Strategy
ISS Strategy 2008 – 2012
ISS is well recognized for its expertise, know-how and professionalism relating to child and family protection. Its relentless and strong commitment to these matters throughout the years has given the organisation an international legitimacy to handle individual casework, provide professional counselling, conduct research, carry out analysis, implement projects and undertake advocacy and lobbying.
After more than 80 years of operations across the world, ISS has identified key areas that it would like to develop and improve upon in the future and accordingly has developed three strategies.
After more than 80 years of operations across the world, ISS has identified key areas that it would like to develop and improve upon in the future and accordingly has developed three strategies.
1) Strengthening and expanding the constituents of the ISS network
Having constituents operating regionally as well as being rooted locally with complementary roles creates a comparative advantage for the ISS network. The operational capacity of branches, affiliated bureaus and correspondents to provide services locally must be strengthened by developing adequate skills and good governance structures. This must be done in compliance with ISS principles.
Basic Requirements
- Building local capacity by investing in people and organisational development
- Building local capacity by pursuing streamlined and coherent organisational development
- Competent leaders are indispensable to ensuring that the individual constituents and the network function efficiently.
- Good and modern governance is necessary for making sure that the individual constituents and the network position itself globally.
- There must be a viable and well structured governance as well as clear legal base, rules and procedures to guarantee that the individual constituents and the network are credible and transparent.
- The network action is based on its principles
- The network should be accountable to its stakeholders for the efficient use of resources left at its disposal.
2) Improving the network’s effectiveness and efficiency through increased cooperation and coherence
The network should provide support and services in a proactive and flexible manner for those in need of professional social assistance and protection. Functional and streamlined cooperation as well as effective coordination should be given precedence over different operational cultures and variable approaches. This requires mutual respect and a great sense of shared identity. Sharing knowledge and information as well as best practices is crucial for an increased efficiency and effectiveness.
Basic Requirements
- The constituents and the network have an increased sense of unity and purpose
- The constituents and the network are better able to analyse external trends and share information
- There is improved strategic planning locally and at the network level.
- Increased impact on the global social agenda and improved inputs into decision making bodies.
- Regional and international cooperation should follow coherent rules and procedures for coordination and cooperation and be based on mutual respect.
- There will be improved local and global performance through continuous Learning, Training and Knowledge management.
- There will be improved Transparency and Accountability locally and at the network level in order to acquire better institutional credibility.
- There will be self evaluations and peer evaluations in a timely and structured manner covering all constituents of the network.
3) Developing the image, the visibility and the credibility of the network and its constituents
It is of vital importance for the network to cooperate with all key players in order to better assist those who are at the centre of its work, while at the same time strengthening its position and profile in the social sphere. The network has to reinvent its uniqueness and comparative advantage and its ability to present a coherent image through its objectives and actions. A strong image can only be presented to others only once there is harmony within the network itself.
Basic Requirements
- The public at large, beneficiaries and workers within ISS must perceive the organisation as one social service network.
- A coherent image should be constantly projected to the public at large while retaining the separate identities and cultures at a local level.
- The network has a clear advocacy strategy beyond reports and information sharing.
- The network has an unequivocal and common position on major social and protection issues pertaining to the work of ISS.
- The network has the entry points and the ability to influence its international social agenda.
- The network and its constituents engage in building relationships with external actors and partners while preserving its independence and compliance to their principles.
- A common and harmonised approach to the private sector and philanthropy at large is needed while safeguarding the integrity of ISS.
For more information relating to ISS strategy, please see the document on the factors that affect ISS work.