Where We've Been

Developing the 2004 - 2009 CISV Strategic Plan: Starting from Individual CISVers and Planning for the Organization
CISV based its strategic planning on the reactions, wishes and values of grassroots CISVers-- the members, volunteers and participants on the ground, at chapter level around the world. Click here to read about the compilation of the CISV Storybook.
From Chapter to NA to International—At the Annual International Meeting (AIM) 2004, it was then up to the volunteer members of CISV's International Committees to explore the stories, wishes and values, to find creative ways of expressing them as “provocative propositions” or vision statements about CISV.	“I felt fulfilled in giving an opportunity to a youth to discover himself. CISV has taught me to give things a chance and to see the strengths of others.” CISV Storybook
Sharon and a group of volunteers then synthesized the statements into one overall and concrete goal for CISV: “By 2009, become a larger network of strong National Associations in every continent.” This goal and the statements on which it was based, were the starting point for a day-long Open Space session at the AIM. All participants had the chance to bring up what they thought were key issues for CISV and to invite everyone there to a discussion group on that topic. Throughout the day, 49 different discussion groups were held on a wide range of subjects. Each prepared a report with recommendations. How to choose from among 49 priorities? By voting. Everyone at the AIM, plus CISVers participating from home (as reports were posted on-line), was asked to vote for the three reports which they considered to be the highest immediate priorities for every level of CISV. The results were:
Priorities for the Future Leadership is the key to success Increase quality through cooperation with other organizations Find ways to support the organization financially in a fair way in every continent Strengthen existing chapters Avoid exclusion of people, groups, NAs and nations from CISV At the conclusion of the AIM a debriefing meeting was held on the strategic planning process, in order to identify the themes emerging from the priority goals and thereby to appreciate their implications for the future work of CISV.	“… that’s CISV. It changes people’s lives when they don’t even realize it.” CISV Storybook
Forums for Change Five simultaneous on-line forums were then held and all CISVers were encouraged to participate. These discussions were fruitful and effective. Once they had been completed, committees set out to define their own goals and the associated strategies for pursuing these. Every committee submitted a specific measurable goal statement associated with each of the five priorities which applied to its work, These goals were then incorporated into the modified plans for the Midway Meeting (MWM) of the International Executive Committee, held in Newcastle upon Tyne in February 2005. Importantly, committees were also required to indicate what activities would be stopped or postponed in order to refocus energies on the main priorities.

Putting it all Together The next step toward pulling together all the strands from across the CISV community was an Executive strategic planning workshop held at the 2005 Mid-Way Meeting (MWM), which considered: progress made over the past year drafting overarching goal statements a review of the committee, NA and forum discussions to determine (a) whether any topic had been omitted from these overarching goals; and(b) whether each goal was “SMART” (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound) NAs have begun to use the workshop templates, and committees have also worked to incorporate the goals in their reports. It also became very clear that all the elements of CISV have to work in cooperation with each other rather than in isolation. The goals are often overlapping and cannot be accomplished alone.
“How different persons from different countries and personalities can connect on such a level within so little time … it’s amazing.” CISV Storybook
Turning the Five Selected Priorities into Effective Goals to Achieve the Overall Objective by 2009 Through discussion and exchange, the IEC carefully drafted and reviewed each goal. They knew that these goals would be the general framework for committees and NAs to pursue their specific goals and actions within the five Strategic Planning priorities. The goals were reviewed regularly and were amended part way through the Plan. The final versions of the five goal statements relating to the five priorities appear below. Leadership is the Key to Success -"By 2009, increase, by at least 10%, the number of people assuming an operational or program leadership position who are competent in their role" Increasing Quality through Co-operation with Other Organizations -"By 2009, CISV will benefit from cooperation on at least 50 projects with an LMO each year (ongoing or one time)" How to Find a Fair Way to Financially Support the Organization in Every Continent "By 2009, raise the profile of CISV, increase capacity to generate additional income and promote growth" How to Consolidate (strengthen) Existing Chapters -"For every chapter, the total number of official programmes / activities they host from 2005 – 2009 (inclusive), will be at least three more than the total they hosted from 2000 – 2004 (inclusive)" How to Avoid Excluding People, Groups, NAs and Nations from CISV - "By 2009, identify key elements of exclusion in CISV structure, culture, programs/activities and adopt appropriate actions to avoid exclusion"