Citizen Base Initiative

CBI works not only to identify the best resource mobilization strategies, but to help CSOs develop the skills necessary to create resource mobilization strategies. To do this, CBI has developed several capacity building services to help CSOs learn and develop these skills. These services include a resource mobilization workshop, marketing and commu... nications workshop, and mentoring with private sector professionals. In the past four years, the CBI has offered capacity building services to over 500 CSOs in six countries. The Resource Mobilization Workshop is designed to help CSOs learn the basic skills required to identify and engage resources effectively. The workshops are developed out of the expressed needs and input from CSOs. Additionally the workshops focus on experiential learning pulling in resource people from the funding, corporate, and media communities. The Marketing and Communications Workshop is targeted at those CSOs that understand basic resource mobilization strategies. The marketing and communications workshop offers tangible skills to CSOs to help market and communicate their philosophies to a broader audience (i.e., citizen sector, business, etc.). CBI has created partnerships with a variety of local partners (e.g., McKinsey & Co.) to provide mentoring, training, and other professional services to CSOs. The biggest challenge confronting CSOs trying to mobilize resources is acquiring the skill set, mentoring, and funding to be successful. Through its capacity building services, CBI is able to provide services to CSOs that will allow them to acquire the skills necessary to be successful. Below is an example of a Capacity Building Workshop that took place February 3-5, 2003 in Argentina: February 3: Business Plan, McKinsey and IAE Business School During the morning Carlos Gómez Alzaga, a McKinsey consultant, conducted a Business Plan workshop providing organizations with practical techniques to create effective business plans, including Mission and Vision, Products, Marketing, Management Team, ...Read More