NSD Glossary

National Society Development Support is defined as any support provided by an external actor to a National Society, based on the request and priorities of the National Society, that purposefully contributes to helping the National Society to achieve and maintain a sustainable organisation able to deliver relevant, quality, and accessible services in full respect of the Fundamental Principles. 

Source : Policy on the development of national societies - IFRC 

National Society development, as a driver of local action, helps National Societies to establish and maintain a responsible and sustainable organisation that delivers, through volunteers and employees, relevant local services to meet the needs, reduce the vulnerabilities and strengthen the resilience of the community, in full compliance with the Fundamental Principles.

Source: Definition inspired by the Policy on the Development of National Societies - IFRC 

Locally led action refers to a balanced international humanitarian system that transfers power, resources and decision-making to local organisations, which are closest to the communities affected by crises. This involves recognising the central role of local actors in humanitarian response, thanks to their proximity and understanding of community needs, while providing them with autonomous mechanisms to access funding and make independent decisions on its use.

Source : https://startnetwork.org/focus-areas/locally-led-action 

Local actors refer to the local and national diversity of governments, as well as NGOs, CSOs, women-led associations, youth groups and more. 

Source : Localisation guidance notes - FICR 

Organisational development (OD) aims to strengthen a National Society at all levels in order to achieve the features of a well-functioning national society. It includes planning, governance, management, infrastructures, human resources, public image, finances and sustainability.

Organisational development includes :

• Leadership development

• Safety and security

• Youth engagement

• Strategic planning DSN

• HR development

• Communication

• Strengthening the role of the support unit

• Monitoring/evaluation

• Financial development

• Digital transformation

• Risk management

• Resource mobilisation

• Logistics development

• Volunteering

• Community engagement and accountability (CEA)

• Gender protection and inclusion, and protection and safeguarding of beneficiaries (PSEA)

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, assistance is a continuous process that aims to guide, sustain, and strengthen the skills of volunteers, employees, and leaders of National Societies. This assistance can take many forms, such as coaching, mentoring, or direct supervision. 

According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, mentoring is an essential part of capacity building within National Societies. More experienced individuals provide advice, support and knowledge to less experienced colleagues or volunteers. This relationship helps mentees develop their skills.

Mentoring is a way to improve personal and professional skills within the organisation. Mentoring is particularly important in volunteer management, as it promotes the development of leadership skills.

Coaching is part of broader efforts to support leadership development and enhance volunteers and staff’s capacities. More specifically, coaching aims to improve individuals' professional and personal skills through structured guidance. This approach is designed to help individuals develop leadership skills and improve their ability to contribute effectively to their roles within National Societies. 

Projects to enable Branches to emerge as entities that deliver necessary action and service across the National Societies’ territory, managing to maintain the role of a strong Branch. Such work not only focuses on existing Branches but includes setting up new Branches and reorganizing existing ones to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of these actions, and the role of a Branch.

Source: Branch development framework - IFRC p.19 

Income-generating initiatives are initiatives that produce revenue or income contributing to the financial viability of an organisation.

Source : Impact Hub Vienna

Entrepreneurship describes the activity of creating and managing a business, typically characterised by innovation, risk-taking and the chasing of opportunities. Social entrepreneurship describes entrepreneurial action that aims to solve social or environmental problems while seeking financial sustainability.

These actions can be initiated in the form of a new business (start-up) or within the context of existing organisations (social intrapreneurship).

The legal structure can vary: some social enterprises are established as profit centres within an association, others as limited liability companies.

Source : freely adapted from the Vienna University of Business

Financial sustainability is vital to enable a National Society to expand and develop the quality and reach of its service delivery, respond to sudden humanitarian emergency, learn and innovate and adapt to the challenges of the future. A financially sustainable National Society attracts and manages the financial resources it needs to run its core humanitarian services and governance and management processes. It manages financial risk to ensure it has the freedom to identify and respond to the humanitarian needs that it prioritises at the present and into the future.  To be financially sustainable, a National Society must have an organizational design that ensures that its programmes, structures, and governance and management processes are able to function , have effective financial management systems to enable evidence-based strategic decisions and be able to access a range of funding, including unrestricted funds.

Source: National Society Development Compact, 2019 - IFRC p.16 

Mandatory verification to be carried out before deciding to finance an organisation or allocating money belonging to someone else.

 Guarantee provided by a third party regarding the quality of the information provided and practices (e.g. financial).