When a cause moves forward, your role needs to be redefined.
Expectations regarding the new role of a civil society organization
After more than a decade leading the development of a national public education initiative, a civil society organization faced a new challenge: redefining its role in a landscape where the policy was already in place. The situation called for less mobilization and more strategic support and forward-thinking.
What kind of leadership is expected of an organization when its main project moves from the mobilization phase to the sustainability phase?
Listening to the Ecosystem
An in-depth qualitative study was conducted, involving individual interviews with various stakeholders from third-sector organizations, board members, sponsors, and decision-makers associated with the educational project ecosystem. The methodology sought to integrate different perspectives on expectations, challenges, and the organization’s strategic role.
From Builder to Guardian
The research revealed the organization’s historical role as a key player in shaping public policy. At the same time, a vague sense of uncertainty emerged regarding its future direction. Now that the groundwork had been laid, what would its new role be?
There was a strong expectation that the organization would position itself as a guardian of the policy, responsible for ensuring the quality of its implementation, identifying deviations, upholding standards, and driving its evolution over time.
Based on these readings, it was possible to:
When you listen thoughtfully and responsibly, the future is no longer just a guess.
