Does your National organisation have a clear vision of what kind of role it possesses and what activities it should do and which not?
Do you understand the National organisation as a single legal entity or an association of local ones? Or does it work more as a separate “superstructure” entity providing particular services supporting local YMCAs?
Movement Strengthening in YMCA Europe is aimed at building the capacity of organisations in different spheres including governance, internal policies, quality standards and strategic planning. By this article we want to provide some reflection about the role of National structure so to underline the importance of awareness in this topic.
What is the National Organisation?
This question is often asked within movements with a federated structure, where local organisations are independent ones and need particular clarity about their functions and the relationship and role of an umbrella organisation.
Local organisations are usually very focussed in grass-roots work, understanding needs of their communities, reaching and including target groups, building local partnerships, working with volunteers, empowering and growing leaders naturally.
Small local organisations often search for National and International partnerships in order to obtain new knowledge and expertise; reach new spaces for volunteers’ motivation and leaders’ growth; find new financial resources; strengthen image and identity in a local community; and, of course, enhance their mission implementation. This is the reason why networks of YMCAs are so natural and easy-growing. Having the same values, mission, target groups and similar programmes create favourable conditions for associations.
Quite often it is the history which determines the structure. It is more likely to have an association if several independent YMCAs are developing simultaneously in a country. If there is a clear lead in one city, then the structure is most likely centralised.
We already wrote about the difference between federated and single entity structures; peculiarities; advantages and disadvantages. You can find more information here.
Here we provide the list of key functions of the National Organisation. It may vary depending on the type of the structure, number of local organisations, strategic directions, registration laws, social context, geography etc.
The most common functions of National Organisation are the following:
- Legality and risk management
- Ensuring proper registration and functioning according to the laws of the country;
- Brand protection;
- Good legal conditions for Staff and their social protection;
- Ensuring property protection (if any);
- Monitoring and managing risks;
- Intervention where appropriate;
Finding Synergies for bigger Impact
- Consolidation and synergy in social work for enabling a greater impact;
- Broadly discussing and agreeing on the common strategy;
- Building joint advocacy agenda and promoting it;
- Joint elaboration of relevant policies, procedures, internal rules;
- Consolidation for more funding and partnership;
- Internal networking;
Representation
- Maintaining relations with national authorities (e.g. public donors, relevant ministries);
- Representation at National and International level;
- Facilitation of joint brand creation;
Specific services
- Assisting local organisations in capacity building: human resources development, governance, fundraising strategies, minimum standards, etc.;
- Monitoring minimum quality level;
- Training and Education;
- Accounting support (keeping the books for some local associations);
- Administration and legal support;
Democratic Governance development and maintenance
- Ensuring the key principles of democratic governance are implemented in a full scope (fair elections, transparency, accountability, succession, participation, youth empowerment, representation, diversity and inclusion, etc.);
- Widely discussing and elaborating all needed internal policies and procedures (whistle blowing policy; safeguarding; child protection; conflict of interest one; inclusion and diversity; code of conduct; environmental policy; ethical investment; internal communication policy; etc.);
- Ensuring leadership succession and continuity;
- Ensuring evaluation process of Board and Staff;
- Ensuring efficient internal communication, etc.
The project “Organic Governance and Quality Development” is supported by Erasmus+, Key Action 2 programme.
