Robin Hood Model
Robin Hood Model
Robin Hood Model
Robin Hood Model
What Sets us apart
Proven and Impactful Content
We work with practical, well-tested tools and approaches, shaped by over ten years of experience in civil society. Our content is continuously refined through practice and feedback.
Care for People and Purpose
We care about the people we work with and the purpose they serve. Through reflection, trust, and personal support, we create learning spaces that enable real change.
Outstanding Facilitation
Our work is guided by skilled, well-prepared facilitation that is engaging, structured, and goal-oriented. We design and lead processes that help people move from learning to action.
Our KEY CONCEPTS
Our leadership development and coaching work is grounded in a set of practical concepts and tools that are part of the Civil Society Academy toolbox.
These concepts have been developed, tested and iterated over more than a decade and are used across organisational strategy processes, fundraising support and partnership development.
Double Diamond – Strategy Development Process
The Double Diamond structures strategy development as a process of divergence and convergence, helping organisations first understand challenges deeply before defining clear strategic priorities. It enables inclusive, analytical and creative strategy processes that lead to actionable and realistic strategic choices.
The Impact Navigator
The Impact Navigator provides a holistic framework to reflect on purpose, culture, structures, people, impact and resources. It supports leadership teams to assess organisational coherence and to identify concrete entry points for strategic and organisational change.
The Three Horizons Model
The Three Horizons model helps organisations balance short-term performance, medium-term adaptation and long-term transformation. It supports strategic conversations about where to invest, what to strengthen, and which new approaches to explore over time.
Trends NGOs Should Watch
Our trends framework helps organisations anticipate and reflect on emerging social, political, technological and funding trends shaping civil society. It supports strategic foresight and enables organisations to adapt their strategies to a rapidly changing environment.
Collaborative & Transactional Partnership Models
This framework distinguishes between transactional and collaborative partnership models, highlighting different levels of shared decision-making, risk and accountability. It helps organisations and partners consciously design partnerships that are fit for purpose and aligned with their strategic ambitions.
The Fundraising Canvas
The Fundraising Canvas is a practical planning tool that supports organisations to design coherent fundraising strategies, linking purpose, value propositions, target audiences, channels and resources. It enables teams to move from ad-hoc fundraising towards a more strategic and diversified resource mobilisation approach.
Our tRACK rECORD
Organisational strategy and change processes
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A comprehensive toolbox for strategy and change: Our organisational strategy work is grounded in a well-tested toolbox combining analytical and creative approaches, including the Double Diamond, Impact Navigator, maturity assessments, trend and context analysis, as well as design thinking methods to support innovation and adaptive decision-making.
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Inclusive and adaptive strategy design: We facilitate participatory strategy processes that integrate organisational analysis, prioritisation and implementation planning, delivered online and in-person and adapted to complex and changing contexts.
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Strategy processes for international and national organisations: We have facilitated around 15 organisational and country strategy processes for international organisations and their partners, as well as multiple processes for national organisations and initiatives for instacne MAITRI in India.
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Strategic support to coalitions and multi-actor partnerships: A significant part of our strategy work focuses on advocacy coalitions and multi-actor partnerships, particularly in African contexts, supporting them to clarify purpose, governance, roles and strategic direction using the same strategic toolbox applied to organisations.
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Digital learning and MOOCs: We have supported an online learning platform for organisational strategy and organisational leadership and have already designed and delivered three MOOCs in this area, translating our strategic frameworks into scalable digital learning formats.
Fundraising and resource mobilisation
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Open fundraising trainings: We have delivered around eight open trainings on fundraising and resource mobilisation, typically one per year, strengthening both strategic and practical fundraising capacities.
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Tailor-made fundraising workshops: In addition, we have facilitated around 10 customised fundraising workshops for organisations such as Yohanita, Helvetas, Welthungerhilfe and Land for Life, among others.
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Hands-on mentoring approach: Our fundraising support combines training, coaching and mentoring, often accompanying organisations through the development and implementation of fundraising strategies.
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Strengthening partner capacities: For example, we supported four Land for Life partner organisations through fundraising strategy development and mentoring, resulting in strengthened fundraising capacities and concrete successes.
Partnerships, localisation and ways of working
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Localisation strategies and coalition support: We supported localisation processes in eight countries as part of a joint programme, combining advocacy strategy development with coalition building among localisation actors.
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Partnership guidance and capacity building: We developed guidance materials and readers for Welthungerhilfe to support the mainstreaming of partnership approaches and the rollout of partnership trainings across country offices.
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Deep insight into partnership dynamics: Through long-term work with local and international partners, coalitions and multi-actor partnerships, we bring practical insight into power dynamics, collaboration challenges and enabling conditions for effective partnerships.
Strategic HR and people systems (emerging area)
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Developing strategic HR approaches: We are strengthening our offer on strategic HR and people management, focusing on systems that support organisational performance, leadership development and talent pathways.
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Forward-looking HR expertise: This work builds on senior experience in implementing strategic HR systems in large organisations (e.g. PRADAN in India) and is designed as a forward-looking offer for civil society organisations.
Facilitators
Arturo Bellot Irusta
Topics: Organizational strategy, multi-stakeholder alliances, social and political advocacy.
Arturo is a specialist in human rights and strengthening civil society organisations as democratic counterweights and inexhaustible sources of social, environmental, and cultural innovation and creation.
Arturo has been advising networks, civil society organisations in Latin America, and international NGOs on political strategy and social change for more than 25 years.
He is known for his vision and analytical skills, his ability to build passionate and effective teams, the design and implementation of organisational strategies, the facilitation of participatory processes, and the development of innovative methodologies.
Helina Yigletu
Topics: Leadership, Human rights based Approach, Social Accountability
Helina’s eclectic skillset and interests have led her on a meandering path cutting across a global consulting firm, a publishing collective, a feminist social enterprise, and organizations working in the development sector.
As a Coordinator for CSA Africa, she worked on gradually nurturing the entity into an impactful changemaker in the local civil society ecosystem and beyond. She values the inspired vision and progressive values of CSA and finds herself at home in training spaces where collective knowledge is woven into meaningful strategy. She spends the rest of her time on creative outlets and cultivating meaning, knowledge, and connection. xx
Herbert Wolpert
Topics: Leadership, Organisational Development,
Coaching
Herbert has consulted for organizations of all sizes in the industry, commerce, education and healthcare, both in Europe and Australasia. For more than 25 years, he has been leading organisations and leadership development programmes for senior management. Since 2011, he is consulting with Welthungerhilfe and the European Network Alliance 2015. His facilitation and coaching skills are unmatched!
Joachim Schwarz
Topics: Leadership, Coaching, Social Innovation, Advocacy,
Multi-Actor Partnerships
Joachim is passionate about social justice and co-creation. In 2014, he left his NGO career to embark on a mission to support civil society actors and social entrepreneurs in becoming more powerful and innovative. Together with his colleagues, he founded the Civil Society Academy, which began its journey in India and later expanded to many parts of the world. In 2023, Joachim established Civil Society Academy International as a social enterprise in Germany.
With more than 25 years of experience across Africa and Asia, he brings deep insight into the realities and potential of social change.
Joachim is an outstanding trainer and coach who loves facilitating collective processes that are creative, fun, and deeply impactful. His work focuses on leadership, culture, innovation, and strategy — always with a strong commitment to empowering disadvantaged groups. Now based in Berlin, he continues to inspire and support changemakers worldwide.
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JUDITH BAKWANGIRA
Topics: Leadership and team Management, Organizational Development, mental Health practioner
Judith is a member of International Association of Facilitators (IAF), Vice chairperson of IAF Uganda Chapter, She is a passionate facilitator that adepts to fostering collaborative environments, enhancing communication, and guiding group/team processes. With 15 years of working with NGOs/INGOs in Uganda, she has expertise in project management, leadership and team management training, youth development and empowerment, soft skills training, social inclusion and community development.
She empowers individuals, organizations to navigate personal challenges, build resilience, and achieve goals and objectives as a team. As an organizational development practitioner, she optimizes systems and fosters cultures for effectiveness. Additionally, as a project management expert she ensures successful execution, timely delivery, and alignment with organizational objectives, fostering sustainable development and teamwork.
lav Bunrithy
Topics: Leadership and Team Management, Organizational Development, Advocacy
With over 20 years of experience in national and international NGOs and government ministries, Bunrithy specializes in providing comprehensive training, coaching, and capacity development services at grassroots, national, and regional levels. His expertise includes Do No Harm and Conflict Sensitivity, Organizational Development, Leadership and Team Management, and Advocacy, among other areas.
Throughout his career, he has consistently driven organizational growth and social impact, leveraging his extensive knowledge and expertise to deliver high-quality results. Based in Phnom Penh, Bunrithy is committed to making a meaningful difference and contributing to the success of the organizations and communities he serves.
Leonore Gruenberg
Topics: Gender Equality & Transformative Approaches, Advocacy, Organizational Development
With over 17 years of experience in international development, Leonore offers exceptional depth in gender transformative approaches, advocacy, and organizational capacity development. Her work spans sectors and continents — from land governance and gender equality in Ethiopia and Germany to microfinance and financial inclusion in Madagascar, Mozambique and India to leadership and mentoring across the globe.
A highly engaging multilingual facilitator, Leonore has designed and led strategic planning and advocacy trainings in English, French, and Spanish-speaking contexts. Since joining CSA in 2022, she has developed robust training curricula, coached emerging facilitators, and led mentorship initiatives for young leaders from the global South. Leonore holds a Master’s degree in International Economics and has previously worked with organisations as diverse as GIZ, PlanetFinance and numerous grassroot NGOs. Her work is guided by a strong commitment to empowerment.
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Retta Menberu
Topics: Leadership, Advocacy, Organisational Development
Retta Menberu Woldetsadik (M.D., MSc) stands up for civil society-state dynamics, good governance, advocacy, and a rights-based approach to development. Since 2018 he has been part of CSA, built up, and leads the Africa office to advocate for change and empower the youth. After working more than two decades in development and health leadership, as a trainer, researcher, and consultant in clinical medicine and public health, Retta developed himself to a broader development leadership and facilitation role by operating as Country Director for ActionAid International, and as regional Strategy Adviser for Rush Foundation.
He works as a coordinator, researcher, adviser, and facilitator for international development and humanitarian organizations, alliances, and multi-actor partnerships in diverse contexts across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Rishi Meena
Topics: Leadership and Team Management, PCM, Design Thinking, Innovation
Rishi is a social impact strategy and development professional with 14+ years of experience in institution development and project management across livelihoods, climate, health, and nutrition. He specializes in building agile teams, fostering innovation, and driving collaborations. He has worked in strategy and program management at TRI, as Scaling Coordinator at Welthungerhilfe, and as an Executive at PRADAN. His expertise includes project management, organizational strategy, IT-based systems, and stakeholder engagement. At CSA International, he leverages design thinking, digital transformation, and social innovation to create impactful learning programs. Rishi holds a management degree from FMS Delhi and a B.Tech from MNNIT Allahabad.
Dr. Tesfaye Yimer
Topics: Leadership, Organisational Development
Tesfaye holds a Doctor in Transformational Leadership/DTL in Entrepreneurial Organisational Transformation, MA in Organisational Leadership and BSc in Agricultural Economics. Previous to founding Sankofa Consultancy Service (SCS), he had worked with the government as well as NGOs in different leading positions. Tesfaye established SCS in 2014 and ever since he has been facilitating workshops and trainings on diverse topics such as change leadership, project cycle management, and organisational capacity assessment of CBOs.
Trang Nguyen
Topics: Resource Mobilization, Social Innovation, Marketing Communication, Coaching
Trang Nguyen holds a degree in Social Sciences and has worked with governmental and non-governmental organisations in India, Vietnam, and Germany — including GIGA Hamburg, GIZ, and Welthungerhilfe. Since joining CSA in 2015, she has moved from marketing and communications into facilitation, mentoring, and coaching, with a focus on resource mobilisation, communication, innovation, and social entrepreneurship.
In 2018, she co-developed CSA’s first fundraising and resource mobilisation curriculum, which has since reached hundreds of participants across Asia and Africa. Since 2019, Trang has played a key role in leading innovation processes and training workshops at CSA International. A creative and forward-thinking professional, she thrives on learning, sharing, and connecting.
In 2020, she became a professionally trained Life and Leadership Coach, further expanding her ability to support individuals and teams on their growth journeys.