Empowering Local Partners: Mothers and Children Multisectoral Development Organisation (MCMDO)

Empowering Local Partners

GOAL is committed to empowering our local partners. Organisations like MCMDO are vital and integral components of our programme delivery across Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. GOAL and MCMDO have worked together since 2010 to support vulnerable communities in Ethiopia. Our partnership focuses on building resilience and self-reliance during crises, with the goal of helping vulnerable communities reduce their reliance on external aid. GOAL and MCMDO also work in tandem to support homeless children in Addis Ababa and Hawassa through our ChildSPACE programme.

With support from GOAL, MCMDO has undergone a transformation – enhancing its governance, human resources, and management systems. Today, MCMDO is one of the leading organisations providing humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia.

The Global Partnership Centre

GOAL’s Global Partnership Centre (GPC) was established with generous support from Irish Aid. The GPC seeks to strengthen the capacity of our local partners by providing technical support and guidance while helping them cultivate new competencies, strategies, systems, and structures to improve their overall effectiveness. By empowering local partners to lead locally-driven humanitarian responses, GOAL is helping to foster sustainable, systemic, and lasting change.

The GPC has also established the Organisational Development Fund (ODF), with support from Irish Aid, with the recognition that identifying areas for support is only meaningful if accompanied by flexible funding.

“The continuous capacity-building program and technical support from GOAL has been instrumental in developing our team’s skills and expertise,” Mr. Tilahun Mulugeta, Executive Director of MCMDO, said.

GOAL and our GPC have provided support and guidance to MCMDO in four key areas.

Monitoring and Evaluation

With support from GOAL, MCMDO has established a dedicated Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEAL) department. This department facilitates better data collection and analysis, allowing the organisation to address gender disparities and incorporate beneficiary feedback to make its programmes more effective, accessible, and equitable.

Finance, Procurement, and Logistics

With guidance from GOAL, MCMDO has implemented more transparent financial procedures and procurement processes. The organisation now holds regular audits, which have ensured that resources are managed in a responsible and more accountable manner.

Governance and Recruitment

With support from GOAL, MCMDO has established clear governance policies and procedures, ensuring transparency and accountability. Departments have been reorganised to improve organisational efficiency, and more effective communication channels have been implemented. MCMDO has also received technical training from the GPC to enhance its recruitment and supervision practices, improving the quality and professionalism of the organisation’s workforce.

Programme Development and Implementation

Over the course of our 14-year partnership, GOAL and MCMDO have worked collaboratively to design and implement projects. With support from our Global Partnership Centre, MCMDO has also received project management training. As a result, MCMDO has improved their capacity to secure funding and implement programmes independently.

This has strengthened MCMDO’s relationships with project participants and has allowed the organisation to diversify its funding base. To capitalise on these new connections, MCMDO is now in the process of establishing a Business Development team.

Learn more about GOAL’s Global Partnership Centre.