Institutional resilience

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© IFP-Humanitarian Studies

At MatchLocal, we understand institutional resilience as the ability of local and refugee-led organisations to remain effective, adaptable and credible – even in fragile, rapidly changing contexts. Resilience is not a luxury, it is a precondition for impact. Donors, partners and communities benefit when organisations are structurally sound, digitally confident and well connected.

Through our institutional resilience package, we provide four interconnected services: Self-Assessment, Organisational Development, AI Readiness and Building Bridges. Together, these elements help organisations gain clarity, strengthen their systems and position themselves in the global humanitarian and development ecosystem.

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Self-assessment

  • Organisations cannot strengthen what they cannot see. Our self-assessment provides a structured reflection on governance, fundraising, communication, finance, human resources and digital tools.

  • We facilitate an online or in-person diagnostic using participatory methods. The tool is designed for teams to reflect together, not just the management.

  • Each organisation receives a resilience profile and a set of self-defined priorities. This avoids externally imposed benchmarks and makes growth measurable and owned by the organisation itself.

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AI Readiness

  • Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how organisations plan, fundraise and communicate. Local actors should not be left behind.

  • We provide accessible training on AI tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, linked to everyday tasks like proposal writing, reporting, data analysis or communications. We also provide an ethical framework for responsible and non-extractive AI use.

  • Local organisations gain digital confidence and a competitive edge. Instead of widening the digital divide, AI becomes a tool for inclusion and innovation.

A man presenting with a flipchart

Organisational Development

  • After priorities for organisational development are identified, we support organisations to address them with practical and tailored steps.

  • We offer modular workshops on strategic planning, finance, governance, fundraising, communications, or human resources. They are co-designed with the organisation, using examples and exercises that fit their realities. Follow-up mentoring helps to anchor the changes.

  • Organisations become fundable, credible and sustainable partners. They gain systems that donors trust, while keeping ownership of their agenda.

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Building Bridges

  • Trust and a shared understanding of the realities for international donors and local organisations is crucial for successful cooperation.

  • We build trust and facilitate direct connections between donors and local actors through mediation and knowledge sharing workshops.

  • We make international commitments, donor requirements and local needs, ideas, and opportunities match.

Institutional resilience is more than compliance. It is about enabling organisations to stand strong on their own terms. By combining internal reflection, external support, innovation and connections, MatchLocal supports local organisations to thrive in fragile contexts and shape the future of humanitarian action.