A professional course for OD Facilitators
India's pursuit of sustainable development and democratic governance faces challenges from increasing inequalities, climate change, and exclusion. The non-profit sector also confronts various challenges, such as limited access to resources and spaces. The effectiveness of non-profits in promoting empowerment and participation among marginalised communities relies on their ability to become more agile, adaptable, and strategic. Although many exceptional non-profit leaders demonstrate commendable entrepreneurship, it is crucial to emphasize the need for support and facilitation in developing stronger institutions. Regrettably, in India, there is a notable absence of an enabling support system that caters to a significant number of small and medium-sized non-profits. The initiative on “Accelerating Organisation Development (OD) Facilitation Capacities in Indian Non-profit Sector” aims to bridge this gap by training a group of professionals capable of providing OD support to grassroots non-profits. OD is a deliberate process of organisational change, designed to enhance overall effectiveness through system-wide interventions and a learning process grounded in a specific set of values. OD Facilitators, equipped with the skills to assess organizations and design interventions, offer professional assistance to help organizations achieve maximum impact. This initiative will build a pool of OD facilitators with the necessary capabilities.
The First Cohort
In February 2024, PRIA launched the First Cohort with support from the Ford Foundation and the A.T.E. Chandra Foundation. The first cohort, consisting of 23 participants, was offered in partnership with the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD).
The course was designed to be completed over five months and was structured as a blended course, combining both online and in-person components. It included a practicum that allowed participants to apply what they learned from the online and in-person workshops. The online component involved reading curated study materials and participating in master classes/sessions/webinars and discussion forums with co-learners and facilitators. Two in-person residential workshops were held in New Delhi, with each workshop lasting for 5 days, to help participants develop practical OD facilitation skills. The first residency took place from 1-5 April 2024, and the second residency was held from 3-7 June 2024.
The practicum, which was an integral part of the course, spanned 8-10 days and consisted of three phases. Each participant was attached to a grassroot non-profit organisation which was willing to participate in the program. During the first phase, participants familiarized themselves with the organization and its leadership. In the second phase, they facilitated a participatory organizational assessment (diagnosis) with the chosen non-profit organisation and helped co-develop a draft intervention and action plan for OD support. Finally, in the third phase, they assisted the organisation in finalising the OD plan, identifying organisational priorities.
In addition to gaining participatory perspectives, theoretical frameworks, and tools and techniques for OD facilitation in non-profit organizations through the online components and residencies, the practicum proved to be the most challenging and exciting part of the course. The host non-profit organisations' leadership found it relevant, timely, and effective.
