CSO training

The three days training for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) was conducted at United Nations house and around twenty registered participants attended the training.

As CSOs are new in Bhu­tan, they are behind in run­ning the organizations. Mainly the organizations lacked skills in fund rais­ing and media engagement. Trainers from different agen­cies, from abroad and Bhutan educated the participants.

On first day, the par­ticipants were trained in strategic planning, iden­tifying great partnership and networking skills. Key aspects of proposal writing and donors reporting were also explained. On second day, media being the part of civil society, the participants were trained how to engage in media, SWOT analysis; developing media strategy, leadership in resources mobilization and the boards’ role in fundraising.

The founder of Bhutan Media and Communication Institute (BMCI), Pushpa Chhetri made the participants to do exercise on Strengths, Weakness, Oppor­tunities and Threats (SWOT) on communication in their organization. She said that CSOs fail to use the media and it affects their organiza­tions. Now she hopes that after briefing how to use me­dia, it will help in their sus­tainability.

Participants were taught to develop fundraising tar­get or budget projections and recovering administra­tive costs on the last day.

One of the participants Sonam Tshomo said, “This training provided us the platform to network and raise fund, tapping on right people to generate income for CSO and to carry out the activities.” She also said that this is the good networking place to not only to collabo­rate together but to know some new faces to work to­gether in future.

One of the participants said that the CSOs are in in­fant stage and need different trainings. “I think we need such programs in different aspects and appreciate for or­ganizing such program which will help to make job effective in future”, she added.

Facilitator and expertise in philanthropy and fund­raising consultant, Maree Whybourne said, “We are here mainly to help CSOs to develop the capacity in Bhu­tan.” The main objective of the program is to bring some of her experiences and help to fill the gap that society has. Financial is the main factor for the sustainability of CSO and the training on fund raising will guide them to approach the donors and budget projections. One of the participants shared the ideas of allocating the bud­get and ways to look for the funds.

Chief executive officer of Australian Himalayan Foundation, Carolyn Hamer-Smith said, “CSOs in Bhutan have brighter future.” She enlightened the CSO run­ners on strategic planning and leadership in resources mobilization. This will help them to plan and administer the organizations.

The training was funded and partners by Bhutan Foundation and Australian Himalayan foundation.

 

By Leki Dema