Strategic Plan 2023-2026
Since its founding in 2008, Global Washington (GlobalWA) has built a thriving, multi-sectoral network to connect, promote, and strengthen the global development community. Much of the original vision to foster a thriving ecosystem has been achieved. However, there is still more work to be done. In order to evolve with our members, GlobalWA will incorporate a new way of doing business that is more responsive and action oriented.
It is time for GlobalWA to move from a learning network to an impact network using co-creation to accelerate member action.
What Do GlobalWA Members Need
GlobalWA gathered information from our members throughout 2022 during our Annual Member Meeting, small group gatherings, interviews, annual surveys, and reports. The top three challenges that were consistent include funding, communications, and peer networks. These needs most align with our NGO members, but have aspects for all sectors.
- Funding: Finding new sources of funding, changes in corporate philanthropy/leadership/priorities, responding to funder requirements/measurement and evaluation (M&E).
- Branding and Communications: Desire to raise their profile and tell their story to Pacific NW audiences. Utilizing new methodologies and mediums.
- Peer Networks: Need to foster sense of belonging for network members, build relationships and trust, and avoid staff burn out.
Opportunities for Co-Creation
The process of co-creation reflects the original founding principles of Global Washington. We are member-driven and provide value to our members that meets their needs. Our theory of change demonstrates that stronger members and a thriving eco-system for global development will improve lives in low- and middle-income countries.
Co-creation is iterative. It is rooted in trust, relationship building, networks, and partnership. Global Washington will create a space for our members to envision a future of well-being, co-design a road map to get there utilizing a diversity of strengths, and facilitate a collective action plan.
- COLLECTIVE SOLUTIONS: GlobalWA has built a trusted learning network, but could further utilize our strengths for future crosscutting challenges that need collective action and a neutral, backbone organization to facilitate. In the process, we will build peer-to-peer support networks to enhance a sense of belonging and build a common vision for a healthy and more equitable future.
- ELEVATING VOICES: With traditional and social media, it is difficult to rise above the clutter and reach desired audiences about global development. GlobalWA has cultivated subscribers and partners who seek to learn and connect. At the same time, there are organizations with limited knowledge and capabilities to tell their story. GlobalWA can be their megaphone.
- FOSTERING CONNECTIONS: Now more than ever, people are looking for belonging and meaningful work. The GlobalWA network allows for cross-sector, multi-issue, and peer-to-peer interactions. GlobalWA can create the structure and consistence needed to build connections, trust, learning, and communication need to build a healthy community for global development.
- STRENGTHENING OPERATIONS: The pandemic has disrupted the way we do our work. Rather than going back to pre-pandemic models, our members are seeking new collaborative means to achieve operational and communication goals. GlobalWA can provide shared services with economies of scale, which will model our overall value of collaboration
Future Program Areas, Strategic Priorities, and Strategies
Our future program areas will continue with successful issue campaigns and our annual conference, but will re-orient our outcomes to collective action. We will consistently center our members in each program and determine if these programs are meeting their needs. Our goal is to enhance the work of our members so they can have a stronger impact in their operations and service delivery.
Community-led collective action on specific targets of the SDGs. Help prepare member orgs for future challenges.
Networking promotion, and learning through events, annual conference, and issue campaigns.
Peer networks for collective voice and collective action. Learning from each other to build community.
Shared service model, community space, and more.
We Invite You to Join Us
We are at a moment in time to make great strides in advancing equity, health, and well-being. Now is the time to come together as a community to problem-solve, create partnerships, and correct power imbalances. Now is the perfect time to learn from crises, evolve, and co-create new solutions.
Global Washington is committed to guiding global development practitioners in the use of co-creation to discover new innovative approaches to their work, to define problems that could only be solved through partnership, and to lay the groundwork for more equitable solutions. Global Washington and our community are inspired about the future of global development and the power of an impact network to build a more equitable, healthy, and prosperous world for everyone.
If you are a current Global Washington member, we welcome your input.
If you would like to participate in a working group or community of practice, or simply learn more, email us at info@globalwa.org.
Want to join us? Become a member of the GlobalWA community today!
Would you like to support this new strategic direction?
Download the complete GlobalWA 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.
