confirmation letter upon receipt of payment and Login information the day before the course begins.
To pay by Western Union, please write us for the transfer information: Online.Learning@csd-i.org .
To pay by debit or credit card, select the correct course cost below, enter your nationality, and click 'Add to Cart.'
When you are ready to pay, click ‘Proceed to Checkout.’ PayPal membership is not required to submit the payment; in the lower left you will see 'Don't have a PayPal account?' Click 'continue' and you will be linked to a form for non-PayPal members.
After paying, please fill out and email the Student Information Sheet to us.
You will be sent your Login username and password, and instructions for starting the course on Monday, August 16, 2010. We look forward to meeting you.
The online course will be led by Tim Magee, CSD’s Executive Director, who has over 30 years experience in both working with nonprofits and leading training workshops.
If you have a question don't hesitate to contact us at: Online.Learning@csd-i.org .
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Registration closes on August 17, 2010. Space is limited.
