Defining strategic direction for the Association

1. Defining strategic direction for the Association

2. Defining strategic direction - core elements • Strategic vision • Strategic plan • Business plan • Services to the members (core and pay services) • Advocacy and lobbying strategy • Organizational structure • Donor policy and coordination • Gender policy

3. Questions: • Do we really need associations of local governments? • Why do we need associations/ unions of local authorities? • What should be the strategic vision for the Union of Local Authorities of Turkey?

4. Strategic vision What do we mean by “strategic vision”? • The strategic vision describes what we want the association of local governments to look like in ideal terms in the future • The strategic vision statement should provide direction and inspiration for strategic and overall goal setting. • Furthermore, through the vision statement, the association would attempt to respond to the challenges and issues expressed by the members, municipalities

5. Strategic vision (cont.) • Association needs to have a communicative strategic vision, easy to understand and remember for every one and clearly connected to the tasks of the institution. • In one simple sentence it should be clearly stated why the Union of Local Authorities in Turkey is needed for the common benefit of the country • The lack of a clear strategic direction (strategic vision and priorities) leads to confusion within the political and managerial leadership of the association, as well as within the members.

6. Strategic vision (cont.) Strategic vision statement (example) The Union of Local Authorities of Turkey is modern, sound and responsive association of local authorities capable to deliver high level services to members and to provide substantive support to reform processes at the local level and to EU integration processes for Turkey.

7. Strategic plan • Essential document for an association • Strategic plan is operationalization of the strategic vision • Strategic plan should provide guidelines to • Business plan • Services to the members (core and pay services) • Advocacy and lobbying strategy

8. Strategic plan (cont.) • The methodology for processing the Strategic plan should be defined and adopted by the highest instances of the Association • Participation of all members has to be secured • Strategic plan should be a “living” document giving guidelines and being properly supported by the members

9. Strategic plan – Business plan • Membership fees (core services) • Services to the members (pay services) • Donors’ support and projects • Support from the national (central) budget- delegated tasks

10. Strategic plan – Core and pay services • Core task should be defined as tasks necessary for all municipalities • Pay-services are specific services requested from some of the member-municipalities (not needed by all) • Services within the membership fees should consists of the defined core tasks and be communicated to and discussed with the members • Additional services should be pay-services offered to those municipalities which need them

11. Strategic planAdvocacy and lobbying policy • Policy formulation is needed to guide the advocacy and lobbying on behalf of members, to provide members general guidance on issues of common interest and to influence the future direction and role of local government within the country (Turkey). • A lobbying group, or committee, should be established within the structures of the Association • Implementation of the Advocacy and lobbying policy (strategy)

12. Organizational structure Some of the key issues: • Decentralized structure (cluster- model) • Clear division between the core and the project staff • Human resource development strategy • Internal and external communication strategy

13. Donor coordination Policies for donor contacts have to be developed in which it is clarified which the tasks of the Association are and under which conditions the Association can accept proposed projects from the donors. Association has to play active role when projects are initiated Cost recovery policy has to be developed (part of the Business plan) • Projects for the Association • Projects implemented by the Association (overhead!)

14. Gender policy • Introduction to the basic concepts and elements of gender • Gender policy has to be developed (senior management and members have to participate and advocate for this) • Gender mainstreaming practices in all activities • Gender sensitive budgeting to be introduced by the Association