What have I achieved with GPI?

My year placement here with GPI is almost at an end, my role was to capacity build and strengthen GPI, and enable it to make more impact in its programmes. My main focus was to conduct an organisational development analysis, produce a report summarizing my findings and to develop a programme of work to strengthen GPI according to my findings. I worked with GPI staff members, board members, beneficiaries, funders, other NGOs GPI works/partners with and ministries to conduct the analysis, as well as researching into common issues faced by NGOs operating in developing countries.

The analysis found that GPI has a clear focus – with a vision and mission which is relevant and understood by all staff, beneficiaries and organisations GPI works with. Staff held a passion for this vision and mission, and this driving force was one of the most significant factors in how GPI has succeeded for so long and how activities are delivered despite funding issues and low wages paid to staff. Seeing positive impact on lives and helping others were main motivations for staff to work at GPI. The similar passion and motivation of staff also helped with teamwork – there is a spirit of family within the organisation with everyone pitching in to help to ensure that activities being run are as effective as possible for the beneficiaries.

The weaknesses of GPI lay within the areas of:

·         commitment and role of the Board - the Board had not met or engaged with staff for 3 years

·         succession planning for the Founder Coordinator of the Calabar GPI centre - who is approaching retirement ,

·         structure and staff roles - there was consensus that “everyone did everything”

·         information management and sharing - there is a lack of computers and documents are not stored in a central location leading to duplication of work and loss of documents.

In order to help staff understand and own the findings of the report, I ran several activities including workshops exploring the issues, 1:1 interviews, solution focused workshops and focus groups. 

In total, there were 73 recommendations, ranging from small changes to long-term large change. Staff voted on the recommendations they feel are required to be implemented immediately and will make immediate impact. We now have nine work streams established:

1. Programme Management & Development – this involved introducing project management theory, practice and documentation enabling efficient and effective planning and delivery of activities. Training has been delivered and documentation is being used to manage all activities

2. Monitoring & Evaluation – this group is focusing on how GPI can monitor its long-term impact on the lives of beneficiaries, as there are effective M&E structures in place to evaluate activities as they occur

3. Succession planning – this group is working on a strategy to recruit a successor into GPI, currently they are working on producing a job description and person specification for the Coordinator role

4. Structure and roles of GPI – this group is considering the pros and cons of moving from having a general structure to introducing specialist roles (e.g. M&E officer, communications officer) and producing job descriptions for all roles

5. Remuneration – this group is exploring ways to increase benefits staff receive, including pension or healthcare plans and annual leave. They are currently benchmarking their own benefits against those given by other similar organisations/NGOs

6. Managing & storing information – this group is looking at internet/cloud storage for documentation and producing a guide and training for staff on how to store and save documents

7. Provision of IT equipment & IT Training – this group is reviewing the existing IT equipment and exploring options to increase staff’s skills using word, excel, email and internet

8. Funding and income – this group will explore how GPI can generate some income and other funding opportunities to ensure it received the necessary funds to continue its activities

9. Website Development – this group is expanding the capability of the current website to enable more social media/interaction with beneficiaries and to enable GPI to reach more beneficiaries

Another success achieved is the Board met, engaged and voted on the priorities for action – which was a direct result from the circulation of the OD report and its findings.

I have loved my placement here in Nigeria and will be very sad to leave GPI. GPI have welcomed me into their family and every day I enjoy getting up and going to work with such a dedicated group of people. GPI have the skills and ability to continue with the work streams and projects once I leave and I will continue to support them in any way I can, as the adolescent girls benefit hugely from the work of GPI.