Annual Report 2008

Message from Misean Cara Chief Executive Officer
Mr Mike Greally, 2009:

‘A number of significant events took place in 2008 that helped to guide the evolution of Misean Cara and establish our direction for the future. Building on and consolidating our learning from consultations with members throughout the previous year, we worked to develop our identity through rebranding and, crucially, through the formulation of our Strategic Plan for 2009-2012.

Our first strategic plan offered us the opportunity to more fully get to know our members and to examine ways of providing support for the international development work which they are undertaking around the world. This knowledge proved to be invaluable throughout the lengthy preparatory process that resulted in our new Plan.

To support its development, our Board set up a Strategic Planning Committee to oversee the process, which included a number of external members. We engaged with members through a series of consultative workshops, bilateral meetings and the distribution of an issues paper for comment. Through this process, which was supported by Fitzpatrick Associates, we identified the key objectives that our organisation will strive to meet over the coming years, in order to best support the uniqueness and humanity of the faith-based approach to development.

This is a time of great uncertainty and challenge, with the global financial crisis impacting severely on the people in the countries where our members work. Domestically, the effects of the recession were beginning to become apparent during the finalisation of the Strategic Plan, with the result that the need for Misean Cara to diversify our funding sources over the coming years is highlighted.

The Plan sets out a number of strategic objectives, including a review of funding mechanisms, which will help transform inherited models into schemes that are more appropriate to missionaries and that ensure standards of good practice, accountability and transparency are upheld.

Other areas of focus include strengthening our capacity building activities and consolidating our links with members. Legacy and localisation will also be crucial over the coming years, reflecting the growing diversity of our members. This will help to guarantee that, where necessary, members are fully enabled to manage their relationships with us and with other donors.

Additionally, emphasis will be placed on enabling our executive to operate with member organisations, irrespective of their location or nationality.

By concentrating on these areas, we are confident that we will be best able to continue our funding and support for member organisations in their work. ‘

Mike Greally

Chief Executive Officer

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