038. Exploring Possible Futures for Conservation NGOs: Anca Damerell @ Luc Hoffman Institute

SummaryWhat is the future for conservation NGOs? Is there a future? If so, what kinds of roles, mandates, organizational culture, and capabilities do conservation NGOs of the future need to embrace? That was the question that a small team of consultants, including yours truly, tried to address by providing 15 - sometimes bold -- propositions for changes in roles and mandates. In this episode, I interview Anca Damerell, Head of Programme at the Luc Hoffmann Institute,  and in turn, she interviews me right back :).  Listen to our dialogue! Anca’s Bio:Head of Programme at Luc Hoffmann InstituteResearch and Innovation Programme Officer at United Nations Environmental ProgramPh.D. in Geography from the University of Cambridge We discussed: Many NGOs are somewhat anxiously asking themselves what their relevance, legitimacy, and effectiveness are in the future. NGOs in the conservation sector are no exception to this. The Luc Hoffmann Institute, a leading organization in innovation and transformative change for biodiversity protection, is specialized in turning complex challenges, like this one, into opportunities for change by bringing together diverse views and facilitating the co-creation of innovative solutions. Some of the 15 – sometimes provocative– shifts in roles and mandates for conservation NGOs. Moving towards the envisioned future: The urgent need for a mindset shift and transformative changeConservation NGOs need to develop a greater capability to work across sectors, recognizing the cross-sectoral interdependence of conservation with adjacent areasOur need to decolonize narratives, and have space for diverse plural narratives Quotes“Are NGOs motivated by mission or by self-survival?” “This is not about replacing conservation NGOs but about envisaging a much more 'niche- specific 'role, and possibly a smaller presence”“We don’t have to give in to self-flagellation, but we do have to be willing to shift roles towards much more specific niches, playing primarily facilitative roles vis-a-vis much bigger actors (multinationals, China, security forces etc.)” Resources:Anca’s LinkedIn ProfileLink to the report: Exploring Possible Futures for Conservation NGOsLink to the project page: The future of conservation NGOsFive Oaks Consulting School's Online course on Virtual Team Leadership skills Click here to subscribe to be alerted when new podcast episodes come out or when Tosca produces other thought leadership pieces.Or email Tosca at [email protected] if you want to talk about your social sector organization’s needs, challenges, and opportunities.You can find Tosca’s content by following her on her social media channels: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Youtube