Building Capacity and Capability

Through our Centre for Social Impact (CSI), established in 2014, the Kia Whiti Tonu series provided 5 free online workshops. These were convened in response to the need for support identified through the national COVID-19 impact survey CSI collaborated on: “Time to shine, time to take stock, time to shape our future”. Covering topics the sector told us were important such as “Strategy in a fast-changing world, learning from COVID” and “Grant Writing - Kick A** Content – Developing Winning Proposals” these digital webinars were well attended and remain available for anyone to access.

CSI also supported the development of the National Action Plan for Community Governance, facilitating a national process of co-design with people involved in community and NGO governance focusing on the actions needed to increase support for community governance, and build overall sector capacity. Formally launched in July 2020, a number of the identified actions are well underway with CSI continuing to actively support these. Learnings from the co-design process were captured and a practical toolkit for community groups to use, Sprinting For Good: Using Co-design to collaborate for Social Impact was launched in September. More detail on the Centre for Social Impact’s work can be seen here: www.centreforsocialimpact.org.nz/

Other contributions to strengthening community capacity included partnering with LEAD, Centre for Not for Profit Leadership on the provision of 6 Pacific Governance Workshops, 6 COVID-19 virtual workshops for community leaders, 2 online forums for Pacific leaders and on line coaching (individuals and Boards). ACE Aotearoa was supported to provide individualised support to a number of Pacific community groups through the year.

Building on our learning through GIFT, a Mauri Wānanga series was presented virtually by Te Kaa to deepen GIFT grantees appreciation and understanding of mauri and Te Ao Māori. This included a session held with four esteemed mauri practitioners. The Mauri Wānanga sessions inspired and generated an openness from people to listen and learn and work together in different ways to regenerate the mauri of Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-Toi. One participant commented, “With this knowledge, I will work to ensure that mātauranga Māori is prevalent in our mahi, and that we are viewing our mahi with the intent of mauri being honoured and valued”.