Bioforce and the Red Cross/PIROI recently organised a regional training that brought together NGOs from the Comoros, Madagascar, and Mauritius. This session marked the launch of a three-year capacity-building programme for which only 10 NGOs were selected out of more than 150 applicants across the region. Among these, three Mauritian NGOs — Lovebridge, Safire, and La Courte Échelle du Nord —proudly secured their place, reflecting their strong commitment to organisational development and regional collaboration.
The training aimed to equip participants with the skills to lead organisational self-assessments and design strategic capacity-building plans using the Taking The Lead methodology. This participatory approach empowers organisations to analyse their strengths, identify systemic challenges, and shape their own development pathways.
Over four intensive days, the programme combined theory, practice, group discussions, and interactive learning tools. Participants explored the four key components of the Taking The Lead approach: defining the organisation’s humanitarian role, assessing overall performance, analysing sub-domains, and developing clear capacity-strengthening plans. The sessions also emphasised facilitator posture and the importance of adapting the organisational framework to each NGO’s reality.
The experience was widely described as both enriching and motivating. Participants valued the diversity of organisational contexts represented, the quality of peer exchanges, and the clarity of the methodology. Their strong engagement created a collaborative space where cross-regional learning flourished.
Several important insights emerged: self-assessment as a powerful catalyst for change, the flexibility of the methodology across varied NGO profiles, and the central role of facilitators in guiding internal reflection. Discussions also touched on governance, human resources, leadership challenges, teamwork, and influence strategies—helping organisations identify both strengths and areas for improvement.
Looking ahead, the selected NGOs committed to integrating self-assessment practices, implementing the methodology internally, and maintaining regular exchanges. PIROI and Bioforce will continue to support their progression throughout the three-year programme.
This training has sparked renewed momentum and laid the foundation for sustainable organisational strengthening, driven by local actors and reinforced by strong regional solidarity.
Testimonial from Lovebridge:
“These two weeks have been incredibly enriching. We gained essential skills through the Taking the Lead methodology and deepened our knowledge thanks to Bioforce’s training on MEAL and partnership building. Beyond the learning, these sessions helped forge strong ties with organisations across the Indian Ocean. This is only the beginning: we will integrate these tools at the heart of our activities, with the support of PIROI, Bioforce, and our regional partners. We are proud to have been selected for this project and look forward to putting these new approaches into practice.”
Testimonial from La Courte Échelle du Nord:
“These two weeks have been a deeply enriching human and professional experience, providing concrete tools to strengthen internal capacities, improve governance, and develop strong partnerships. La Courte Échelle leaves more determined than ever to transform these learnings into sustainable actions in support of regional solidarity. Thank you to Act Together for giving us the opportunity to take part in this training.”
Testimonial from Safire :
“When we learned that Safire had been selected for the Reach project, we were delighted and proud to have the opportunity to join this initiative. We gained valuable skills in the Taking the Lead methodology, project management, the MEAL approach, and the importance of partnership within our sector. We are confident that these two weeks of training will help strengthen the organisation’s internal capacities. The experience has been truly enriching—allowing us to exchange good practices with other organisations and broaden our perspectives across the Indian Ocean region. We are eager to begin applying everything we have learned with our team and to give the very best of ourselves. Thank you to PIROI – French Red Cross, Bioforce, and everyone who made this experience such a success.”
