Organizational Strategy Overhaul for a Global Humanitarian NGO

The Challenge:

A large global humanitarian organization was struggling with slow decision-making processes and a lack of cohesion between its operational departments. Leadership recognized the need to realign their strategy and improve collaboration, but there was no clear path forward.

The organization wanted to move quickly to improve its ability to respond to global crises, but traditional consulting models were either too expensive or not agile enough to fit their needs. They needed a strategic overhaul, and Andes was engaged to deliver on this need through flexible, fractional support.

The Solution:

To address the NGO’s needs, Andes designed a tailored approach that emphasized both speed and strategic clarity. Our key actions included:

• Redefining Decision-Making Frameworks: We facilitated a deep dive into the organization’s existing decision-making structures. From there, we developed a simplified decision-making framework that clarified roles, accountability, and key approval pathways, cutting down bureaucratic delays.

  
  

• Cross-Department Collaboration Initiatives: To improve cohesion across departments, we launched a series of cross-functional workshops that encouraged better communication and joint problem-solving. These workshops helped build stronger bridges between previously siloed teams, fostering a culture of collaboration.

  
  

• Strategic Prioritization: We worked closely with leadership to prioritize their key initiatives and establish a 12-month strategic plan, allowing them to focus on high-impact projects that aligned with their mission.

The Results:

The results of this engagement were both immediate and lasting. The NGO saw significant improvements in internal efficiency and overall alignment, with outcomes that included:

• Faster Decision-Making: Our simplified decision-making framework reduced bottlenecks, allowing the organization to make critical decisions 30% faster—a key factor in improving their ability to respond to global emergencies.

  
  

• Enhanced Collaboration: Cross-departmental collaboration improved dramatically, with inter-department projects increasing by 25% in the six months following the engagement. Teams reported greater clarity and a more unified approach to problem-solving.

  
  

• Focused Strategic Execution: The newly developed 12-month strategic plan ensured that leadership had a clear path forward, with initiatives better aligned to the organization’s mission and goals.

  
  

The Key Takeaway:

When faced with internal inefficiencies, organizations don’t need to commit to expensive, long-term consultants to make lasting change. By using Andes’ fractional support model, this humanitarian NGO was able to quickly implement more effective decision-making frameworks and boost collaboration—improving its overall effectiveness in serving global communities.