Conservación, Investigación y Aprovechamiento de los Recursos Naturales (CIARENA) is a non-profit organization located in Mexico that develops projects by and for indigenous populations located in Mixe Baja, Chinantla Baja, Istmo, and Costa in fields related to social justice, inequality, human rights, gender, and territory. CIARENA reached IWORDS Consulting through the support of the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC).

The consultancy took place from June to December 2019, and part of it was carried out remotely accompanied with field visits to Oaxaca. The process was developed by an interdisciplinary team led by Maria José Rodríguez with the methodological supervision of Marcela Rueda, the operations support of Daniela Rueda, and the collaboration of the translation and design team.

The objective of the consultancy was to build and develop capacities of resource mobilization for the CIARENA team. Resource mobilization is one of the areas of expertise of IWORDS Consulting and it is understood as one of the key components for the sustainability of an organization. For that reason, IWORDS addresses resource mobilization in a comprehensive manner that recognizes and values the built capacities of the organizations while looking to strengthen them based on our years of experience in different projects around the world. We also offer a variety of methodologies and tools that have proven to be successful, including a rigorous search for opportunities that can diversify the organization’s financing sources.

The support process consisted of an inception phase in which we gathered in-depth knowledge and assessed the needs, capabilities, strengths, and concerns of the organization. This phase included participatory methodologies, like online interviews and surveys with CIARENA team members, as well as continuous communication with the organization’s leaders via email, skype, and WhatsApp, and the revision of essential documents and procedures of CIARENA.

A second phase involved capacity-building through webinar sessions on cutting-edge resource mobilization strategies, following successful cases from other organizations in Latin America and according to the aspects identified in the first phase. Moreover, IWORDS conducted market research to identify social business trends in the region. 

The third phase aimed to jointly develop a resource mobilization plan, which included in-person workshops, where innovative and dynamic methodologies like Lego Serious Play were carried out. This methodology helped encourage hands-on and minds-on learning, promote reflection and in-depth exchanges between the organization members, and enhance innovation and business performance. 

Then, the consultancy team developed and designed a toolbox of templates, guides, and presentations about project cycle, fundraising strategies, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEAL), among others. Finally, the consultancy team worked together with CIARENA to develop the work plan for 2020. This plan, as well as the inputs that were created during the months of the consultancy, were shared with the members of the organization.

From the beginning of the process, the IWORDS Consulting team developed donor mapping that was thoroughly cultivated throughout the consultancy and regularly reviewed and commented on by CIARENA members. We helped develop and design the documents required to apply for the grantors selected by CIARENA, who were found in this database of potential donors. The goal was to raise funds to build The House for Indigenous Women, a place to provide psychosocial, legal, and social assistance for women, especially in cases of gender-based violence.  As a result of this process, CIARENA received the financial support of the Huarralde Foundation to carry out this project and continue having an impact on the life of indigenous women and girls in the state of Oaxaca.