Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Please follow the guidelines issued by the WHO and your respective countries agencies and help in the effort to contain the spread of the Corona virus.
The Corona virus has a tight grip on the world and is dominating the news cycle. On our website, we have published articles and online courses outlining steps NGOs can take to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus.
But what about donors?
Some donors moved quickly and are working closely with grantees, where relevant, on a rapid response. Others are just beginning to strategize on the role they could play. In this article, we want to highlight a number of issues that donors should consider in their coronavirus response.
Start planning your response NOW (virtually)
Do you have a plan in place? If not, you need to (virtually) meet with your team to plan both your immediate response and the steps to be taken over the next few months. Your grantees will look to you for guidance. Your plan also needs to build in the required flexibility to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.
Some donors might temporarily scale down operations and ask their grantees to do the same. While the immediate focus is on slowing the spread of the virus, many grantees may have important roles to play in the aftermath of the crisis. Donors should conduct a quick and dirty SWOT analysis to identify their capacity and define the unique contribution they can make right if any.
Connect with your grantees
If they have not yet reached out to you consider immediately contacting all your grantees. Reiterate the need for staff safety, communicate concern and support, and request an update on their contingency planning. Advise grantees that you are there to help them think through some of the issues. Explain that in many cases scaling down or stopping programs completely might be the best short-term course of action. Stress the need to use reliable news sources like the WHO and the relevant authorities in their country and community for planning purposes, and to share where relevant this information with their beneficiaries. Share some of the many great resources available, including the course and resources we developed: Fundraising in the Time of the Coronavirus
Create flexible guidelines
You have likely spent significant time, energy, and thought on developing robust guidelines for your grants to further your mission. Now is the time to review and adapt them to the new reality. Can you review existing grants and repurpose the funding if required? Can you extend deadlines and reporting requirements? Can you allow funding to be used for pure overheads, to ensure that staff continues to get paid if the grantee scales down it is programming? Should future grants be used for coronavirus response? Answering these questions can help support staff members and their families, as well as ensure a quick scaling up when program continuation is possible again in the future.
Consider additional funding
If grantees are engaged in the early response and rapidly scaling up their coronavirus operations, consider what role you might play. Speed in decision making and fund disbursement is key, so the usual application and documentation requirements may not be appropriate. Your current grantees have a track record and trust in their capacity is critical. A willingness to take a risk and accept both quick wins and strategic failures is key.
If the grantee decided to scale down or temporarily shut its doors, review what operational and financial support you can provide. When the situation stabilizes these grantees will be critical in the long term response to the aftereffects of the crisis. Carefully consider the ethical considerations to both the organization, its staff, and the beneficiaries that rely on the programming.
How to pivot as an NGO – The fight against Corona virus
Connect and support your peers
While your closest partnerships are likely with your direct grantees, connecting with other partners and donors can lead to reciprocal learning, mutual support, and multiply impact. How do others handle the situation? Do they need support? Can you create additional impact by forming new partnerships? Can you share resources? Building on and creating new communities of support can make a significant difference.
Staff healthy and safe
Lastly, in everything you do keep yourself, your team, and your community safe. We very much welcome your feedback and comments and wish you good health and safety in these difficult times.
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