Role Playing

Three scenarios:

I recently had the great privilege of attending a dinner with a number of high level participants in the climate change issue. The attendees represented a diverse group from academia, government, business, philanthropy, non-profit advising, and international conferences – leaving only the multilateral organizations unrepresented. As is usual, and indeed interesting, every participant spoke from his or her experience. However, there was not a single comment during the evening that considered the most effective role for, or the most effective working relationship amongst, each of these actors in addressing the climate change issue.

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Big Society and Big Uncertainty

8 Big Questions Non-profit Organisations Should Ask

This article addresses a new phenomenon in the United Kingdom launched by Prime Minister David Cameron called Big Society.  The objective of Big Society as stated in the Forward to the Green Paper from the Cabinet Office reflects their “respect for the contribution that civil society organisations can make to shaping and delivering more efficient public services that better meet the needs of the people who use them”.[1] Whilst a UK initiative, the combined objectives of budget deficit reduction, increased engagement of civil society, and increased efficacy of services to beneficiaries are questions broadly applicable internationally – as is the uncertainty that arises from broad-sweeping government policies. For purposes of this article, the emphasis will be on the implications for, and potential contribution of, non-profit organisations – again internationally applicable. Read more →