Strategic Impact Article
At a Glance
- 213 joint events held
- 1,711 participants, including 688 first-time attendees
- 250+ local organisations engaged since 2022
- 47 in-person events in 10+ countries, including Nairobi, Kampala and Stockholm
- 78% of all events are delivered online for global accessibility
- 16% of all 2025 participants came from local actors
- 40% of sessions co-led by members or local partners
- 5 members piloted the Reframing Partnerships initiative
Strengthening Member Collaboration
At the heart of EU-CORD’s work is the partnership between our member organisations both in Europe and the countries where they work.
Member offices and their in-country teams took active roles in co-facilitating events, hosting learning sessions, and piloting new tools. This internal collaboration significantly strengthened the coherence, capacity, and connectedness of our network.
Between 2022 and 2025, EU-CORD hosted 213 joint activities — not as stand-alone events, but as part of a deliberate strategy to connect member organisations, their in-country teams, and their local partners across the world.
In total, over 1,700 people took part in EU-CORD activities during this period, including 688 first-time participants. More than 90% engaged in multiple sessions, and by 2024, 56.6% of members had participated in over 10 initiatives — showing strong and sustained commitment.
We worked hard to make participation accessible. Around 78% of all activities were held online, enabling engagement across time zones, roles, and resource levels. At the same time, we recognised the unique value of face-to-face gatherings: 47 in-person events were hosted in more than 10 countries, including Nairobi, Kampala, Stockholm, Budapest, and Brussels.
Crucially, participation helped connect not just organisations, but the people within them. CEOs engaged in vision-setting and co-creation; technical staff shared tools and insights; local partners contributed as facilitators and knowledge holders. Over 40% of all sessions were co-led by members or external partners, reinforcing EU-CORD’s commitment to decentralised expertise and mutual learning.
Stronger Local Relationships
Over the course of the strategy period, EU-CORD connected with more than 250 local organisations, some of whom became recurring contributors. These relationships were not incidental — they were the result of deliberate effort to shift roles, share space, and build mutual trust. In 2025 alone, 16% of all participations in network activities came from local partners — a record high.
Events such as the Locally Led Advocacy Series and the Partnership Learning Sessions were shaped by local realities and perspectives.
Member Offices Working Across Borders
Our vision for partnership also included stronger collaboration between member offices and their in-country teams. Events were increasingly co-hosted by member teams based in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In-country forums, regional learning events, and joint advocacy workshops were co-developed with staff on the ground.
The In-Country Forum Toolkit, developed in 2024, helped members create national-level spaces for shared strategy, learning, and engagement with donors. Pilots in Kenya, Nepal, and DR Congo demonstrated the value of decentralised collaboration.
Shared Practice and Mutual Support
The Reframing Partnerships initiative was a standout achievement, developed collaboratively with members and local actors. The project included:
- A shared methodology for more equitable partnership practices
- A piloting process with five member organisations
- A survey and feedback cycle
- A proposed self-assessment and reflection tool for future use
These efforts helped members critically assess and strengthen their partnership models. The results will feed directly into our Strategy 2026+ tools.
Reflecting Forward
CEO insights have affirmed that partnership is not just a principle but a strategic asset — especially when it meaningfully involves member offices, in-country teams, and in-country partners. Moving into the 2026+ strategy, we will build on this foundation by deepening local leadership, expanding peer exchange among members, and ensuring that engagement creates clear value for organisations across different contexts. New formats like Learning Circles and Action Groups will support this shift — offering more space for members and partners to shape agendas, lead practice, and connect strategy to lived realities.
