Since 2023, in addition to our active Disaster Responses, Integral has been bringing Members together around their work in five countries: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Madagascar, and Yemen. These are all protracted crises with high levels of need that we do not often hear about in the media. They are not a priority for donors and policy makers. At Integral we call these Neglected Crises. Integral firmly believes we serve people better by working together and Members have been meeting regularly to coordinate and support one another’s work in each country.
© Else Lotte Faasse, ZOA
We asked some of our Members how coming together in this way adds value to their work.
Ineke Stiers, Programme Manager at Integral Member Tearfund Belgium is involved in the Burkina Faso Neglected Crisis Country Group. Ineke says, “There are so many new requirements for NGO’s and charities in Burkina Faso that to be able to keep up, organisations need to work together. Meeting regularly with other Integral Members means we can pass on information about the latest regulations and help each other comply. I can then help our Partners who have a harder time finding out about what they need to do by connecting them with other organisations on the ground.”
Ineke continues, “Another important aspect is that we all need to share information and resources to make the most of the funds we each gather for the programmes we run. Our Partners need this connection so they can find ways to be able to focus more on their strengths and work with others for other aspects of their programmes.”
Ten Integral Members are currently meeting to coordinate around work in Yemen. Waldemar Braun, Regional Manager at Integral Member LM International, appreciates meeting regularly with other Members about their work. He says, “With the overall reduction of engagement in Yemen and the risk of it becoming a forgotten crisis in a very fragile context, these gatherings are particularly valuable. We deeply appreciate that Integral creates a space where Members who are still present on the ground can come together to share, connect and support one another. We are very grateful to the Integral team for facilitating this engagement and maintaining a platform where collaboration, encouragement and shared concern for Yemen can continue.”
Cressida Jones, Integral’s Neglected Crisis Coordinator adds, “Evidence from our Members over the last ten years clearly shows that when Members meet at country level more collaboration happens in that country. We have also seen that when Members come together it leads to better quality and value in Member responses through shared information, stronger relationships and mutual support between Members.”