DoDM: Reflections from the Ground
DoDM 24 was more than just an event
The Dialogues on Development Management (DoDM) 2024, hosted by ISDM, was more than just an event—it was a much-needed space for reflection, learning, and critical conversations. Bringing together change-makers from across civil society, government, and business, it was an opportunity for us to rethink what meaningful, scalable, and sustainable societal impact should look like.
Our team at India Partner Network (IPN) was delighted to participate in this annual event, which spotlighted the complexities of development management in India. One of the discussions highlighted the dual sides of governance and compliance - their critical role in fostering accountability and resilience, paired with the significant challenges of implementation. Equally nuanced was the exploration of funding, underscoring the need to go beyond programmatic budgets to fund vital internal capabilities, a cornerstone for resilience. The conversations also delved into the intricate balance between scaling interventions and sustaining community development; debated the feasibility and implications of standardizing impact metrics, and examined why and how a public good framework for outcome readiness can empower nonprofits to access outcome-based financing. These dialogues encouraged us to visualise the interplay between the depth and breadth of development management challenges in diverse and evolving contexts, making the event a true reflection of its mission.
A standout session on financial sustainability and operational independence, co-hosted by ATECF, featured the inspiring journeys of three diverse organisations - Adhyayan Foundation, OGQ and Vidhi, highlighting approaches to creating reserves, securing unrestricted grants, and diversifying donor bases. Another intriguing session anchored by Magic Bus India Foundation focused on the transformative power of bold strategic plans, emphasizing intentional planning and adaptability to strengthen resilience. Sessions on storytelling by Story Rules and leveraging data for designing better interventions by ISDM deeply resonated with us. These candid discussions didn’t just question norms, but catalyzed fresh perspectives, allowing us to recalibrate and reimagine how Samaaj, Sarkar, and Bazaar can collaborate for a lasting impact for all.
Such dialogues are indispensable. They offer us the rare opportunity to pause and reflect on our course - hits, misses and the lessons in between. As a team, we found ourselves revisiting several questions throughout the day such as:
How can we make capacity building solutions “accessible” and “relevant” to small and medium sized non-profits, operating in diverse and underserved regions?
Given this diversity, how can we bring partners to better share their expertise in organisational development with a wider audience?
With resilience in focus, how can we enable donors to recognize capacity building as a critical investment in confidence and trust, particularly for smaller non-profits with capable teams that hold the potential to deliver sustainable impact?
These are not just intellectual exercises anymore; they are the real-world challenges we, as a sector, must address to build a thriving ecosystem.
DoDM wasn’t just about sessions and panels; it was also a great space to connect. We reconnected with old friends, met several new ones, and listened to changemakers whose passion and creativity are driving meaningful change in their own ways. We left the event inspired, carrying back not just ideas but connections and collaborations to catalyze growth in the development management space. A heartfelt congratulations to ISDM for curating such an impactful gathering. The event reinforced why organisational development, financial resilience, and collaborative action are at the heart of creating sustainable impact. Onwards and upwards!
- Aarti Krishnan (Head - India Partner Network)