Small NGOs Group
The Small NGOs Group has around 50 members who have come together to facilitate the involvement of small international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in policy deliberations and to achieve greater recognition for the distinctive contribution of small NGOs. The Group provides a means for small civil society organisations that frequently lack the organisational capacity to engage in consultation processes and policy discussions to make their collective, diverse voices heard.
The Group is currently not meeting, and exists for now as a "virtual" group.
Origins of the Group
In 2003, BOND was approached by the House of Commons International Development Select Committee to help organise an informal session with smaller NGOs. The purpose of the informal session was to give smaller NGOs an opportunity to raise issues concerning their engagement with DFID and the Committee. A group of some fifty representatives of small and medium sized agencies met in July 2003 to discuss this opportunity.
In September 2003, representatives of small NGOs, both BOND members and non-BOND members, wrote a paper and had an informal meeting with the International Development Committee which then sent a letter to DFID outlining their concerns.
On 2 April 2004, Small NGOs representatives met at BOND to discuss DFID's response to the submission and to consider how to take this work forwards. It was generally agreed that a permanent Small NGOs group would be formed, with a rotating 'steering committee' to carry out specific work on behalf of the wider group.
Group News
2007
In autumn 2007, there will be a chance to join the new BOND Peer Review groups for programme staff in small NGOs.
During 2006-07, fourteen programme officers or managers from small NGOs have been meeting in two small groups using a peer review process developed by the facilitator, Vicky Cosstick, who is one of the organisational learning consultants to the Learning and Training Team at BOND. The previous year, there was a similar group of directors of small NGOs, who then recommended the process to their own staff and other organisations. The peer review process is highly structured, involving two or three group members at each meeting presenting an issue or problem that they are facing (in usually up to 8 minutes) and then receiving feedback from the rest of the group in the form of questions for clarification, affirmation and challenge.
2005
At the last meeting on 13 December 2005 it was noted that attendance at the Small NGOs Group is falling, so it was decided to stop calling Group meetings for now, and make the Group virtual and reactive. The Group will continue as an e-list, and will remain a part of BOND's structures, particularly for dialogue and engagement with government. Meetings will only be called if a pressing agenda or opportunity presents itself.
The participants in the 13 December meeting proposed a sub-group on peer learning which has started meeting. The proposal is that this group meet regularly over two years, establish trust and exchange experiences on learning and change in small organisations.
Group Meeting Minutes
Group Archive
2005
Follow up letter to Big Lottery Fund Board in September 2005
Letter to Big Lottery Fund Board in May 2005 on plans for the development of its International Programme.
Response from Gareth Thomas to the Small NGOs Group
2004
Letter of December 2004 to Gareth Thomas commenting on changes to the CSCF criteria
Submission to the Big Lottery Fund consultation in September 2004 on the shape of the new distributor
Submission on 4 August 2004 to a consultation on the criteria of DFID's Civil Society Challenge Fund (CSCF)
Letter submitted to the International Development Committee to inform their review of DFID's Annual Report 2004
Table submitted to the International Development Committee to inform their review of DFID's Annual Report 2004
2003
Response from DFID to the Small NGOs submission - 04 November 2003
Letter sent with the submission from the International Development Committee Clerk to DFID
Informal notes on the International Development Committee meeting on 09 September 2003
Original Small NGOs submission to the International Development Committee