Locally led development calls for reshaping existing processes and practices, to create a genuine power shift. Project Maitri, a pilot initiative aimed at improving girl’s education, is an example of such reshaping. Project Maitri uses an outcomes based approach to work with community based organisations (CBOs) in Bihar, India.
This case study, produced by Social Finance International in collaboration with Educate Girls, aims to identify key lessons learnt from Project Maitri, drawing insights from a combination of document and systems review, and key informant interviews. In doing so, three key lessons for future programmes were identified:
- Educate Girls is well positioned to scale impact with quality through outcomes-based partnerships: An outcomes- based approach can enable larger NGOs, like Educate Girls, to efficiently achieve impact aligned to their vision whilst allowing CBOs operational flexibility to tailor their interventions to the needs of the local context.
- Scaling impact through outcomes-based partnerships requires a shift in strategy and operations: With a shift away from direct delivery, new and expanded skills in due diligence, outcome contracting and strategic technical and coaching support are needed to operationalise and manage outcomes-based partnerships.
- Outcomes-based partnerships offer real opportunities for CBOs to access funding, build capacity and scale impact: This may set a precedent for how other funders and large NGOs can get more comfortable with locally-led development.