How can we govern effectively?

Effective organisations constantly challenge themselves to do better. Using as a case study the Bank of England, this article explores how diversity can lead to multifaceted, transformational progress.

Multifaceted and big challenges often exist in organisations, and governance can be pivotal in addressing these. Our paper, the Essentials of Governance, presents the “5M Model” (summarised below). It was created by Dr. Peter Moore, one of our advisors, who is a specialist in Governance and Strategy. To learn more, click here.

In many countries, BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) communities are often subjected to discrimination, marginalisation, stereotypes, and social exclusion. Seeking to promote equality and diversity, African Relief Support, a recently established charity based in Glasgow (Scotland), works to support the integration of BAME communities and asylum seekers. We have just started contributing to their work through the facilitation of a team development and strategy renewal process.

At Caplor Horizons, we strive to become an anti-racist organisation. Supported by our advisors and Directors of ELS Education, Chandra Ladwa and Saf Ghapson, pictured below with Lorna, we are taking steps to make progress.

Change makers of the week:

Quote of the week: “When we listen and celebrate what is both common and different, we become wiser, more inclusive, and better as an organisation.” — Pat Wador

How can we learn to create transformational change?

How can we learn in ways that can bring about transformational change? For those of us that have had the opportunity of education, what is often missing is learning about learning itself. The same often applies to teams and organisations as a whole. Our “Essentials of a Learning Organisation”, which you can read here, seeks to address this gap.

In The Gambia, since 2018, we have been working with our partner United Purpose on a programme with a women-led marketing federation. The Sosolaso (meaning “all united) project has been working to improve the livelihoods, nutrition and networks of around 30,000 women farmers. We have learnt from the way participants engage with each other and us. The women involved, for example, learn in creative and distinctive ways, including song and dance.

This year, with our partners from TARUD and WIG, through interviews led by Baai Jaabang (TARUD), Isatou Ceesay (WIG) and Fatou Jaiteh (University of the Gambia), we undertook an impact study about this work stream. This included a focus on identifying the unintended consequences of the activities we and others have been contributing to. This is our first initiative of such a significant scale and provides us with an opportunity for reflection to learn and improve. We would like to thank all involved in The Gambia and Sam Bishop (University of Bath) for their valuable contributions. You can read a summary of the report here.

This week, we have resumed our in-person work in The Gambia. In our two forums, we will facilitate the next phase of the process of capacity development. The women involved are striving to efficiently market their products, strengthen their relationship with stakeholders and promote ownership and sustainable change.

Strengthening the role of women in agriculture produces long-term, positive results for farm families and their neighbours. The UN's FAO asserts, for instance, that abolishing gender-specific barriers in farming would not only unleash women’s highest economic potential, but it would also eliminate hunger for 150 million people. You can read more about this research and other insights in this National Geographic article.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week: “No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half its citizens.” - Michelle Obama

Making the best strategic decisions in today's world!

How can we make better strategic decisions in the world we live in? A new piece of research in the international non-profit sector has identified five main pointers for decision making in complex, uncertain times. These are:
1. Focus on the values-driven ‘how’, rather than the uncertain ‘what’
2. Increase diversity to build collective intelligence to ‘look around and look ahead’
3. Use this opportunity to innovate, learn, unlearn and set the precedent for the possible
4. Use scenarios across different timescales with the whole organisation
5. Rethink adaptable strategies to embrace emergent change within a long-term view.
You can read more on this here.

Thank you! We have just facilitated the last of three main strategy renewal sessions with TechnoServe, a process all about facilitating good strategic decision making. Engaging with TechnoServe’s impressive team from 30 programmes worldwide, these sessions have consistently involved 10-15 of our wonderful facilitators. Even though there's still more work ahead of us, we wanted to say a huge thank you to all those who have been involved!

To fight human trafficking, we must move beyond understanding and towards educating. Celebrated today, this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons highlighted the importance of education; of listening to and learning from survivors of human trafficking. This article points to how appropriate support to survivors can help lead to a life of sustained freedom.

One of our partners, Ella’s, works with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. They are a UK-based charity who seek to ensure survivors have all they need to recover and build lives that are safe and free. We recently supported their strategy renewal process; facilitating discussions to help enable their very committed and highly skilled team identify and make the best strategic decisions possible for the future.

Change maker of the week:

This short video provides a glimpse into what Pandiyan leaves behind and what he stood for.

Quote of the week: “When you listen, it's amazing what you can learn. When you act on what you've learned, it's amazing what you can change.” - Audrey McLaughlin

What can we learn from our youth?

Young people can turn their energy and creativity towards solving difficulties. Celebrated in recent days, this year’s World Youth Skills Day paid tribute to the resilience and creativity of youth. In her short TED-Talk, 12-year-old Adora Svitak challenges us to reconsider what “childishness” is. She invites adults to engage in child-like thinking to bring about change. To watch, click here.

One of our partners, Paper Boat, works in hard-to-reach communities in India to inspire and enable children to bring about change. They work with children and young people through creative approaches to build their confidence, resilience, and acceptance of self.

We recently facilitated an away day with Paper Boat trustees and staff in the UK. After 18 months of not meeting in-person, due to the pandemic, they reconsidered the most effective route to follow to keep on enabling the transformational and meaningful work they do.

To know more about Paper Boat's work, in partnership with CEDAR, you can watch this short, 2-minute video

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week: "The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible, and achieve it, generation after generation" - Pearl S. Buck

Can our vote save our planet?

Climate change and biodiversity loss are the greatest threats humanity has ever faced. They are sometimes referred to as the two most important, or core, “planetary boundaries”. These elements are at the heart of our strategy, which you can read here.

The Commitment is an initiative within Caplor Horizons that works to put climate change and the natural world higher up the political agenda. It has recently published its third research paper: "Climate Change and Biodiversity: Connecting voters with politicians", which was a joint political research project with our partner  Hope for the Future.

The research and was based on interviews with 41 UK politicians, as well as wider analyses and conversations. The Commitment's approach was described as  “unique” and “refreshing". One of the main findings was that it is "clearly differentiated from petitions and similar campaigning tools". You can read the full report here.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week: "We have a responsibility to protect the rights of generations, of all species, that cannot speak for themselves today. The global challenge of climate change requires that we ask no less of our leaders, or ourselves" - Wangari Maathai

What is feminist leadership and why does it matter?

Feminist Leadership could spur significant change. This article by Devex explores how embedding it in the culture and approach of organisations could make the development sector more inclusive and accountable.

At Caplor Horizons, we have engaged in different ways to deepen our understandingunderstanding and commitment to Feminist Leadership. Together with our advisors, Professor Sharon Turnbull and Dr Lynne Sedgmore CBE, we wrote our latest Thought Leadership Paper: “Feminist Leadership – a post-patriarchal paradigm”. You can read it here.

We believe there is no change without cultural change. This includes addressing the issue of gender equality. As a result, we developed our “Culture for Justice”. This is an integral part of our strategy. You can read more about our Culture for Justice and how we are living it here.

ActionAid Ireland has been very proactive in its commitment to Feminist Leadership. This has been focused upon as a central part of a strategy renewal process we are facilitating. We are appreciative of the opportunity to work with such a highly progressive group of people.

Change makers of the week:

Quote of the week: “Culture does not make people. People make culture. If it is true that the full humanity of women is not our culture, then we can and must make it our culture." - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

How can self-care support climate action?

The path to climate action starts with our mindset. In her TED Talk, researcher Clover Hogan explains why challenging the stories that make us feel powerless can help us to take the first step to protect the planet for generations to come. To listen to her talk, click here.

The impact of climate change affects people and the planet in multiple ways. For many across the world, it can cause great harm to mental and emotional health. In some areas, it can significantly threaten a community's livelihoods, for example, through increased hunger.

In the UK, Climate Emergence is holding an event to consider the interplay between self-care and the climate emergency. It is a free online event taking place on Monday the 12th of July from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm (UK time). You can register here.

We have just had a strategy renewal process with The Commitment, incubated by Caplor Horizons. In our discussions, we reviewed the current elements of the strategy, and defined a new vision, "a world with a safer climate and recovering nature" and purpose "giving politicians a powerful reason to act on the climate and the natural world". We look forward to sharing more soon!

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week: “Self-care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others. Anytime we can listen to true self and give the care it requires, we do it not only for ourselves, but for the many others whose lives we touch.” – Parker Palmer

How we meet and why it matters

We can create collective meaning in modern life, one gathering at a time. In a conversation with Priya Parker, the author of "How we meet and why it matters", Brené Brown explores how organisations can harness the power of coming together in a changing world, both virtually and in person, to create meaningful connections. To listen to the podcast, click here.

We all have different responses to change. For some countries, opening up and the return to in-person gatherings after a year online will entail a significant process of adaptation and reflection. Professor Sharon Turnbull, one of our advisors, has developed a framework to show how we respond to change in different ways. Her research reveals these responses are not fixed and that it is possible to influence change through clear leadership strategies, bringing about strengthened team-working. To read the paper, click here.

This week, we have been supporting our partner, Ella’s in reviewing and renewing their strategy. Ella’s is a UK-based charity that works with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. We are working with the team to strengthen their leadership and organisational effectiveness, whilst emphasising the importance of wellbeing and compassion.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week: "Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success" - Henry Ford

Is there a power to leading with kindness?

Kindness has the power to transform teams, including those working remotely. A recent article, written in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, discussed how cultivating a culture of kindness in the workplace can lead to greater collaboration, innovation and productivity. This is more difficult for teams not meeting face to face like they did before the pandemic, as serendipitous encounters sparking kind interactions do not happen in the same way. Thus, it is more important than ever to proactively create opportunities for kindness. To read the article, click here.

Organisational values play a big role in encouraging a culture of kindness. Values can be at the heart of teamworking. Our Thought Leadership paper ‘Understanding, Living and Leading the Values of your Organisation’, written by Professor Sharon Turnbull, explores how having a values at the heart of organisational culture can help provide a greater sense of purpose, direction and focus. To read, click here.

We’re hiring! Could you use your experience of fundraising and communications to help us to continue to learn, think and act differently? We're hiring two new positions to start in September 2021. To find out more and to apply, click here for the ‘Partnerships Coordinator’ role and here for the ‘Partnerships Director’ role. The deadline for applications is 1st June 2021.

Change maker of the week:

Quote of the week: "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness" - Dalai Lama

How can we lead with our moral compass?

The coronavirus pandemic continues to cause great suffering in many countries, including India. To read an article by Arundhati Roy, that explores some of the challenges faced, click here.

Like so many people responding to the pandemic, T. Raj, who leads the NGO Children Watch, is helping to address some of the inequalities communities are facing. Based in Tamil Nadu, Children Watch has engaged with the Irula community in significant ways. For example, it has worked with 200 families to support their emergency response and rehabilitation initiatives. We would like to extend out gratitude to the people within the Caplor Community who have supported Raj and his team through previous appeals.

Raj embodies what it looks like to lead with a moral compass, showing how, through action, it is possible to inspire people to build a better world. Click here to read Professor Sharon Turnbull’s paper "Learning to Lead with a Moral Compass". It sets out how leaders who use their moral compass are conscious of two overarching points: how they contribute outside their organisations to make a sustainable difference in the world and how they contribute inside their organisations to build a lasting, moral and values-based culture.

Change maker of the week:

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Quote of the week: "Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world... would do this, it would change the Earth" - William Faulkner