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Shifting Power Accelerator

5 Weeks

·

Cohort-based Course

Transform your localization plans into locally-led partnerships in 5 weeks. Radically shift power, money, and voice to local leaders now.

Hosted by

Mahrukh Hasan (Maya) and Fearless Project

Sr. Technical Advisor. UN & NGO Consultant. DEI Expert. 20+ years experience.

Course overview

Execute your localization and direct funding plans with peer support.

Are you a leader or manager struggling to fulfill your localization and direct funding commitments?


You're not alone.


I'll give you the frameworks, case studies, and support you need to follow through.


This course will help you navigate barriers to your localization goals and reach your targets alongside a cohort of your aid and development sector peers. 


To shift power in real-time, you'll commit to working on weekly projects with a local partner of your choice in between our live sessions.


I'll also be available for office hours, co-working, and coaching sessions for personalized support.


This course is specifically designed for busy leaders willing to set aside 4 hours a week for 5 weeks to get things done.


Are you ready to operationalize and follow through on your localization commitments?


If so, this course is for you.


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If you join before February 22, you can get 20% off using promo code EARLYBIRD20 🐣

This course is for you if...

01

You’re a senior humanitarian leader or manager who is already shifting power by rethinking your business or operational model.

02

You've made localization plans, but are finding it difficult to translate them into action due to actual constraints and perceived risks.

03

You want to shift power fast and responsibly but in a way that practically and authentically includes your partner's voice and decisions.

Apply equitable and innovative frameworks to change how you work with local partners

Validate your localization goals and objectives.

Shifting power requires critical reflection. You’ll ask key questions to measure how equal or locally-led your partnership really is.

Give up gatekeeping for good.

Embrace a capacity-strengthening model over outdated capacity-building approaches. You'll prioritize areas for partner-led growth.

Overcome barriers to direct funding.

Cash transfers can be a compliance nightmare. You’ll learn how flexible funds work so that you can build your own with donor and partner support.

Innovate your co-design process.

Inviting input on program ideas is not enough for equal partnership. You’ll practice a human-centered design method for co-ownership and maximum participation.

What people are saying

        Maya's well-thought-out curriculum and non-judgemental facilitation created a space for reflection on the difficult dynamics of the aid industry. She helped build a common understanding of the diverse perspectives on decolonizing and localizing aid. I took away new frameworks for conversations I have regularly in my work. Highly recommended.
Marisa

Marisa

Gender & Program Management Specialist, Southeast Asia
        You never know what to expect during any coaching session. Maya kept to task, and was respectful of the flow of conversation which made it easy to communicate freely. She challenged me. I like a good challenge. The session was just about right in duration - 1 hour. In the end, we set clear goals for achievement.
Samantha Dickson

Samantha Dickson

President, Grenada Red Cross Society
        Excellent delivery. Maya's course content on decolonizing aid and shifting power was extremely instructive and inspirational. The way that she designed the course for busy senior leaders made it very easy to follow.
Matthias Naab

Matthias Naab

UN Resident Coordinator, Cameroon
        Maya is fun, intelligent, highly communicative and easy to work with. What stood out is her critical questioning of international development efforts and smart solutions on how more horizontal and participatory processes can be captured...I would recommend Maya for defining your strategy and translating these to actionable, measurable processes.
Egbert Wits

Egbert Wits

Sr. Research & Program Manager, EngageMedia
        Maya hosted an amazing online workshop on Power and Identity for 300+ global staff at UNHCR's Division of External Relations. I appreciated Maya's framing of the topic, making it accessible to people of different backgrounds. Her presentation style was also great. Maya is very professional and a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend her.
Guido van Heugten

Guido van Heugten

UNHCR Inter-Agency Coordination Officer
        Maya helped us examine our organizational capacity and craft leadership KPIs...She transformed a typically dull or intimidating process into a fun and collaborative effort and was quick to help us get out of our own way...I highly recommend Maya as a professional who brings a unique combination of expertise and humanity to their work.
Dylan Dellosa

Dylan Dellosa

Sr. Organization Development Manager, EngageMedia

Meet your instructor

Mahrukh Hasan (Maya)

Mahrukh Hasan (Maya)

Sr. Technical Advisor. UN & NGO Consultant. DEI Expert. Leadership Coach. 20+ years of experience.

Mahrukh Hasan (Maya) is the founder of Fearless Project, an online education start-up for diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her 20-year career, Maya has consulted with the UN, INGOs, and LSE. She has managed partnerships, grants, design, M&E, communications, and research teams at INGOs supporting local media and civil society in Sub-Saharan Africa, South & Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.


A leadership trainer and coach, Maya has been a course developer and facilitator for the Global Executive Leadership Initiative (GELI) hosted by UNOPS, USAID, LSE, and Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. She has an MA in International Economics and Relations from Johns Hopkins University SAIS.

Fearless Project

Fearless Project

Tackle bias with courage and confidence

Fearless Project is an online education start-up for workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. We help social impact leaders design work cultures where everyone can flourish.


We offer holistic DEI learning and transformation programs including courses, coaching, community, and consulting to accelerate change for aid and development organizations. 

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Join an upcoming cohort

Shifting Power Accelerator

Cohort 1 - June 2023

$595 USD

Dates

June 6 - July 7, 2023

Payment Deadline

June 2, 2023

Course syllabus

01

Picture the Future

Shifting power starts by changing the way you think. What will be the role of international aid organizations in 5, 10, or 25 years?


You'll do a visioning exercise, commit to a growth mindset, and enjoy meeting your peers!

02

Power & Influence: Decisions, Money, Voice

Power frameworks help you critically reflect on the state of your local partnerships.


You will learn a few power awareness and analysis frameworks and tools, and practice with your peers. Finally, you will select one to evaluate an existing relationship with a local partner.

03

Capacity Building ≠ Capacity Strengthening

It's no secret that models for organizational development in the aid sector are outdated. Luckily, there are alternative frameworks.


You'll learn a few organizational development frameworks that prioritize local leadership, innovation, resilience, and performance. Then you will select one to review and determine growth areas with your partner.

04

Flexible Funding Now

Direct funding is the gold standard of shifting power. But how can you get cash in the hands of your local partners if bureaucracy always gets in the way?


You'll access a case study of how to create an unrestricted fund and see real examples of funds that you can replicate. You will adapt and build on a model that works for you and your partner.

05

Simulation: Design Sprint

Equal decision-making is a critical step on the way to locally-led partnerships.


You'll participate in a rapid design sprint, an innovative and participatory framework for program design that you can share and use with your local partners.

06

Demo Day & Graduation

Congrats! Share your Shifting Power reflections to celebrate all you have achieved during the course.


You will thank your peers and ask for continued accountability and support as you work toward your goals following the course.

07

Bonus: Videos, Cheat Sheets, and More

In addition to all the interactive sessions, you will have access to recorded videos, expert interviews, and Maya's cheat sheets. (Some topics: key components of capacity strengthening model, flexible fund case study, and more.)

Schedule for live sessions

4 hours/week for 5 weeks (💯 recorded)
  • Orientation

    March 7, 2023: 5-6 PM ET

    • What to expect on the localization journey
    • How to make the most of this course
    • Meet your peers
    • Project: Discuss this course with your local partner
  • Workshop #1: Power Analysis

    Mar 8, 2023: 5-6:30 PM ET

    • Apply a power awareness framework to test your localization goals and targets
    • Analyze decision-making roles to validate or adapt your plan
    • Map key stakeholders
    • Set and measure targets for decision-making, voice, and money
    • Project: Complete a power analysis tool with your partner
  • Optional: Live Q&A and Lab

    Mar 9, 2023: 5-6 PM ET

    • Ask any questions
    • Co-work on your projects
    • Get feedback from peers
  • Workshop #2: Capacity Strengthening

    Mar 15, 2023: 5-6:30 PM EST

    • Apply an organizational performance tool to identify growth areas for you and your partner
    • Analyze leadership, innovation, resilience, and performance to adjust your technical assistance interventions
    • Project: Complete an organizational performance assessment with your partner
  • Optional: Live Q&A and Lab

    Mar 16, 2023: 5-6 PM ET

    • Ask any questions
    • Co-work on your projects
    • Get feedback from peers
  • Break

    TBD

    Participants will have the collective option to take a mid-course break for one week or to complete the course earlier in 4 weeks.

  • Workshop #3: Flexible Funding

    Mar 22, 2023: 5-6 PM ET

    • How to build a flexible fund
    • Key compliance and due diligence barriers to fund creation
    • Map key stakeholders
    • Outline an influencing strategy
    • Project: Complete a flexible fund concept note with your partner
  • Optional: Live Q&A and Lab

    Mar 23, 2023: 5-6 PM ET

    • Ask any questions
    • Co-work on your projects
    • Get feedback from peers
  • Workshop #4: Program Co-Design

    Mar 29, 2023: 5-6:30 PM ET

    • Participate in a co-design sprint to practice innovative and participatory program design
    • Learn the steps: Map, Sketch, Decide, Prototype, and Test
    • Access the templates in Miro
    • Project: Generate a new program with your partner using the co-design method
  • Optional: 1:1 Coaching

    TBD

    • Schedule a 1 hour session with Maya
    • Discuss a topic of your choice
    • Get personalized feedback and advice
  • Demo Day & Graduation

    Mar 30, 2023: 5-6 PM ET

    • Celebrate your achievements
    • Reflect on your takeaways
    • Ask for continued support

Practical, cohort-based learning

Practical, cohort-based learning

Applied, Collaborative Learning

This live course uses Maven and Zoom. You will apply your learning via breakout discussions and weekly projects.

80% Practice, 20% Theory

In every session, you will practice using frameworks, tools, and case studies that you will share with your partners and teams.

Lifelong Community of Peers

You will join a growing community of senior leaders not just committed to innovation, growth, and shifting power, but doing it together.

Who we've worked with

Who we've worked with

Your investment is 100% risk-free

Your investment is 100% risk-free

If you attend the sessions, actively participate, and still don’t find the course valuable, we’ll happily refund your full payment up to 7 days after the end of the course. 

Get reimbursed by your employer

Get reimbursed by your employer

🎓 Use your organization's Professional Development budget

Since this course teaches industry and job-critical skills, you could get tuition reimbursement from your employer.

🏆 Certificate of completion

Once you complete the course, we will email you a certificate of completion that proves you completed the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the expected time commitment?
What happens if I can’t make a live session?
Who is this course for?
Who is this course NOT for?
Do you offer any accommodations?
I can't make it to the upcoming cohort. Can I join a future course?
How long will I have access to the materials?
Could my organization book a private course for our staff?
Are there any scholarships?
Do you have a refund policy?
I have more questions. Who can I contact?

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A pattern of wavy dots
Join an upcoming cohort

Shifting Power Accelerator

Cohort 1 - June 2023

$595 USD

Dates

June 6 - July 7, 2023

Payment Deadline

June 2, 2023

$595 USD

5 Weeks