Well it’s been another busy year and things are really moving forward at pace now for SIDCN and our members.
What have we been up to?
We started the year with some clear objectives which included doing our best to:
capture the collective voice of our members through insights and data to inform others and shape SIDCN activities,
make our activities more accessible to members across the globe,
and more importantly, make sure that all voices are heard by regularly amplifying member stories.
This was all alongside sustaining our core peer to peer activities and other successes such as SIDCN Fest and working within the UK Alliance (Bond, Hub Cymru Africa, South West International Development Network, Scotland’s International Development Alliance and CADA in Northern Ireland) and FCDO.
Our working groups of Trustees and volunteers continued to meet monthly and progress activities across each of the groups throughout the year.
Amplify were on a mission...
...to increase the number of member blogs shared through the year, as well as increasing the frequency of our newsletter, with more proactive pieces that supported the number of global days that occur throughout the year. They even threw in a stretch target to launch a podcast too! Well, I’m pleased to say that this was achieved with 14 blogs now available on our website, multiple newsletters issued throughout the year, and yes, we launched ‘The Radical Change’ podcast with two episodes launched and another two to drop shortly!
The Connect group continued to grow the network...
...by encouraging even more new members to join and connect with each other through our weekly Friday morning calls, Forums and larger events. SIDCN Fest was even bigger in 2024 with over 230 signed up to the event with 60-70 joining us live on the day and others engaging with the recorded content. There was a little mishap with the recording of the day (my human error), but we have slowly but surely uploaded re-recorded content onto our YouTube channel. In addition to the Fest recordings we now have all (20) of the FSI legacy International Development learning content uploaded too, with a great library accessible via the members area of the SIDCN website (so don’t forget to sign up – for free). So whether you want to learn or refresh your knowledge on Impact Evaluation through to Shifting Power and Antiracist practices, there is lots of good content available.
Team Influence were also busy...
...with responding to government papers and invitations, working with the UK Alliance to influence and engage a changing government, and supporting our members to engage with their MPs using template letters… and we’re pleased to say with some success too!
Sustainability and Admin managed to keep the house in order...
...and more importantly, successfully apply for funding through Bond and the FCDO to increase our capacity to support members over the next three years. In mid-2024 we received the exciting news that we has secured three years funding, which has enabled us to recruit three part-time freelancers to support our work.
We gladly welcomed Alice, Casey and Izzy into the fold and were especially pleased that we could split the Marketing and Comms time across two roles, one in Kenya and one in the UK.
Since they have joined we have noticed exponential growth in our marketing & comms and ability to respond to members. An additional morning meeting is being piloted on Tuesdays, as well as a new Governance Forum, alongside the regular bi-monthly specialist forums. And Member numbers are growing - both in the Facebook group but also those actively signing up to the website to access the member resources.
So, what does 2025 hold?
We hope to build on the foundations we have created and work towards an inclusive world supporting healthier, sustainable and empowered communities around the globe.
We will continue to Connect, Strengthen and Champion our global members so they are better able to support the communities they serve, and do this with our values of Community / Inclusivity, Integrity and Excellence.
2025 is looking equally exciting as we move to do more to support our members to make greater strides in shifting power, increase global membership and improving accessibility through initiatives such as making a financial contribution to members who share their stories.
A huge thank you to every single volunteer, team member or member that has helped to make 2024 a success for SIDCN and may you continue to work with your communities to make positive change.
Chair of Trustees