Effective international development requires more than technical expertise.
It also requires the ability to understand context, navigate relationships, communicate across institutions and cultures, and build partnerships based on trust and mutual respect.
Orisha Collective brings together experience in communication, partnership building, cross-cultural engagement and international development to support professionals and organisations working within — or preparing to work within — complex development environments.
International development brings together people and institutions with different priorities, expectations, accountabilities and ways of working.
Government agencies, bilateral and multilateral partners, NGOs, implementing organisations, consultants, universities, communities and other stakeholders may be working towards similar outcomes while approaching those outcomes from very different perspectives.
Working effectively across these environments requires more than understanding formal structures. It requires the ability to recognise institutional interests, understand context, navigate power and relationships, communicate across professional and cultural boundaries and build trust over time.
Orisha Collective supports people and organisations to develop these capabilities.
The focus is always adapted to the country, organisations, participants and development context involved.
Tailored learning and capability-development programs for teams, leadership groups, development practitioners and professionals preparing to work in international development environments.
Programs may focus on:
Specialist support for issues including:
Orisha Collective can facilitate:
Facilitation is designed to create the conditions for meaningful participation, constructive dialogue and practical progress.
Individual coaching can support people working within — or preparing to enter — international development roles.
Coaching may focus on:
International development support can be designed for:
The nature of the engagement will depend on the people involved, the operating environment and what the organisation is trying to achieve.
There is no single model for working effectively in international development.
Approaches that work in one country, institution or partnership may not translate directly to another.
Orisha Collective therefore starts with context.
We look at the organisations involved, the relationships between them, the people participating, the institutional environment and the outcomes you are trying to achieve.
From there, we can determine whether the most useful response is a program, advisory support, facilitation, coaching — or a combination of approaches.
If you are developing a program, preparing a team, strengthening a partnership or working through a complex development challenge, we can start with a conversation about what is happening and what kind of support would be useful.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the many lands on which we live and work. We pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We recognise their continuing connection to culture, community and Country.
Orisha Collective embraces diversity and is committed to creating respectful, inclusive spaces for people of all identities, genders, sexualities, cultures, abilities and backgrounds.
