ONE plan ONE goal Rights and opportunities for every child Plan s strategy to 2015 Photo: Plan / Warisara Sornpet
this strategy is a bold move to position Plan as a leading child rights organisation, backed by our quality programmes, our reach in over 60 countries and our expertise. Nigel Chapman, CEO introduction Plan has a vision: a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people s rights and dignity. today, hundreds of millions of children remain without their rights. We believe this is totally unacceptable. our strategy explains how Plan is going to address those wrongs and work towards enabling every child to have rights and opportunities. Photo: Plan Plan s strategy to 2015 has one goal: to reach as many children as possible, particularly those who are excluded or marginalised, with high-quality programmes that deliver long-lasting benefits. Getting there will not be easy but we know it can be done. It will require focus, dedication and attention to detail. It also requires us to build on what we do best, and not be afraid to modernise less effective practices. the strategy focuses, therefore, on areas that will have the biggest impact in driving us towards our one goal. we will: Increase the number of individual and institutional supporters from existing and new fundraising countries Improve our policies, systems and processes Collaborate more strategically with other organisations there is also a bigger ambition to take into account. In the process of delivering this strategy, we are determined to become one Plan, a more effective, efficient and collaborative organisation whose individual parts are all striving towards our one goal. 2
Responding to a changing world This strategy, set in 2011, responds to global trends including increasing urbanisation, greater inequalities within populations, more disasters and a changing climate, pockets of fastgrowing youth populations, and new insights into poverty. In particular it responds to the findings of the 2010 mid-term review of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which concluded that, despite some successes, specific groups are still missing out. Without addressing marginalised and excluded groups, the MDGs will not be achieved. The strategy also reacts to the demands of donors for a sharper focus on results to prove the effectiveness of aid in the developing world. That is why we have set out to become more accountable and transparent, setting clear targets and measuring and reporting our progress against them. Finally, the increasingly complex causes of poverty require organisations to collaborate even more, providing complementary skills and resources. We will, as a result, continue to develop strategic partnerships with other organisations, civil society, governments and the private sector. Photo: Plan / Jane Hahn 3
Our work: children are at the heart of what we do and how we do it The foundation of all Plan s work is the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, which is why we take a rights-based approach to development and humanitarian response in short, putting children at the heart of all we do. It is our view that boys and girls themselves should have the opportunity to be fully involved in setting priorities, developing strategies, assessing progress in their communities, preparing for disasters, and taking part in decisions that affect their own community all of which builds confidence and helps them become active citizens. Participation also contributes to developing children s analytical, organisational and political skills to help them become more effective in claiming their rights. We call this child-centred community development (or CCCD for short), and its emphasis on inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination is central to our strategy. if the rights of children are not respected and fulfilled, building schools and hospitals is like pouring water on a rock, or planting a tree where you know it won t grow. Fatimata, from the north of Ghana, plans to go to university and become a doctor, even though neither of her parents went to school. She is a member of Plan s Rights of the Child school club. Photo: Plan 4
one goal Reaching the strategy s one goal over four years demands a highly coordinated approach involving all elements of Plan. But beneath the complexities lie four key focus areas: Tackling exclusion Improving programmes Expanding successful programmes Extending our influence 1. tackling exclusion improving lives on the margins Marginalisation and exclusion exist for many different reasons including language, ethnicity, disability, and gender. Whatever its causes and wherever they are, we will address them head-on to reduce their effects on children s rights. that commitment is most evident in our because i am a girl campaign, whose initial focus will be marginalisation and exclusion of girls who are less likely to be enrolled in school, have access to medical care, or have enough to eat. Photo: Plan / Paul Zetter In recent years, Plan Vietnam has shifted its focus away from lowland communities to remote, mountainous regions of the country, which have missed out on the country s economic development. The areas are home to more than 50 ethnic minority groups and the majority of Vietnam s poor. This move has boosted Plan s impact and reputation as a child rights organisation, working in some of the most hard-to-reach areas of the country. 5
one goal 2. Programme Quality to have positive and lasting effects on children s lives, programmes must be of the highest quality and be based on solid evidence, adhere to global policies and standards, and be subject to thorough measurement. this strategy commits us to creating a new Plan academy as a centre of excellence specialising in high-quality child-centred programming for both development and emergencies. 3. scale expanding successful Programmes Successful projects should not only be applauded but adapted and replicated wherever they can benefit children. this strategy specifically articulates the need to scale these programmes locally, regionally and globally, sharing good practice and encouraging other agencies and institutions to learn from them. It also calls for investment in people with the technical and leadership skills to implement these most successful programmes anywhere in the world. Photo: Plan Photo: Plan / Bonnie Miller In Bolivia, Plan has been working to improve the care and attention children receive for healthy growth. To demonstrate that working with families and communities is vital, we used our research to compare the results of two programmes in terms of child mortality and adoption by the families of key practices for child health and nutrition. In a striking endorsement of Plan s work, the Bolivian government has adopted Plan s community-based strategy within its national maternal and child health programme. Plan s community-led total sanitation programme, an innovative and low-cost approach to sanitation pioneered by independent consultant Kamal Kar, began life in Bangladesh in 1999. The programme uses child participation to change hygiene practices and behaviour, concentrating on the community as a whole rather than on individuals. children and adults decide together how they will create a clean and hygienic environment that benefits everyone. Following its success, it has transferred to other countries in asia, africa, latin america and the Middle east. 6
one goal 4. extending our influence For more than 70 years, Plan has dedicated itself to improving the lives of children. But we can t do it alone. Civil society and those with a duty of care must also take responsibility for upholding children s rights. this strategy calls on us to use our experience and expertise as an authoritative, global voice particularly in education and protection to influence others to act. In particular, we commit to: Changing the policies and practices of local and national government and global organisations Encouraging parents and communities to take action and change behaviour Encouraging donors to invest more this focus will be backed up by investments in training up staff and hiring communications and advocacy specialists. the focus on protection and education in the new strategy is a smart choice: they are the two issues children and youth feel most passionate about when we talk with them. Stefanie Conrad, Deputy Regional Director - Programmes, WARO Photo: Plan / Jane Hahn 7
one Plan Underpinning our strategy is a determination to become one Plan, a more effective, efficient and collaborative organisation able to meet the demands of a fast-evolving development landscape. we will: Work together to significantly increase income and other resources Align all parts of Plan behind our one goal Collaborate more with third parties 1. increasing resources targeting more children, particularly those who are marginalised or excluded, inevitably means a need for more money and other resources. this strategy focuses specifically on: Individual giving Grants Business development individual giving Child sponsorship remains Plan s biggest source of income and we are committed to expanding our strong base of loyal supporters. We will review our child sponsorship processes to improve the sponsors engagement in our work and children s experiences of sponsorship. We will also look at new ways for individuals to support excluded children. grants We have attracted significant grant funding in recent years, and we will continue to improve our grants bidding and management processes. We will also ensure our country and national organisations have the capacity to bid for and deliver larger grantfunded programmes. investing For growth to attract new supporters, including those in new countries, we will establish a business development team to lead and support activities across Plan, and to implement a new investment strategy. Photo: Plan Plan s funding from the european commission has steadily increased, almost doubling between 2007 and 2010. These results highlight the recognition of Plan s expertise and also point to the efficiency of a coordinated approach to grants bidding and management, supported by the Plan eu office proving the effectiveness of the one Plan approach. 8
One Plan 2. Plan: a global organisation united by a common goal A united organisation working closely together can achieve far more than one whose individual elements work independently. To that end, the strategy lays out four specific objectives addressing brand, organisation, high performance teams and consistency. Global identity Increasing our influence around the globe means speaking and acting with one voice. This strategy calls for a consistent global identity and brand across all Plan offices, which articulates our shared objectives and, more specifically, our One Goal. Developing high-performance teams One Goal means all parts of Plan must work together, with no barriers to internal collaboration. To encourage that, we will support staff seeking to move within Plan, promote career development, and nurture and celebrate high-performing teams. Consistency We will adopt common global standards to increase efficiency and minimise risks, particularly in areas such as child protection. How we operate We will review who is responsible and accountable for the different aspects of our work, where funds are currently raised, and how they are managed. We will also ensure that our systems and processes can support our diversely funded organisation. Photo: Plan / Jane Hahn this strategy comes at the right time to bring us together as one Plan unified and much better equipped to achieve worldwide impact for children. It will help us to overcome internal differences and engage with other players. Roland Angerer, Regional Director, ROA 9
one Plan 3. working collaboratively to reach our one goal, while addressing complex development challenges, we will seek out and work with other development organisations, civil society, governments and the private sector, combining our expertise and learning from each other. PartnershiPs Building on existing partnerships and alliances, we will enter into more strategic arrangements with local and national governments, NGos, community organisations and global corporations. collaboration With our worldwide presence and extensive knowledge of child-centred programming, we will also play a more visible role in development forums and informal networks, playing our part in the continuing fight for the rights of every child. Partnerships and alliances with governments and civil society organisations at all levels will be critical to Plan s success. we need to learn how to be more effective in working with others, and develop capacities in true partnership development. Stan Bartholomeeussen International Board Photo: Plan / Warisara Sornpet Plan is working with Barclays and care International to offer basic financial services to people across africa, asia and South america. Banking on change supports savings and loans groups managed by local communities themselves. 10
Making it happen In June 2011 Plan s Members Assembly approved this strategy and agreed Plan s FY12 budget to enable implementation work to begin immediately. It will be implemented by the Global Leadership Team, the highest management team in Plan, which has identified key projects that address the main challenges. Review the business and financial operating models Strengthen our identity through a global brand strategy Focus on girls as an excluded group Create a Plan academy for continuous learning Determine global and regional priorities for scaling up Strengthen our global advocacy and knowledge management capacity Strengthen global leadership for our individual giving and grants Re-design the child sponsorship model Enhance global partnership capacity Review structure, decision-making and governance Photo: Plan / Miguel Guevara 11
Our call to you This is an ambitious and challenging strategy but one that is essential if we are to ensure children s rights are not left behind in fast-developing countries. As we enter this next phase of our journey to 2015, we ask for your wholehearted support as a Plan employee, volunteer, sponsor, partner and supporter committed to children realising their rights. That commitment will see Plan grow and mature as a leading development agency, so that by 2015 we will be: Supporting more children to realise their rights and fulfil their potential Addressing the challenges of exclusion and marginalisation to ensure every child benefits from the positive impact of development Increasingly recognised for our expert voice on child-centred development and humanitarian response, particularly relating to education and protection Promoting gender equality in every part of our programmes, partnerships and organisational culture Reaching out to new supporters and partners, including individuals, institutional donors and global companies A preferred partner An employer of choice Speaking with one confident and consistent voice to influence the policies and practices of others We know how much more work is involved, but we also agree that the prize, of enabling millions of children to realise their rights and fulfill their potential, is more than worth the effort. Produced by the IH Communications Team. For more information on the strategy then please visit planet: https://intranet.planapps.org Plan 2011 Photo: Plan 12