Shifting Power Accelerator
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Embrace a capacity-strengthening model over outdated capacity-building approaches.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
Marisa
Samantha Dickson
Matthias Naab
Egbert Wits
Guido van Heugten
Dylan Dellosa
Meet your instructor
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
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.
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
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
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
🎓 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.
👉🏽 Copy and paste this request template
Frequently Asked Questions
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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