From Project­Based to Mission­Driven: The Challenges of a Peace­Building Organization in the Niger Delta

Client
The Centre for Human Development and Social Transformation
Faculty
Steven Schall, Katherine Bourne
Team
Whitney Bonham, Victoria Jalang'o, Effie O. Johnson, Shanti Nandiwada

The Centre for Human Development and Social Transformation (CHDST) was formed in 2005 to implement community development projects in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. CHDST requested that the Capstone team perform an organizational assessment and create a strategic plan to help the organization become more missiondriven. The assessment focused on three major areas: inconsistent funding, internal organizational structure, and projects' adherence to mission. The Capstone team conducted interviews with stakeholders and executed onsite strategic planning workshops with staff members and the Board of Directors. The team used the data collected as the foundation for a 35 year strategic plan, which identified the following areas for development: enhancing CHDST's brand identity by highlighting accomplishments and programs, improving internal and external communication, engaging staff in planning processes, and leveraging networks for broader partnership and fundraising opportunities.