Tuesday, 5th October 2010

Organisational Culture and Structure

YFJ is an umbrella organisation offering its members access to the European youth sphere and providing a framework for exchange of ideas and opinions, while in exchange asking its member organisations to further its aims. In this respect the YFJ can only be as strong as its member organisations allow it to be.

Having been involved in European civil society for such a long time and based on my experience and seeing the reality of youth NGOs in different countries and settings – both as an activist, trainer and youth leader – I value the organisational culture of a given structure very much. Regardless of how well an organisation is doing there is always room for improvement and many times this doesn't require much effort, money or statutory changes – a good advice, a simple smile or polite gesture can do as well. This has at least two main aspects: one is working with member organisations within YFJ and the other is linked with the issues of transparency and organisational ethics.

But at the same time the YFJ has a persona of its own if you will, namely once a decision has been agreed by the MOs in the set decision-making processes it has the mandate to act. And MOs need also to be aware who acts on behalf of YFJ and how. What does the Board do, what does the Secretariat do, how they interlink and who bears responsibility for what? What is the role of other working structures within YFJ, where do they fit in and how are their outcomes and work communicated? 

This is just some initial food for thought. Tomorrow I will share my concrete proposals on how I envisage the work of the YFJ Board and Secretariat and thus try to answer on the questions mentioned above.