What is Strategic Mentoring Support?

 

Strategic mentoring is part of the EU TACSO 3 Capacity Development Programme and is envisioned as pragmatic and in-depth mentoring support from experts to CSOs and CSO networks in the Western Balkans and Türkiye (WBT). With this activity, EU TACSO 3 will provide targeted hands-on capacity development support to a limited number of CSOs representing current grant beneficiaries of the CSF regional projects. The support will be in-depth, tailored to individual organisations or networks, and pragmatic, resulting in concrete outcomes.

 

How does the Strategic Mentoring support work?

Strategic mentoring consists of the provision of an expert to work with a CSO or CSO network over a period of time to facilitate the development of a solution to an organisational challenge. Typically, up to 14 days of expert time is needed over a period of up to 6 months. The aim is to create an organisational solution that leads to tangible improvement in organisational performance.

The support will be provided in response to challenges identified by the interested organisations in areas of organisational development having strategic importance for the organisation or the network. Experience has shown that organisations often struggle to articulate the specific challenges they face. Typically, the definition of the challenge and solution is developed through initial contacts between the EU TACSO 3 Key Expert for Capacity Building and/or an assigned mentor and the applicant organisation. Usually, further diagnostics and reflection are needed to bring to the surface the real nature and extent of the challenge.

The EU TACSO 3 project will keep the scope of areas quite open considering the different needs of the organisations and networks including:  strategy building; Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL); funding strategies and fundraising; communication strategies; rights-based approaches and gender mainstreaming; green transition mainstreaming, research, advocacy and campaigning; information activism and data visualisation; internal governing structures and organisational development; constituency building, optimising FSTP procedures, and more.

The mentoring process is planned jointly between mentor and ‘client’ organisation, and approved by EU TACSO 3. Typically, the process will consist of a series mentoring sessions, which can be a combination of: facilitation of workshops, training, individual team members’ coaching; on-line sessions; practical work on documents, etc.

 

Who are the beneficiaries of the Strategic Mentoring Support?

 

Organisations targeted by the strategic mentoring support are CSOs and CSO networks (including project based networks) in receipt of regional/multi-country EU Civil Society and Media Facility (CSF) grants.
Organisations and solutions that have the potential for replication through sub-granting CSOs and networks will be preferred in order to maximise the impact of the intervention.

The EU TACSO 3 project will provide the following support to selected organisations:

– Support in the final assessment of the needs for mentoring support and defining the ToR for the engagement of the mentor;
– Engagement of one Senior Non-Key Expert mentor for a duration of up to 14 working days, including coverage of travel and accommodation costs when needed (up to two travels).

The beneficiaries of the strategic mentoring will be expected to:
– Cooperate with the selected mentor on the development of the mentoring plan and implementation of other tasks and activities agreed upon;
– To invite participants of the mentoring support to meetings, consultations, workshops and other related sessions and activities as agreed with the mentor;
– To provide the mentor with necessary documentation and information;
– To cover expenses related to the implementation of agreed mentoring activities (provision of meeting venues, travel of participants, refreshments, etc.);
– To prepare a short report on the effects of the mentoring process.

 

How are we going to select beneficiaries of the Strategic Mentoring Support?

 

The strategic mentoring support will be provided to approximately 7 CSOs or CSO/project networks representing current grant beneficiaries of the CSF regional projects. In the selection of the target group, the geographical and thematic balance will be considered, as well as the following criteria:
– Justification of the need for strategic mentoring in a particular area of organisational development;
– The feasibility of providing an effective solution to the identified organisational challenge through a mentoring process;
– The proposed level of involvement of the CSO members and staff and/or network members/project partners;
– Expected short-term effects of the mentoring support (i.e. strategy, action plan, policy, etc.); and
– The likely longer term effects, including consideration of a follow-up plan for application of the knowledge and outputs developed within the mentoring support.

 

What do we expect to achieve with Strategic Mentoring Support?

 

• Strategic mentoring support will be provided to approximately 7 CSOs or CSO/project networks – current regional CSF grant beneficiaries;
• Approximately 7 CSOs or CSO/project networks – current regional CSF grant beneficiaries should increase their knowledge in specific areas: strategy building; MEL; funding strategies and fundraising; communication strategies; rights-based approach and gender mainstreaming; green transition, research, advocacy and campaigning; information activism and data visualisation; internal governing structures and organisational development; constituency building; FSTP; etc. The provided list is not exhaustive.
• Approximately 7 concrete outputs will be delivered by 7 CSOs or CSO/project networks – current regional CSF grant beneficiaries, such as: strategy of the organisation/network; gender equality policy; green transition policy, communication strategy; advocacy strategy/campaign or brief/paper; system of internal governance; etc.
• Capacities of approximately 7 CSOs or CSO/project networks – current regional CSF grant beneficiaries will be increased to apply the knowledge and outputs provided within the mentoring support provided.

How to apply?

 

Are you committed to your organisational development and want to use the Strategic Mentoring Support? Please complete the Application form and submit it by 30 August 2024, 15:00 CET.
Do you have additional questions? Please contact Ms. Andreja Tonč, a Key Expert for Capacity Building, at capacitybuilding@tacso.eu for more information on the process.