Practitioner engagement
Our research and educational activities are grounded in practice and the perspectives of TNGO leaders inform our work. The practitioner engagement component of the Transnational NGO Initiative consists of three programmatic activities.
The Moynihan NGO Fellowship Program annually provides two senior NGO leaders with the opportunity to be in residence at the Moynihan Institute for two weeks for intellectual rest and recreation away from their daily operational duties. Fellows undertake research on an organizational challenge they face in their organizations and which matches the research interests of our team. Leaders are matched with student volunteers who provide extensive research support in advance of their visit. In the past, the TNGO Initiative has hosted the CEO of ActionAid International (AAI) Ramesh Singh, Vice President of World Relief Meredith Long, Founder and former Executive Director of MWENGO Ezra Mbogori and CEO of Plan International USA Ahuma Adodoadji. Our fellows for 2009-2010 include the Secretary General of CIVICUS Ingrid Srinath and Senior Director for Campaigns of Amnesty International Colm O'Cuanachain.
The NGO Leadership Summer Institute was created to provide a safe space for candid peer-to-peer sharing and learning. The TNGO Initiative has convened workshops in the Adirondack Mountains in 2006 and in Washington, DC in 2007. In 2008 we co-hosted our first thematic TNGO Leadership Forum focusing on governance issues together with Ramesh Singh of AAI and Sam Worthington, the president of InterAction. We hope to develop the NGO Leadership Summer Institute into a regular annual event organized around the specific challenges facing TNGO leaders.
The TNGO Initiative also offers workshops and panel discussions at practitioner conferences such as INTRAC and the InterAction Annual Forum. Practitioner engagement activities have been developed in conjunction with the Maxwell School's Executive Education Program, which is the first university program in the United States dedicated solely to providing professional training and development for public and not-for-profit managers. It provides professional development opportunities leading to the Executive Masters of Public Administration and an increasing number of certificate programs. The program can also develop customized credit and non-credit programs for NGO leadership and staff.
Faculty and staff are also available for advisory services for NGO clients focusing on governance, leadership and effectiveness challenges. Researchers recently completed a strategic evaluation of Plan International Guatemala's transition toward a rights based approach, for example.
For more information about the practitioner engagement program, please contact Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken (315.443.5073).