Social Sector Service Areas
Strategy and Planning
Program Development and Implementation
Organizational Effectiveness
Performance Management and Evaluation
Partnership Services
Business Process Outsourcing
Specializations
Education and National Skills Systems
Entrepreneurship
Cultural Development
How Skills Surveys Can More Effectively Identify Workforce Skills Gaps
Through a multicountry review of skills surveys, we propose an alternative approach to establishment skills surveys that can play a more effective role in determining how workforce skills influence achievement of firm business objectives in the Arab World.
Using Social Networking for Change
We see IT as an important enabler for regional development, and we have worked with global technology leaders such as Intel and Microsoft to deepen the impact of regional development programs leveraging technology.
A Regional Institution for Improving the Quality of Education
There are many opportunities for synergies through cooperation between regional education quality programs as well as clear areas of overlap which can benefit from consolidation.
Using Awards Effectively for Social Change
Many award programs in the region focus on large monetary sums to award best practices. We argue that money is not enough, and award programs should reinforce social change through knowledge diffusion, network building initiatives, and follow on training to maximize social impact.
Increasing Female Labor Market Participation With Scholarships
In several countries in the Arab World, women face significant obstacles to obtaining higher education and entering the workforce. We propose an e-Scholarships for Women Initiative to mitigate access, equality, and labor participation challenges.
Strategy and Planning
Program Development and Implementation
Organizational Effectiveness
Performance Management and Evaluation
Partnership Services
Business Process Outsourcing
Specializations
Education and National Skills Systems
Entrepreneurship
Cultural Development
Our Thinking
How Skills Surveys Can More Effectively Identify Workforce Skills GapsThrough a multicountry review of skills surveys, we propose an alternative approach to establishment skills surveys that can play a more effective role in determining how workforce skills influence achievement of firm business objectives in the Arab World.
Using Social Networking for ChangeWe see IT as an important enabler for regional development, and we have worked with global technology leaders such as Intel and Microsoft to deepen the impact of regional development programs leveraging technology.
A Regional Institution for Improving the Quality of EducationThere are many opportunities for synergies through cooperation between regional education quality programs as well as clear areas of overlap which can benefit from consolidation.
Using Awards Effectively for Social ChangeMany award programs in the region focus on large monetary sums to award best practices. We argue that money is not enough, and award programs should reinforce social change through knowledge diffusion, network building initiatives, and follow on training to maximize social impact.
Increasing Female Labor Market Participation With ScholarshipsIn several countries in the Arab World, women face significant obstacles to obtaining higher education and entering the workforce. We propose an e-Scholarships for Women Initiative to mitigate access, equality, and labor participation challenges.
Strategy
and Planning
- Our approach to strategy and planning is evidenced-based and grounded in rigorous proven methodologies but informed by local insights. We help social sector organizations design demand-driven programming for lasting impact while factoring in sustainability, exit strategies, and stakeholder buy-in.
Our Capabilities
Mission and Vision Development• Establishing and communicating mission and vision statements
• Informing and articulating institutional mandates which are consistent with national visions, development strategies, policies, and other international protocolsStrategic Planning• Developing the underlying analysis and evidence to help organizations and leaders agree on approaches to achieving organizational goals
• Supporting the development of sector strategies and project portfolios and deciding which strategic focus areas and projects offer the greatest impact
• Developing a shared view about where organizations are now, assessing the organization’s strengths and weaknesses, external environment, and available opportunities
• Prioritizing and selecting individual initiatives and programs to ensure mission consistency, alignment with central government strategies, financial and legal feasibility, and incorporation of learnings from international best practice
• Understanding and applying best practices from other regions to inform localized strategiesSenior Leadership Effectiveness• Supporting new senior leaders with tools to develop their agenda and engage with the board
• Helping senior leaders establish a shared view across their organizations of key issues and priorities for strategic execution
Funding and Partnership Strategies• Defining and improving partnership, collaboration, and funding strategies including financial models and prioritizing focus areas for maximum impactGovernance• Developing governance structures that standardize procedures and guidelines across organizations and ministries to ensure impact, effective management, and productive board governance relationships
• Assessing the effectiveness of existing governance approaches and structuring organizations to achieve objectives while engaging critical stakeholdersResearch, Policy Review, and Thought Leadership• Policy agenda setting, issue framing, and evidence-based analysis of the implications of policy development
• CEO thought leadership and white papers
• Framework building
• Best practices, regional, industry, and political trends
• Establishment of internal think tanks for policy planning and forming a longer term, strategic view of global trends of national interestDefining New Strategic Perspectives• Taking a forward-looking view of socio-economic trends and academic literature to develop ideas with the potential to impact strategy, increase sustainability, and maximize and diversify financial resources
Arab World Higher Education Situation Analysis and Options Multiple global external trends are shaping the future and will have major implications on higher education in the Arab World. These are our views on the most important issues and what needs to be done.
Arab World Research and R&D Situation Analysis and Options Research in the Arab World is facing several challenges starting from its underlying environment through to demand and consumption. Here are our thoughts on the core issues and potential solutions.
How Skills Gaps Impact Firm Performance in the Arab World In the Arab World, there is a poor match between regional human capital and the skills demanded by employers. This analysis applies international research to the case of the Arab World to determine the operational impacts of skills gaps on Arab companies.
Knowledge-Based Economic Development in a Post-Awakening Arab World In pursuing knowledge-based economic development, many countries in the region have made large state-driven human capital investments with the goals of job creation, economic integration, economic diversification, environmental sustainability, and social development. An assessment of the effectiveness of Arab investments in human capital shows marginal progress over the last decade.
How Skills Surveys Can More Effectively Identify Workforce Skills Gaps Through a multicountry review of skills surveys, we propose an alternative approach to establishment skills surveys that can play a more effective role in determining how workforce skills influence achievement of firm business objectives in the Arab World.
- Below are a few examples of our recent work:
• Created a five-year organizational strategic plan for a regional government organization, involving over $300 million of projects, prioritized initiatives in an environment of budgetary uncertainty, and promoted cross-divisional cohesion to realize cost synergies • Provided strategic and fundraising counsel on the development of a 5-year strategic plan for an emergent NGO with operations in 16 countries and an annual budget of $2.43 million • Developed a unified governance structure that mainstreams procedures and guidelines across all federal government agencies to ensure government effectiveness. We worked across several government departments to determine workflow and approvals processes • Established a five person research department tasked with conducting gap analyses and benchmarking best practices across economic and social sectors, and performing multiple scenario plans to devise holistic policy recommendations • Reviewed and evaluated proposals spanning multiple ministries against several criteria, including alignment with federal government strategy, financial and legal feasibility, and international best practice
