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Leadership in civil society is demanding — it requires clarity, empathy, and the ability to guide teams through uncertainty and change. Over more than a decade, we have created leadership and management programs that combine practical tools with reflective, human-centered learning spaces. Participants often describe our workshops as one of the most important learning experiences of their careers — shaping how they lead, collaborate, and grow. At CSA International, we bring together values-based leadership, emotional intelligence, and proven management tools, supported by a dedicated focus on Women’s Leadership to ensure equitable and inclusive pathways for growth. What We Offer 1. Leadership & Management Workshops (mostly 4–5 days) Intensive residential or online workshops that strengthen leadership skills, communication, teamwork, conflict navigation, and values-based decision-making. 2. Leadership & Team Coaching (usually 6–8 sessions) Individual or team coaching that deepens personal leadership practices and supports behavioural change. Research shows the strongest results occur when coaching is combined with Leadership & Management Workshops. 3. Agile Team & Organisation Practices Hands-on training and facilitation in design thinking, holacracy, scrum, and adaptive leadership, helping teams work collaboratively, creatively, and effectively. 4. Women’s Leadership Programs Tailored spaces for women to build confidence, strengthen leadership identity, and navigate power dynamics in a supportive environment. 5. Longer-Term Leadership & Fellowship Journeys (usually 1 year) Comprehensive programs combining workshops, peer reflection, coaching, and assignments — such as the ILC Fellowship Program and the Youth Empowerment Program in Cambodia — to build leadership in a systematic, long-term way. Please email us for an intro session: sohini@civilsocietyacademy.de

Many national and local NGOs operate without coherent HR and people development systems, limiting organisational performance and sustainability. - We support donors, networks, and lead organisations in strengthening NGOs through the creation of strategic, organisation-wide HR systems. - Our approach moves organisations from informal and fragmented practices to clear, structured people systems aligned with organisational strategy and impact. - It is designed for scale, simplicity, and values-driven work—without requiring dedicated HR departments. - Strategic HR becomes enabling infrastructure, not administrative overhead. Our Offer: From No System to a Strategic HR System 1. Strategic HR Design Linked to Organisational Strategy We design clear and adaptable strategic HR frameworks that translate organisational strategy into people priorities, roles, and capabilities. This creates alignment between mission, staff development, and organisational performance. 2. Organisation-Wide Performance Management Systems We support NGOs in establishing practical, organisation-wide performance management systems. These include structured onboarding, role clarity, regular performance conversations, and annual performance reviews that strengthen accountability and effectiveness. 3. Leadership Development & Feedback as Organisational Capabilities We strengthen leadership functions by embedding leadership development and structured feedback within the HR system. This builds consistent leadership practice, improves decision-making, and supports healthier organisational cultures. 4. Systematic Capacity Building & Talent Pathways We support organisations in moving from ad-hoc training to systematic capacity building through skills mapping, learning pathways, and intentional talent development and integration. 5. AI-Supported HR Platform for Scale and Sustainability An AI-supported platform provides practical templates, workflows, and tools that make strategic HR feasible at scale. It reduces administrative burden, supports consistency across organisations, and enables continuous learning and adaptation. Please email us for an intro session: rishi@civilsocietyacademy.de

We support the design, facilitation, and strengthening of multi-actor partnerships as a deliberate strategy to address complex societal challenges. For us, multi-actor partnerships are not an end in themselves, but a powerful advocacy and change tool to influence policies, practices, and power relations in areas such as land governance, sustainable textiles, natural resources, environmental justice, and the right to food. Our work is grounded in the Land for Life Toolbox and a dialogic change approach that combines dialogue, collective leadership, adaptive management, and organisational development. We work with partnerships at different stages – from early exploration to mature platforms seeking greater impact. What We Offer 1. Introductory and Capacity-Building Trainings Focused trainings that introduce multi-actor partnerships as an advocacy and change approach. - Multi-actor partnerships as tools for advocacy, policy influence, and systems change - Roles, interests, and power dynamics of different actor groups - Core principles such as dialogue for change, collaboration, and collective leadership 2. Design and Governance Support Support to design or strengthen the governance and backbone structures of partnerships. - Clarifying purpose, scope, and a shared partnership narrative (Why–How–What) - Designing inclusive governance, decision-making, and coordination structures - Addressing legitimacy, representation, accountability, and power imbalances 3. Long-Term Partnership Facilitation and Accompaniment Ongoing facilitation and accompaniment of partnerships across different phases of change. - Facilitation of dialogue spaces, strategy processes, and collective reflection - Capacity building and coaching for partnership leaders and secretariat teams - Supporting adaptive management and continuous learning 4. Targeted Support on Core Partnership Functions Focused support on key functions that enable effective and sustainable partnerships. - Strategy development and advocacy positioning of multi-actor platforms - Fundraising and resource mobilisation for partnerships and secretariats - Governance challenges, organisational development, and internal coordination Please email us for an intro session: joachim@civilsocietyacademy.de

We bring extensive experience in coaching hundreds of leaders and teams from civil society organisations around the world. Our offer includes both individual leadership coaching and team coaching, each with a clearly structured and professional process. Coaching is valuable as a standalone service, and particularly powerful when combined with our leadership trainings, helping participants deepen reflection, translate learning into practice, and sustain meaningful change over time. What We Offer 1. Clear coaching process Our coaching follows a structured yet flexible process of six sessions, each lasting 60 minutes, built around reflection, action, and learning over time. 2. Coaching grounded in proven models We work with a narrow, professional definition of coaching, primarily using the GROW model to clarify goals, explore reality, identify options, and build commitment to action. 3. From reflection to commitment Each coaching journey starts with reflection and awareness and gradually focuses on strengthening ownership, decision-making, and commitment to change. 4. Strong coaching relationship Coaching is a partnership based on trust, active listening, powerful questions, and appreciation, enabling leaders to maximise their personal and professional potential. 5. Individual leadership coaching One-to-one coaching supports leaders in navigating challenges, clarifying direction, and strengthening leadership practice through focused, confidential sessions. 6. Team coaching offer For teams, we offer a six-session team coaching process, with 90 minutes sessions, combining facilitated coaching sessions with peer coaching between sessions to strengthen collaboration, shared ownership, and collective learning. Please email us for an intro session: sohini@civilsocietyacademy.de

At Civil Society Academy International, we support civil society organisations, networks, and social enterprises in shaping clear, future-oriented strategies that strengthen focus, alignment, and resilience. Our approach blends strategic clarity with participatory, human-centred methods so that strategy becomes a shared vision rather than a document on a shelf. With tools specifically created for the for-purpose sector, we help organisations navigate complexity, make strategic choices, and turn ideas into lasting change. What We Offer 1. Participatory Strategy & Change Processes Structured strategy journeys based on our “double diamond” methodology to explore options, define priorities, and co-create strategic direction. 2. Impact Navigator Toolbox A coherent set of tools for analysing purpose, culture, impact, and resources — including Impact Cards, the Playground for Change, and adaptive design tools tailored to civil society. 3. Context Analysis & Strategic Planning Support with context assessments, stakeholder mapping, scenario building, pathways for change, and strategy matrices. 4. Change Facilitation & Implementation Support Guidance through early implementation, piloting, refinement, and embedding the strategy into organisational culture and systems. 5. Customised Services for INGOs, Networks & Local CSOs Experience working with 10+ country offices, multi-country networks, and diverse civil society organisations across Africa and Asia. Please email us for an intro session: sohini@civilsocietyacademy.de

We support civil society organisations, networks and coalitions to design and implement effective advocacy strategies, build strong alliances, and increase their influence on policy and decision-making. Our support combines practical training, strategy development and ongoing mentoring, and is always tailored to context, capacity and ambition. We draw on a well-tested advocacy and coalition-building toolbox and extensive experience across regions, issues and organisational settings. Our services 1. Advocacy training We design and deliver interactive advocacy trainings (typically 3–4 days residential or online) that strengthen participants’ ability to plan, adapt and implement advocacy initiatives. Trainings cover core elements such as power and context analysis, advocacy strategies, influencing tactics, messaging and adaptive advocacy practice, using practical tools such as the Advocacy Canvas. 2. Coalition-building training We support organisations and networks to build, manage and strengthen advocacy coalitions (typically 3–4 days). Trainings focus on coalition design, governance and roles, trust-building, collective decision-making and managing diversity of interests, with a strong emphasis on real-world challenges and dynamics. 3. Combined advocacy and coalition-building training Where advocacy and coalition work are closely linked, we offer integrated trainings that address both together (typically 4-5 days) . These programmes help participants align advocacy strategies with coalition structures and processes, ensuring that alliances are effective vehicles for influence rather than obstacles to action. 4. Advocacy strategy development Beyond training, we support organisations and coalitions to develop concrete, context-specific advocacy strategies. This includes facilitated workshops, in-depth context and power analysis, clarification of goals and pathways to change, and the design of realistic, actionable advocacy plans. 5. Mentoring and implementation support We provide mentoring and accompaniment during the implementation of advocacy strategies. This support helps teams reflect on progress, adapt to changing contexts, strengthen internal coordination, and respond strategically to emerging opportunities and risks. Please email us for an intro session: joachim@civilsocietyacademy.de

The fundraising environment for civil society organisations is increasingly volatile and competitive. Major public donors such as USAID have shut down or significantly scaled back funding, while many Western governments are reducing support for civil society. As a result, organisations face growing pressure to secure resources without drifting away from their mission. Civil Society Academy supports NGOs to fund their own purpose by building clear, systematic, and strategic fundraising practices rooted in their context and capacities. What We Offer 1. Fundraising Training (Stand-alone or Entry Point) - A practice-oriented fundraising training that builds shared understanding, skills, and tools. - Four-day interactive workshop based on Civil Society Academy’s Fundraising Strategies training. - Focus on donor landscapes, funding mixes, fundraising funnels, value propositions, and practical tools such as the Fundraising Canvas and Impact Cards. Suitable as a stand-alone offer or as a foundation for further strategy and implementation work. 2. Fundraising Strategy Development - A structured process to design a clear, realistic, and organisation-specific fundraising strategy. - Includes preparatory analysis such as organisational and fundraising assessments, donor mapping, and context analysis. - Strategy workshops to develop priorities, funding approaches, and diversification pathways aligned with the organisation’s mission and capacities. Results in a concrete fundraising strategy with clear strategic choices and next steps. 3. Fundraising Accompaniment & Implementation Support - Ongoing support to turn fundraising strategies into practice and learning. - Accompaniment over three months to one year, combining advisory support, coaching, and targeted inputs. - Support to strengthen fundraising systems, roles, routines, and donor engagement practices. Continuous learning and adaptation, helping organisations test new funding options and embed systematic fundraising over time. How these offers work together Organisations can engage with Civil Society Academy through one of these offers or combine them into a longer process. Many partners start with training, move into strategy development, and continue with accompaniment to ensure implementation and lasting impac Please email us for an intro session: rishi@civilsocietyacademy.de

Localisation is no longer a question of whether, but of how—and, increasingly, of with whom. As funding landscapes shift and power dynamics are challenged, traditional donor–implementer models are reaching their limits. What is needed now are new forms of partnership that are equitable, trust-based, and fit for complexity. CSA’s Localisation and New Partnerships service supports funders and local organisations to jointly redesign partnerships—moving from transactional arrangements to shared ownership, accountability, and impact. Our Offer 1. Localisation & Partnership Readiness Assessment Funders and local partners jointly assess how ready their systems, practices, and behaviours are for equitable partnerships. Using CSA’s localisation and partnership tools, this creates a shared, evidence-based starting point. 2. Reframing Partnership Models We support partners to move beyond hierarchical funding relationships towards non-hierarchical, trust-based partnership frameworks. This includes revisiting roles, decision-making, accountability, and risk-sharing from both sides. 3. Joint Strategy and Roadmap Development Through facilitated reflection and strategy thinking, partners co-create a shared localisation and partnership roadmap. This ensures alignment between organisational strategies, partnership ambitions, and operational realities. 4. Organisational Development & System Strengthening Local partners receive targeted support to strengthen governance, leadership, and internal systems—without a deficit lens. In parallel, funders adapt internal policies and processes to better enable local leadership. 5. Partnership Practice & Ways of Working We work with partners on the everyday practice of collaboration—communication, trust-building, feedback, and learning. This draws on CSA’s organisational development, facilitation, and partnership toolboxes. 6. Learning from Practice & Ecosystem Examples The service is informed by how other organisations have approached localisation and partnership transformation in practice. Drawing on real cases and examples from CSA’s localisation work and training, partners reflect on what works, what doesn’t, and what can be adapted to their own context. Please email us for an intro session: sohini@civilsocietyacademy.de

We enable NGOs to integrate AI and digital innovation to boost impact, efficiency, and learning. Our pilots include AI-powered monitoring tools, assessments, and learning management systems, and through partnerships such as zerohunger.ai we run innovation challenges and AI hackathons that advance digital transformation. Over the past years, we have designed and facilitated a wide range of innovation processes – from design thinking journeys and innovation camps to piloted solutions with tangible impact. Today, innovation is accelerating rapidly. AI has become a powerful catalyst that makes innovation faster, more creative, and more scalable. We combine proven innovation methodologies with practical AI applications to help organisations move from ideas to implementation. Our Offer 1. AI & Innovation Hackathons - Design and facilitation of hackathons for organisations, networks, and partner ecosystems - Co-creation of practical, AI-enabled solutions to real organisational and societal challenges - Rapid prototyping and testing of ideas within a short, high-energy format 2. Design Thinking & AI-Enabled Innovation Processes - Structured innovation journeys using design thinking combined with AI tools - Faster problem analysis, ideation, and solution development through AI-supported methods - Customised innovation processes aligned with organisational goals and capacities 3. Mentoring, Piloting & Scaling of Innovations - Mentoring and hands-on support for innovation pilots and early-stage solutions - Coaching teams to refine, test, and validate innovations in real-world settings - Support for scaling successful innovations within organisations or across networks 4. Embedding Innovation & AI in Organisations - Integration of innovation and AI-enabled experimentation into core organisational processes - Development of innovation governance, skills, and ways of working - Creating structures and cultures that support continuous learning and innovation Please email us for an intro session: joachim@civilsocietyacademy.de

Women Leadership Development is a longer-term leadership support offer for women in civil society and non-profit organisations. Rather than a one-off training, the service is designed as a structured leadership journey that combines facilitated leadership trainings with individual coaching and peer learning. The format, duration, and intensity are adapted to each context, but always aim to support sustained leadership growth over time. 1. How the service can look A typical Women Leadership Development programme may include, for example, two leadership trainings (in-person or online) spread over several months, with individual leadership coaching and peer learning in between. This structure allows participants to reflect, apply learning in their organisations, and return to the group with concrete experiences and questions. The exact number of training days, coaching sessions, and overall duration is customised. 2. What women gain from the programme Participants strengthen their confidence, leadership clarity, and ability to act in complex organisational and social environments. The programme supports women to reflect on their leadership identity, navigate power dynamics, lead teams more effectively, and take on leadership roles with greater presence and self-assurance. Learning is closely connected to participants’ real work contexts, making leadership development practical, relevant, and sustainable. 3. Peer learning and peer coaching Peer learning is a core element of the programme. Through facilitated peer exchange and peer coaching sessions, participants learn from each other’s leadership experiences, practice reflective dialogue, and build supportive professional networks. Peer processes help maintain learning momentum between trainings and reduce the isolation many women leaders experience. 4. Individual leadership coaching Each participant is supported through individual leadership coaching, offering a confidential space to reflect on personal leadership challenges, goals, and organisational realities. Coaching helps translate learning into practice and supports women in addressing concrete leadership situations they face in their daily work. 5. Leadership trainings grounded in practice The leadership trainings are based on CSA’s tested leadership frameworks and facilitation methods, developed and refined over more than a decade of work with civil society Please email us for an intro session: sohini@civilsocietyacademy.de

Experienced, focused, one-on-one coaching from CSA. In a 45-minute virtual session, leaders can explore a current challenge, gain clarity, and discover practical next steps for growth. It’s a simple, flexible way to experience the power of coaching — anytime, anywhere. It is an entry point to experience the power of leadership coaching. You can come with any issue: work-life balance, leadership challenges, career paths, team conflicts, better ways of communicating, or whatever is on your mind. How the session flows: - Your coach gives a short intro to coaching - You define the objective of the session with your coach - You explore your concern or opportunity, with the support of your coach - You explore options and define a way forward for your concern or opportunity - We explore follow-up support if required.