High Level Facilitation for Consensus Building: How to Reach Impactful Agreements

Facilitación de alto nivel para consensos: manos apiladas que simbolizan confianza y colaboración; logo de COMETA en la esquina y fondo degradado.

High-level facilitation for consensus is essential in crafting agreements that generate meaningful impact—especially in complex participatory contexts. One of the main challenges in these processes is precisely the ability to establish agreements that drive progress toward shared goals. To achieve this, it is crucial that the consulting firm or facilitation team is well-prepared both before […]

Teal Organization: The Future of Work?

Image about Teal Organization showing two people collaborating and pointing to ideas in a workspace, accompanied by a symbolic illustration of strategic facilitation. The logos of COMETA and ECOS appear in the background, highlighting collaboration and resilience for civil society.

With the publication of Reinventing Organizations by Frederic Laloux, the concept of Teal organization has gained traction as a compelling alternative to traditional management models. In a world where rigid hierarchies and bureaucratic systems are increasingly losing relevance, a key question emerges: Can we work in a more flexible, humane, and efficient way? Anna Langheinrich, […]

Lessons for a Leadership Transition with Care: Insights from Civil Society

Group of diverse colleagues applauding a smiling woman during a leadership transition, symbolizing recognition and support in civil society organizations. ECOS and COMETA logos visible at the top.

Leadership transitions aren’t always predictable. Sometimes they arise from personal decisions, life changes, internal tensions, or sheer exhaustion. Others stem from generational shifts that are already becoming evident across many organizations and movements. That’s why, even if a planned departure isn’t yet on the horizon, reflecting now on how we want our leadership transition to […]

Five Best Practices for Partner-Oriented Donors  

Digital illustration showing a partner-oriented donor and a civil society organization representative shaking hands, symbolizing strategic collaboration and shared responsibility. At the center, a sustainable funding icon is surrounded by SDG colors. The logos of COMETA and ECOS appear at the top, reinforcing the alliance behind the initiative.

Donors play a vital role in sustaining the work of civil society organizations. But beyond  financial support, what actions do partner-oriented donors take to truly help us advance our missions? In this article, we highlight five best practices that define a partner-oriented donor. Tonatiuh Paz Aguilar, Senior Consultant at COMETA What Do We Mean by […]

How to Institutionalize Institutional Development?

Visual illustration of institutional development showing a hand-drawn scheme of organizational relationships, with logos from COMETA and ECOS—initiatives focused on strengthening civil society.

When we talk about institutional development for civil society organizations, we’re referring to a key dimension –yet often overlooked– in the consolidation and sustainability of our work. One of its essential components is institutional design: that is, how our organization is structured in terms of frameworks, rules, processes, and internal dynamics. It’s not enough to […]

First Steps for a “DIY” MEL System (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning )

Three professionals reviewing data charts on a wall-mounted board during a MEL System planning session, with the COMETA logo visible in the workspace.

Sometimes we think a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system has to be super complex. But it’s possible to start building an in-house MEL system without a big investment of time or resources—and it can lay the groundwork for a better understanding of how our processes are performing and their impact. Sebastián Hernández Mora,  Senior […]

Tips for Funding Horizontal Learning

Two professionals engage in a knowledge exchange session, illustrating the importance of funding horizontal learning among civil society organizations.

Funding horizontal learning is crucial for organizations to effectively navigate complex challenges and maximize collaborative resource use. This approach fosters meaningful knowledge exchange and cooperation, strengthening both individual organizations and the sector. For donors, investing in these spaces not only empowers organizations at an individual level but also enhances coordination and collective impact across the […]

Indicators for Advocacy: A Practical Guide for Civil Society Organizations

Hand drawing a fluctuating bar and line graph on a chalkboard, symbolizing data tracking and analysis — representing indicators for advocacy in civil society organizations. Logo of COMETA

Indicators for advocacy are essential tools for civil society organizations to measure our outcomes and learn from our processes of political advocacy. In this guide, we will walk you through a step-by-step approach to designing meaningful advocacy indicators. Sebastián Hernández Mora, Senior Consultant, Colectivo META 3 Steps to Craft Indicators for Political Advocacy Step 1: […]

The Usefulness of Horizontal Learning in Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

In the image we see two people sharing knowledge through their testimonies about the usefulness of horizontal learning in CSOs. They are connected by a thought bubble where there is a light bulb that symbolizes a common idea.

The usefulness of horizontal learning in civil society organizations (CSOs) lies in its ability to generate internal change, inspire new strategies, and strengthen connections among actors facing common challenges. Through this collaborative approach, CSOs learn from one another, recognizing their experiences as valuable sources of practical knowledge. In this post, we share two video testimonials […]