Integrated strategic planning and MEL system development for an international NGO
The challenge
The International Detention Coalition (IDC) is a global network of over 400 civil society organisations working to end immigration detention through legal advocacy, political lobbying, and piloting alternatives to detention. In 2019-20, we supported one of IDC’s regional teams to develop a theory of change and MEL framework grounded in systems thinking. Building on the success of that collaboration, IDC asked us to lead a similar process at the organisational level.
The aims were to:
Strengthen shared purpose and direction across the global team
Improve alignment between regional and global strategies
Work through areas of disagreement or uncertainty
Clarify and document IDC’s core approaches and ways of working
How we helped
We designed a four-stage process over 12 months, using a mix of online workshops and asynchronous collaboration to ensure participation across time zones and languages.
Stage 1: Situational analysis. Using systems thinking and complexity-informed tools, we supported staff to explore the global context of immigration detention, map trends and actors, and reflect on IDC’s role within a shifting landscape.
Stage 2: Theory of change. We facilitated a participatory process to develop a shared theory of change. This included both “bottom-up” thinking (surfacing the implicit logic in staff’s day-to-day work) and “top-down” thinking (working backwards from IDC’s long-term vision) to define the pathways to change.
Stage 3: Strategic plan. We worked with staff and board members to co-create a five-year strategic plan outlining priority areas, organisational goals, and concrete actions. This stage included careful engagement with IDC’s network members and lived experience leadership group.
Stage 4: MEL framework. We supported the internal development of a practical monitoring, evaluation and learning framework. This included identifying indicators, co-designing data collection tools, and embedding reflection and learning into regular planning cycles.
Looking forward
This process helped IDC to build a more unified and connected organisation. It strengthened internal alignment, clarified shared goals, and surfaced important questions and insights around strategy. Staff reported feeling more connected to the broader vision and more confident in how their work contributed to it. The new MEL framework created consistent systems for tracking progress and learning, while also supporting greater accountability to stakeholders. Importantly, the process itself created space for honest conversations, peer learning, and cross-team collaboration - laying a strong foundation for more coherent, evidence-informed and values-aligned decision-making.
Client: International Detention Coalition (IDC)
2021 - 2023
